There are so many reasons why Red Dead Redemption 2 won the Game of the Year award back in 2018. One reason is its vast depth when it comes to incorporating an incredible variety of animals and herbs into the world of Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Online. No matter if a player is riding north through the icy mountains of Ambriano or the swamps of Lemoyne, players will find different species of animals to hunt, fish, and admire.
There are 66 different birds. Here are ten that players may have overlooked while living life as a rugged outlaw.
10 Carolina Parakeet
Sadly, the Carolina Parakeet went extinct in the wild around the year 1918, a detail which highlights the research and creativity that went into the making of Red Dead Redemption 2. This bird was of the Psittacidae family and is known for its colorful feathers and curved beak. Outlaws can easily kill the Carolina Parakeet with a small game arrow and gain exotic game meat, but it will cost the player positive honor since the bird is an endangered species.
9 California CondorÂ
One of the few birds on this list that can only be found in a very specific area is the California Condor. The California Condor is the largest wild bird in North America and is easily noticeable for its bald head and yellowish skin.
It is a carrion bird, meaning it feeds on the carcasses of dead animals, and at times, small game. This bird lives east of Tumbleweed at Gap Tooth Ridge. Use small game arrows when hunting it.Â
8 Cedar Waxwing
The Bombycilla Cedrorum, more commonly known as the Cedar Waxwing, is a beautiful bird that loves the forest and open spaces in Red Dead Online. This little bird is distinguished by the black stripes around its eyes and bright colored-tipped tail. Their diets consist of caterpillars, beetles, and ants during the spring and summer months, and berries year-round. An outlaw can spot this darling near the streams and on the edge of forests in West Elizabeth.Â
7 Chinese Ring-Necked PheasantÂ
Arguably the most colorful bird on this list is the Chinese Ring-Necked Pheasant. This pheasant is absolutely breathtaking. Its head is a different color from the rest of the body, separated by a black ring around the neck. The body consists of blue feathers on its wings and a yellow or orange body, leading to an extremely long, striped tail. A player can find this beauty in New Hanover north of the Heartland Oil Fields, and east of Cumberland Forest.
6 Double-Crested CormorantsÂ
Double-Crested Cormorants love waterways and can be found near rivers and lakes in West Elizabeth, New Hanover, and Lemoyne. They are typically very dark-colored and have two groups of colorful feathers on both sides of their head.
These medium-sized birds of prey eat small fish and crustaceans. A player can take down the Double-Crested Cormorant with a varmint rifle and receive a Flight Feather and Gamey Bird Meat. The carcass can be sold for a small profit.
5 Eurasian Tree Sparrow
There are three different sparrows in Red Dead Online, but the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the most exotic. Eurasian Tree Sparrows are tiny brown and black birds with white underbellies. These birds arrived in America back in 1870 with a shipment of European birds from Germany. These little guys feed on seeds, grains, mites, ticks, and spiders. Players can spot them anywhere from the forests of West Elizabeth to the grasslands of New Hanover. They also provide Gamey Bird Meat.
4 Ferruginous Hawk
The Ferruginous Hawk is one of five species of Accipitridae in Red Dead Online. This majestic animal is commonly spotted in the deserts of New Austin near Tumbleweed and Armadillo. The Ferruginous Hawk, just like all other hawks, feeds on small game such as rabbits, lizards, prairie dogs, and birds. An outlaw can get a clean carcass of this bird by getting a headshot with a Varmint Rifle. The Ferruginous Hawks feathers can be used for crafting Throwing Knives.
3 Golden Eagle
The Aquila Chrysaetos, also known as the Golden Eagle, is an extremely rare bird to come across in the wilds of Red Dead Online. This lord of the sky is found in the frigid mountain range north of Annasburge, The Grizzlies, and the far northwestern part of West Elizabeth. Eagle feathers are used to craft Improved Throwing Knives, and its meat can be eaten or sold. This eagle is dark brown with golden-brown feathers around its head and neck.Â
2 Hooded Oriole
The Hooded Oriole is a tiny bird known for its unique and brilliant color. The males have a black face with black wings and tail, but its body is bright orange. This Icteridae feeds on insects found under leaves, like caterpillars, larvae, beetles, ants, and the occasional grasshopper. A player can find the Hooded Oriole scattered along the Dakota River north of Valentine, and as it passes through West Elizabeth. Small Game Arrows work best against this bird.
1 Reddish Egret
The most interesting and strange looking bird on this list is the Reddish Egret of Lemoyne. The Reddish Egret is not seen often but is hard to miss because of its long plumed neck that, from a distance, resembles fur. These birds love shallow swamp water and can be found in Blue Water Marsh and on the edges of Largas and San Dennis, on a good day. The Reddish Egret is a carnivore and feeds mainly on fish and frogs.Â