Hey friends!!!  It’s finally the weekend and I bet you all have some really fun things planned, yes?  Me?  I’ll be staying in where it’s cool and where I can breathe, for the heat + humidity + mask = unbearable.  I’ve been a bit under the weather today and am way behind on everything, so I hope you can forgive me for yet another Saturday Surprise redux — this one from 2018.

I get daily emails from a site called ThoughtCo.com, and each day is something new, fun and different.  I usually give them a quick scan, then delete, but sometimes one warrants a closer look.  This particular one definitely deserved a closer look, and I thought it would be perfect to share with you for our Saturday Surprise!  Now, I admit I felt a bit cheated, for there were supposed to be 10 … the subject line of the email read “The 10 Most Adorable Birds You’ve Ever Seen”, but when I opened the article, there were only 8!!!  What happened to the other two?  Did they become extinct between the time they sent me the email and the time I opened it a day later?  Still, it’s fun and I wanted to share it with you.

The people at ThoughtCo ranked these guys in a slightly different order than I would have, but I will stick with the order in which they presented them, and you can pick your own favourite.

#1 – Eurasian WrenAt the top of our cute bird list is the Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), a charismatic “little brown bird” that can fit in a teacup. Eurasian wrens are found throughout Europe and North America as well as in parts of Asia. Their cuteness is in no small part due to their slight stature and their plump body shape, which is further emphasized when they fluff up their feathers. Eurasian wrens are light brown and have a delicate, dark brown pattern of bars on their wings, tail, and body. Eurasian wrens weigh a mere one-quarter to one-half an ounce and full-grown birds are just 3 to 5 inches long, from bill to tail.

Personally, I thought this one was a bit ‘average’ looking, but perhaps their cuteness lies in their tiny size.

#2 – Atlantic PuffinNext up on our list of cute birds is the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), a charming seabird that nests in large, gregarious colonies along the rocky coastlines of the North Atlantic. Outside the breeding season, Atlantic puffins spend their time at sea, hunting for fish over open water. The Atlantic puffin owes its cuteness to its small, rotund stature and distinct coloration. It has black plumage on its back, wings and tail, and bright white plumage on its belly and face. Its bill, its signature feature, is large and triangular in shape. It is a bright orange-yellow color with a blue base and groves at the base.

Now this one I really adore … reminds me a bit of a junior penguin!

#3 – Black-Capped ChickadeeThe black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is the next species on our list of cute birds. No such list is complete without this little charmer. Black-capped chickadees are often regulars at backyard feeders throughout North America. They are hardy little birds that remain residents throughout their range, even during the coldest winters. To cope with the extreme cold they often must endure, black-capped chickadees lower their body temperature at night, entering a state of regulated hypothermia and saving lots of energy in the process. As their name implies, black capped chickadees have a black cap, bib, and white cheeks. Their body plumage is more subtly colored, with a greenish-gray back, buff colored sides, and dark gray wings and tail.

Definitely pretty … but I’m not sure about ‘cute’ so much.

#4 – Northern Saw-Whet OwlNo list of cute birds is complete without an owl. And northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus) are arguably among the cutest of all owl species. Northern saw-whet owls are small owls that have a round facial disk and large golden eyes. Like many owls, northern saw-whet owls are secretive, nocturnal birds that hunt small mammals such as deer mice and white-footed mice. Northern saw-whet owls occupy a range that stretches from coast to coast in North America. They breed in the boreal forests and northern hardwood forests of Alaska, British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain states.

Now THIS little guy has my vote for #1!!!  Isn’t he just adorable?  Look at the intelligence in that cute little face!

#5 – Adelie PenguinFor the next bird on our cute bird list, we travel to the world’s southernmost latitudes, where we find the Adelie penguin, a species that like the black-capped chickadee, pairs its cuteness with toughness. Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) inhabit a circumpolar region along the coastline of Antarctica. Adelie penguins are the classic penguins, with black plumage on their back, head, and the topside of their wings and white plumage on their belly and the underside of their wings.

I adore penguins, but their cuteness comes from seeing them walk … er, waddle … so I am including a short video clip … watch the little guy – what a little bully!!!

#6 – Costa’s HummingbirdAny list of cute birds is lacking something if it does not include a hummingbird. Here, we include the Costa’s hummingbird (Calypte costae), a small hummingbird that lives in the deserts of southwestern United States and Mexico. Costa’s hummingbirds are nearly as light as a postage stamp, with an average mass of just over one-tenth of an ounce. Costa’s hummingbirds feed on the nectar from flowers such as those of the desert honeysuckle and the saguaro cactus.

Cute, but I like seeing the in action best … hovering in front of a flower while they devour the nectar.

#7 – Blue-Footed BoobyThe blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is equal parts cute and awkward -looking. Their most notable feature is their turquoise webbed feet. Like many seabirds, blue-footed are rather clumsy when moving on land, but they are graceful when flying over open water. The blue-footed booby belongs to the same group of birds that includes pelicans, cormorants, and tropicbirds. Blue-footed boobies are found along the western coast of Central America and South America and various coastal islands in that region, including the Galapagos Islands.

Now what’s not to love?  I adore those eyes, the expressions … they almost look like a toy or a drawing!

#8 – DunlinThe dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a widespread species of sandpiper that inhabits a circumpolar region in the Arctic and Subarctic. Dunlins breed along the coastlines of Alaska and northern Canada and over-winters in more southern coastal regions around the world. The species is quite diverse, with some 10 recognized subspecies. Dunlins feed on clams, worms, and other invertebrates. During the breeding season, dunlins have a distinct black patch on their belly, but outside of the breeding season their belly is white.

I’m still not sure what happened to #9 & #10, but that’s okay, for it’s getting late and I know you’re eager to start your weekend!  So, which bird was your favourite?  I hope you enjoyed the birds and maybe even learned something new!  Have a lovely weekend, my friends!