I love flowers!
In this post, I want to share with you some of my favorite flowers that look like birds.
Let’s begin…
Table of Contents
11 Flowers that Look Like Birds – My Favorites
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
The first flower we are going to take a closer look at is the Phalaenopsis most commonly known today as the Moth Orchid.
When a naturalist looked at the Phalaenopsis through a pair of field glasses due to their large white petals he mistakenly took them for a group of moths, hence the name “moth orchids.”
Phalaenopsis orchids are native to Southeast Asia. Because they are so difficult to grow from seed they used to be extremely rare and very expensive. However, nowadays, the moth orchid has become one of the most popular flower plants in the world.
When you look at this flower head-on, it looks like a dove that is descending onto something below.
Parrot Flower (Impatiens Psittacina)
Next up we have the Impatiens Psittacina also known as the parrot flower or parrot balsam. As you can see from the picture above, the flower looks like a small parrot.
However, when it was first discovered by Joseph Dalton Hooker it was referred to as the flower that looks like a flying cockatoo.
Nonetheless, it is certainly a beautiful flower that will no doubt make onlookers do a double-take. This flower is native to Thailand and parts of India and it is very difficult to find today.
Duck Orchid ( Caleana major)
Native to Australia the Calaeana Major (flying duck orchid) produces a flower that looks just like a flying duck.
What is interesting about this flower is that it can only be grown in Australia. This is because it has a symbiotic relationship with a special kind of fungus only found in Australia. Symbiotic relationship means that the plant needs the fungus to survive and the fungus needs the flower to survive.
Many people have tried to grow this beautiful yet peculiar plant outside of Australia, but none have succeeded.
Dove Orchid (Peristeria elata)
The Peristeria Elata Orchid is native to Panama, but it can also be found in Venezuela and Ecuador. After it was discovered it was given the name Peristeria after a greek word that means dove.
Because the flower forms what looks like a dove descending from heaven, this flower is also known as the Dove Orchid, Holy Ghost Orchid, or Flower of the Holy Spirit (flor del Espiritu Santo).
White Egret Orchid (Habenaria Radiata)
Native to Japan, Korea, and Russia is the very elegant and very beautiful Habenaria Radiata. Most commonly known as the White Egret Orchid because of its resemblance to a white egret in flight. Some people also call it the fringed orchid.
This hardy plant can be found in grassy wetlands, upland bogs, and seepage slopes. The plant itself grows to about 12 inches tall producing very large 1.5-inch wide flowers.
Green Birdflower (Crotalaria cunninghamii)
Native to the deserts of Australia is the Crotalaria Cunninghamii.
It looks like a number of hummingbirds are coming to feed on some flowers. For that reason, it is also known as the Green Birdflower, Birdflower Ratulpo, Parrot Pea, or Regal Birdflower.
The green bird flower is actually a shrub that grows to about 10 feet tall and 6 feet wide. During the summer months, it produces a bird-like flower. Under the flower, it will form a hard pod.
The green birdflower is also known for its medical properties, commonly used to treat eye infections, headaches, and earaches.
Yulan Magnolias (Magnolia denudata)
Native to China we have the Magnolia Denudata. It is also known as Yulan Magnolia or Lily Tree. The Yulan Magnolia is a shrub or small tree that produces some of the most beautiful flowers.
Now at first glance, you might be thinking this doesn’t look like a bird at all.
However, take a look at the blossom in the center of the picture.
Looks like a bird sitting on a branch right? Yes, the Yulan Magnolia produces large upright cup-shaped blossoms that just before it blooms look just like a small bird.
Western Bearded Greenhood (Pterostylis barbata)
Native to Australia is the Pterostylis Barbata.
It prefers to live in woodlands and forests. It has a rosette of leaves at the base of the plant. From its base grows a single translucent white flower. That translucent white flower has dark green markings that make it look like a bird sitting on a stalk.
It is because of this resemblance that it is perhaps more commonly known as the Western Bearded Greenhood or the Bird orchid.
Bird’s Mouth Orchid (Orthoceras strictum)
Native to New Zealand, Australia, and New Caledonia we have the Orthoceras strictum orchid.
It grows two to five straight leaves at the base and can produce up to 9 flowers. The flowers are usually yellowish-green, brownish, and blackish in color.
As you can see from the picture because of its odd shape and strange colors it looks like a baby bird that is waiting to be fed by its mother. For that reason, some people call this flower the Bird’s mouth orchid or the horned Orchid.
Bird Of Paradise
Of course, no list of flowers that look like birds would be complete without mentioning the very famous bird of paradise.
Native to South Africa. This plant produces large foliage with brightly colored flowers that very much resembles some sort of exotic bird, hence the name bird of paradise. In addition because of its unique shape, it is sometimes known as the crane flower.
While they are most known for producing bright orange or bright blue flowers, their flowers can be white and blue or just white.
Redbird Cactus (Pedilanthus tithymaloides)
The Pedilanthus tithymaloides is not your typical flower. It is a succulent that is native to Florida, but it can be found in other locations as well. Yes, even though it is called a redbird cactus, it isn’t really a cactus.
It can grow as tall as 6 feet. On top of this tall succulent are tiny red flowers that look like a group of small red birds feeding.
One interesting fact about this plant is that it has a number of different names. For example, it is known as the redbird flower, devil’s backbone, redbird cactus, Jewbush, buckthorn, cimora misha, Christmas candle, red slipper spurge, slipper flower, fiddle flower, Jacob’s ladder, Japanese poinsettia, Jew’s slipper, zig-zag plant just to name a few.
There you have it! 11 flowers that look like birds. Which one is your favorite? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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