Crested birds, with their regal appearance, enchant birdwatchers, ornithologists, and nature enthusiasts across the globe. In the avian world, a crest is a prominent, tuft-like arrangement of feathers atop the head of a bird, resembling a crown. These feathered appendages comprise unique, delicate, or even decorative plumes—adornments that offer an extravagant visual display and play an important role in the lifestyles of crested bird species.
In this article, we look at the evolution, biology, functionality, and diversity of crests in birds, exploring some of the most remarkable crested species and their fanciful crowns.
Crests are evolutionary signals shaped by evolution. A crown in good condition suggests that the bird is healthy, free of parasites, and capable of securing adequate resources and defending the nest against predators—making it an attractive choice for potential mates.
Bird Crowns in Evolutionary History
The evolution of the bird’s crest is a fascinating example of natural and sexual selection. Crests likely originated as simple feather modifications for display or camouflage. Over time, they became more elaborate in species where visual communication offered a survival advantage.
Sexual dimorphism, whereby males and females exhibit different physical traits, is evident in some species with crests. Male birds often have larger or more colorful crests, as seen in cockatoos and peafowl, reflecting the dynamics and pressures of sexual selection.
A Regal Role in Reproduction
In crested birds, their crowns often feature in mating displays. Courtship is one of the most visually dynamic periods in the lives of many birds, and crests can play a role during these rituals. Crests can communicate health, vitality, and genetic fitness in their wearers.
In sexually dimorphic species, where males and females exhibit different physical traits, males often possess larger more elaborate crests. The male’s crest helps to communicate interest and enhances his attractiveness and suitability. By showcasing their crests, birds can attract mates without the need for direct physical competition, reducing the risks associated with more aggressive mating strategies.
The Anatomy of a Bird’s Crest
The avian crest comprises specialised feathers, often more elongated and brightly coloured than those in their body plumage. In species with erectile crests, a unique set of muscles allows the bird to raise or lower the feathers at will.
The crest feathers may contain carotenoids and melanin, pigments responsible for vivid hues. Structural coloration, caused by microscopic feather structures, can add iridescent hues to the crests of some species, such as the Victoria crowned pigeon.
Crests can be recumbent—comprising straight feathers that lie flat against the head unless erected, or recursive—with feathers that curve upwards at the tips, altering the profile of the bird’s head. Recursive crests often feature brilliant hues. Some species have modified crests, featuring both recursive and recumbent elements.
Crowned Communication
Birds are masters of visual and auditory communication, using a range of tools to convey information to their flockmates, rivals, and potential partners. Crests are among the most striking and versatile of these mechanisms and can be used in emotional communication, mate selection, and predator defense.
Heavy is the Head that Wears The Crown
Among the most important forms of communication for avian species, crests are used to convey emotional states, providing a real-time indicator of mood or intention. A raised crest can signify excitement, curiosity, or aggression, depending on the species and situation.
Crowns and Social Cohesion
For birds that live in flocks or social groups, crests can play a role in maintaining harmony and facilitating group dynamics. In such environments, communication is essential for activities like foraging, nesting, and avoiding predators. Crests help birds convey intentions, recognize individuals, and manage relationships within the group.
Social birds may use their crest to express curiosity, alertness, or dominance. Some species raise their crests when engaging with other birds, whether to assert territorial rights or indicate interest in a new food source. These visual signals allow group members to interpret each other’s behavior and respond appropriately, fostering cooperation.
Crests as Defensive Mechanisms
While crests are often associated with social and mating behaviors, they can also serve defensive purposes. Birds may use their crests to intimidate predators or rivals, exploiting the illusion of size and strength. By raising their crests and combining the display with vocalisations or wing-spreading, birds can create an imposing spectacle to deter potential attackers. The crested caracara, a member of the falcon family, uses its short, stiff crest during aggressive interactions.
While its crest is less flamboyant than those of other species, it enhances the bird’s formidable appearance, reinforcing its status as a dominant scavenger in its habitat. Hoopoes, which are found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, spread their black-tipped chestnut-orange crests when startled. The male hoopoe will also display his crowns in the presence of a threat.
Let’s take a look at some notable birds with iconic crests, showcasing their diversity and adaptations.
1. Victoria crowned pigeon
Among the most exquisite avian crowns is the crest of this large, ground-dwelling pigeon. Native to the lowland forests of New Guinea and surrounding islands, the Victoria crowned pigeon is a uniquely demure species, despite being named to commemorate Queen Victoria.
With its deep blue plumage, red irises, and regal crest, this bird is unmistakable in its habitat, where its deep, booming call resonates through the forest. Its lacey crown of elaborate blue feathers and white-spotted tips plays a role in courtship and territorial displays.
