With so many stunning bird species out there, they never cease to amaze with their wide range of colors, sizes, and other traits. Some of them have intricate and stunning plumage that can be compared to a fruit or a berry.

This is especially true for a species of birds that are unsurprisingly called strawberry finches. These small, sparrow-sized birds of the family Estrildidae can be easily recognized for their scarlet body paired with tiny white dots.


Strawberry finches are also commonly known as red avadavat or red munia. They can be found all across tropical Asia. They prefer to live in open fields, grasslands, jungle clearings, gardens, and meadows.

Strawberry finches thrive in tropical temperatures, thus they are prone to losing plumage intensity in cooler, drier environments. This is often observed in caged birds.


Red avadavats are about 10.16 centimeters in length (3 to 4 inches). As is common in birds, males and females are quite different in their appearance. The biggest difference is that males have a deep red crown on their back paired with white streaks under the eyes. The sides of their head and breast are embellished with scarlet.

Their tail, wings, and overfeathers are marked with white spots. The beaks are also red. However, this signature look can only be witnessed during the breeding season. Once the breeding season is over, they become much more similar to the females. Females have a dark brown crown, back, and tail with much fewer white spots on their backs than males in the breeding season. Juvenile strawberry finches look rather dull and are grayish-brown all over.


Bright red plumage plays an important role in attracting females; in addition to that, male strawberry finches have their own mating dance, which begins with the male carrying a grass stem or feather in their mouth and bowing with their feathers upright. Typically, these birds live in flocks of around 100 other birds of their species.

However, they separate from the group after successful pairing to build nests. While breeding months vary regionally, they typically breed in the second half of the rainy season and into the following dry season.














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Do horses remember each other and have emotions? That was the question Sue Blagburn had when she reintroduced Arthur, a horse, to two of his playmates from when he was a foal.


In December of 2012, Sue repurchased Arthur after having bred and sold him years earlier. Arthur grew up with the other two horses. He knew William when they were both foals and Harry arrived as a foal a year later.

“Would Arthur now aged eight and a half, a thoroughbred sports horse that has spent the last four and a half years in a high class private competition yard have any memory at all of the two hairy New Forest pony playmates he once shared his youth with?” Sue wrote. “And likewise would William and Harry recognize that little thoroughbred guy who was once their best mate?”

Sue arranged their reunion in an English field where William and Harry had just lived for two weeks, so there was no familiar surroundings for the old friends. She invited filmmaker Bruce Selkirk to capture the reunion on camera.

Soon the horses were nuzzling each other and having a “rolling party” in celebration. They not only recognized each other but clearly love each other!

Sue shared an update on the three friends in April 2015 and wrote that “Arthur, William and Harry are still all together and very happy, so am I! We now have a wonderful home in South Dartmoor where we run Adventures with Horses, Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning.”

Watching their reunion, Sue was absolutely awestruck by their special bond and I am too. Share this wonderful film with your family and friends who love animals!


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When a baby walrus was spotted alone by fishermen, the Alaskan SeaLife Center was called in to help. The young calf (estimated to be 4 to 6 weeks old) was brought to their rehabilitation center and right away met with the caretakers there.

Walrus are incredibly social animals. The calves typically spend about two years with their mothers, so his rescuers knew they had to step into that caregiver role to help him survive. Watch the heart-melting moment that they first meet!


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This gentle German Shepherd is so careful not to step on or hurt the tiny kittens he's watching over.

"No fights on this bed" said the German Sheppard from r/aww

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