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Birds With Eyelashes

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Eyelashes protect the eye from debris. Humans and mammals have eyelashes, but it isn't a common feature for birds. Bird eyelashes are not like those of a mammal. They are made of modified feathers instead of hairs, but these modified feathers still protect the bird's eyes from debris. There are a few species of birds that have eyelashes that may range from fine and short to long and wispy.

Southern Ground Hornbill

The Southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) is native to the African savanna below the equator. The number of ground hornbills in South Africa is declining because many of the indigenous people use parts of the bird for medicine. The bird is also prone to picking up poison set out for other animals or being shot by homeowners. The ground hornbill is a nonflying bird that has short legs, broad feet, a brightly colored inflatable throat and long eyelashes.

Common Ostrich

The common ostrich (Struthio camelus) is native to the savanna and desert of central and southern Africa. Throughout history, ostrich feathers have been worn by royalty and knights. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians raised ostriches and often traded their feathers. The common ostrich is a large nonflying bird known for their long, thin necks and large eyes. The ostrich eye is about 2 inches across with long, swooping eyelashes.

Indian Gray Hornbill

The Indian gray hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is native to the Indian subcontinent throughout the foothills of the Himalayas, the Indus system and the Gangetic Delta. The bird is an arboreal bird, living mostly in the trees. The Indian gray hornbill is about 24 inches long and predominately a gray-brown color; the bird has red irises with eyelids and eyelashes.

Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot

The blue-fronted Amazon parrot (Amazona aestiva) is also known as a turquoise-fronted Amazon and the blue-fronted parrot. The bird is a popular pet parrot, but it is considered an endangered animal in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and several other areas of South America. This Amazon parrot is known for its wide range of color combinations and large vocabulary, but if you look closely, the blue-fronted parrot has small black eyelashes above his eyes.