2. Northern Cardinal
This North American songbird is a favorite among backyard birdwatchers across the continent. Both sexes bear a perky, upright crown, which is larger and more prominent in the crimson-red male. The crests of cardinals resemble the headpieces worn by the cardinals of the catholic church—a similarity for which they are named.
The function of their mohawk-like crowns includes signaling and communication. During the courtship display, the male fluffs his breast feathers, raises his crest and sings as he descends toward the female.
3. Crested Caracara
Also known as the Mexican eagle, the crested caracara is actually a member of the falcon family, native to the Americas. Named for its short, stiff crest, this raptor is a bold and opportunistic predator, often seen stalking on the ground, looking for prey.
Though not as ornate as other crests, its brown cap and buff neck feathers give the crested caracara a distinctive appearance. Its wispy crown plays a role in species identification and social signaling. The crested caracara is among the largest falcons in the world.
4. Harpy Eagle
Another powerful raptor, the harpy eagle, is one of the largest birds of prey in its range, which extends from Southern Mexico to Argentina. Its double crest of feathers can be raised to form an impressive crown, enhancing its intimidating appearance and helping the harpy eagle dominate in its neotropical forest habitat—the destruction of which has caused it to disappear in large parts of its natural range.
Fun Fact: The harpy Eagle inspired the design of the character Fawkes, the Phonix, in the Harry Potter film series.
The harpy eagle was also sacred in Aztec culture and is the national bird of Panama, depicted in the coat of arms.
5. Secretary Bird
This large African raptor has an eagle-like body with crane-like legs and bright orange facial skin. But its most recognisable feature is a dramatic erectile crest of long, black, quill-like feathers.
Secretary birds are known to prey on highly venomous snakes such as cobras and adders. During a hunt, they raise their crest feathers to frighten their target. This species is threatened by habitat loss and is classified as “vulnerable” according to the IUCN Red List.
6. Himalayan monal
The Himalayan monal is a large, multicoloured pheasant with a spectacular plumage of iridescent green, blue, red, purple, and copper. Its metallic green crest, deemed valuable in parts of Asia, has resulted in the poaching of this species. The feathers are harvested and used to decorate hats as they are seen as a symbol of authority, believed to bring status to the wearer. Females of this species bear a short, modest crest and subdued, brown plumage.
7. Royal flycatcher
The type species of the Onychorhynchus genus, the royal flycatcher’s species name, coronatus, is a tribute to the majestic crest. Though rarely observed in full display, the crest of this bird is striking orange-red, tipped with iridescent lilac or deep blue—like the adornments on the costumes of carnival dancers in their native Brazil.
Royal flycatchers are also found in Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Panama. They display their crests during courtship, mating, preening, or when aroused.
8. Tufted puffin
A peculiar-looking bird, the tufted puffin, also known as the crested puffin, is a pelagic seabird, belonging to the auk family. It has a large, orange-red bill and long yellow tufts that extend behind the eye, curling downward along the sides of the nape.
These tufts appear on both sexes at the dawn of the breeding season, moulting as winter approaches. Tufted puffins are colonial breeders, with colonies thousands of pairs strong, gathering on isolated islands in the northern Pacific each year.
9. Crowned crane
Among the most glorious bird crowns are the striking crests of the crowned cranes. The two species, namely, the black-crowned crane and the grey-crowned crane, are closely related—mainly distinguishable by the colour of their neck feathers.
Their crowns are made up of stiff, bristle feathers. Both species are native to Africa and are endangered due to the degradation of their wetland habitats.
10. Mandarin duck
The ornate plumage of the mandarin drake boasts colours ranging from chestnut orange-brown to iridescent purple. Among the features that give the male his exotic appearance are his wispy beard, long orange sail-fins, and colourful, backward-swept crest.
Like many duck species, the drake undergoes a moult after the mating season, revealing an eclipse plumage similar to that of the female—greyish brown and without a crest. Mandarin ducks are native to the eastern Palearctic.
Crests and Human Culture
Birds with crests have long fascinated humans, appearing in art, literature, and folklore. The hoopoe, for example, is revered in Middle Eastern and African cultures, symbolising wisdom and courage. In contrast, cockatoos are popular in the pet trade due to their intelligence, social nature, and expressive crests.
However, the popularity of crested birds has sometimes led to their exploitation. The trapping of parrots and cockatoos for the pet trade has endangered several species, including the critically endangered yellow-crested cockatoo.
Final Thoughts
Birds with crests demonstrate the beauty and complexity of nature. From the flamboyant displays of cockatoos to the regal bearing of crowned pigeons, these birds demonstrate how physical adaptations serve ecological, social, and evolutionary purposes.
Their striking appearances inspire awe, while their behaviors and roles in ecosystems underscore their importance to biodiversity. Protecting these birds from threats such as poaching, habitat loss and degradation, and the onslaught of climate change is essential in maintaining the intricate web of life within the ecosystems in which they live and the balance to which they contribute.
