The said pet trader was spray-painting the pigeons a bright blue and pink, earning these birds the moniker “rainbow pigeons”.

While this was clearly a sales strategy, it begs the question of whether this cruel act was necessary at all.

The feathers of a pigeon are beautiful in themselves just like all the other naturally beautiful birds for humans to appreciate. Below are five stunning birds found in Malaysia.

Common emerald dove

Even at first glance, the common emerald dove appears to be anything but common. With its stunning red bill and bright green wings, this bird is a sight to behold, giving justice to the “emerald” in its name.

The male sports a charming silver crown and blue nape while the female is dressed in more sedate brown.

Besides Malaysia, Myanmar and Singapore, the Asian emerald dove or the grey-capped emerald dove, can typically be found in the Indian subcontinent.

It lives in tropical forests and dense wet woodlands, farms, and mangroves. It is also the state bird of Tamil Nadu in India.

Pink-necked green pigeon

The pink-necked green pigeon is yet another beauty. While both the adult male and female birds are pleasing to the eye, the male has a purplish-pinkish neck with a splatter of orange on its breast that complements its bluish head.

Although a plainer version of her male counterpart with her two-tone green shades, the female is nevertheless still a looker in her own right.

Besides Malaysia, these feathered beauties can typically be found in Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar and live in a variety of habitats such as forests and coastal mangroves.

Pin-tailed parrot finch

The pin-tailed parrot finch is definitely a pint-sized beauty! The male in particular is striking with its blue face, bright orange-red and yellow breast, and bright green back.

In fact, at first glance, it may seem like this tiny bird has all the colours of the rainbow. The female however, lacks the male’s vibrant hues on her belly and face.

Besides Malaysia, these birds can be found in Thailand, Myanmar, and Brunei where they live in montane and lowland moist forests, bamboo thickets, and rice plantations.

Brown-throated sunbird

It is always a delight to spot a brown-throated sunbird. Also known as the plain-throated sunbird, the male is absolutely stunning – dressed as he is in a glossy blend of blue and green on its back, a display that contrasts well with its yellow breast and brown-red throat.

As in all other bird species, the female is rather dressed down with her greyish brown head, olive green plumage on the back, and a yellow breast.

Apart from Malaysia, these birds are found in Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand where they live in forests and shrublands. Adult birds generally feed on nectar, small fruits, and berries.

Jambu fruit dove

How can you resist the pink, fluffy face of the male Jambu fruit dove and his pink-blushed chest? A striking bird with green feathers on his back and a bright orange bill, his proud white chest makes him an instant looker.

The female meanwhile has a purple head and green plumage on her back. It is said that these birds are shy, and their green plumage serves as camouflage.

They will gather in large flocks when feeding at a fruit tree. Apart from eating fruit directly from the tree, they also help themselves to fruit fallen on the ground.

Found in Malaysia, these beauties also live in Brunei, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Sadly, their population is decreasing. In 2016, this species was listed under the “Near Threatened” category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.