There are a few bird species that have mostly orange plumage. The most well-known orange bird is likely the American robin. While the robin has an orange-red breast, it also has gray and brown feathers on its back and wings. True orange birds that are almost entirely orange include the scarlet macaw, flame bowerbird, and some species of orioles. The bird that is likely the most all-over orange is the scarlet macaw.
Scarlet Macaw
The scarlet macaw is among the most brightly colored parrots in the world. Their feathers are primarily scarlet red, yellow, and blue. Scarlet macaws that originate from South America are almost entirely scarlet red, with some yellow and blue flight feathers on their wings. Their bright red plumage covers their body, head, tail, and the upper sides of their wings.
Scarlet macaws have vivid red feathers due to carotenoid pigments obtained from their fruit-based diet. The red macaw feathers contain the red carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin. Their diet of seeds, nuts, and bright tropical fruits provides scarlet macaws with these orangey-red pigments that give their feathers such brilliant coloring.
Some key facts about scarlet macaws:
| Scientific Name | Ara macao |
| Region | Central and South America |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforests |
| Length | 33-35 inches long |
| Wingspan | 3.3 to 4 feet |
| Weight | 1 to 1.5 pounds |
| Lifespan | 40-50 years in wild, up to 75 years in captivity |
Scarlet macaws live in the rainforests of Central and South America. Their range extends from southern Mexico down through the Amazon basin. They are found in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. Scarlet macaws reside in lowland humid forests, staying near water sources like rivers and swamps.
These large parrots nest in holes of dead trees, feeding on fruits, seeds, and nuts. They are highly intelligent and social birds that mate for life. Scarlet macaws communicate loudly with noisy squawks and screams. Their bright coloring advertises their toxicity, as their feathers contain chemicals from their diet that deter predators.
The brilliant orange-red plumage of scarlet macaws makes them unmistakable. Of all the parrot species in South America, none are as vibrantly red as the scarlet macaw. Even as juveniles, scarlet macaws exhibit predominantly orange-red feathers. No other bird in its habitat matches the scarlet macaw’s intense orange coloring.
Flame Bowerbird
The flame bowerbird is a bright orange species found in the forests of New Guinea. As their name suggests, male flame bowerbirds have spectacular plumage in hues of orange, yellow, and red. The males are decorated with iridescent orange feathers, while females are brownish with hints of orange on their wings and tail.
During mating rituals, male flame bowerbirds construct stick bowers and decorate them with colorful fruits and flowers to attract potential mates. The orange plumes of the male flame bowerbird stand out dramatically against the greens and browns of the forest floor. The vibrant orange feathers likely developed to provide better visual signals and contrast for their courtship displays.
Here are some quick facts on flame bowerbirds:
| Scientific Name | Sericulus aureus |
| Region | New Guinea |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforests |
| Length | 7 to 8 inches |
| Wingspan | 12 inches |
| Weight | 2.5 to 3 ounces |
The flame bowerbird is found in both Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia. These birds live in dense, wet mountain forests. They feed on fruits and some insects. Males spend hours constructing and decorating their bowers from sticks, then arranging colorful fruits, flowers, berries, beetle wings, and feathers as courtship displays. The male flame bowerbird’s bright orange plumage stands out against the decorations at the bower.
The striking orange feathers come from carotenoids obtained through the flame bowerbird’s frugivorous diet. The combination of yellow, orange, and red creates a flame-like appearance. When calling and displaying for females, the male flame bowerbird fans his wings and tail to showcase his vibrant orange tones.
Of all the birds-of-paradise in New Guinea, the male flame bowerbird is the most brilliant orange. The female is also more orange than other birds-of-paradise. No other bird exhibits such vibrant orange coloring in the forests of New Guinea.
Orchard Oriole
The orchard oriole is a small songbird found in central and eastern North America. Males are boldly colored with vivid orange plumage and black wings. Females are yellowish-olive on top with yellow underparts. Both sexes have white wing bars, but the orange plumage of the male makes this species unmistakable.
Here’s a quick overview of the orchard oriole:
| Scientific Name | Icterus spurius |
| Region | Central and eastern North America |
| Habitat | Open woodlands, forest edges |
| Length | 6 to 7 inches |
| Wingspan | 9.5 inches |
| Weight | 1 ounce |
Orchard orioles breed in open woodlands across much of the eastern United States. Their breeding range stretches west to Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. They migrate to Mexico and Central America for winter. Orchard orioles favor river bottoms and open areas near water.
These small songbirds build hanging pendulous nests in trees. They feed on insects, fruits, and nectar. The male’s bright orange plumage comes from pigments in its diet. Xanthophylls and carotenoids from fruits give the feathers their orange hue.
Among North American songbirds, the male orchard oriole is one of the only birds to be mostly orange. No other oriole species exhibits such a vibrant orange plumage. The male orchard oriole stands out against the green foliage during spring and summer.
Conclusion
In summary, some of the most prominently orange birds in the world include the scarlet macaw, flame bowerbird, and orchard oriole. The scarlet macaw is likely the most all-over orange bird species in terms of its coloring extending across its body, wings, head and tail. Flame bowerbirds and orchard orioles also exhibit brilliant orange plumage, but may have some patches of different colors on their wings or tails. When it comes to a species decked out in orange, the scarlet macaw stands out as the bird that is mostly orange from head to tail.
