Over in Japan, everyone is obsessed with a species of bird that look like little flying cotton balls. Now, news has reached the internet and we can't get enough...
Keep scrolling for the adorable pictures.
Bird watching is a popular activity.
via: Getty Images
This recreational activity is most popular amongst retired folk who enjoy spending time in the countryside and wooded areas spotting their favorite species of bird.There are many rare and beautiful species of birds out there...
via: Getty Images
From strawberry finches with their distinct red color to a bird that can do the splits (yep, really... check them out at the end).But once in a while, a bird comes along that totally captivates the internet.
And the latest to take off may be one of the cutest we’ve seen.Why?
Well, many think they look like flying cotton balls.ÂThese adorable fluff balls are quite common in Europe and Asia.
The long-tailed part of their name refers to the length of their tail in relation to their tiny bodies. An adult only grows to be about thirteen-fifteen cm long, and that's including the tail, which counts for as much as half the entire length.However, the specific group of long-tailed tits found in Hokkaido are on another level of cuteness...
Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan and is home to 6 national parks and seventeen quasi-national and prefectural parks.Therefore, it's become famous for its wildlife diversity.
And many species can only be found in that area.While most long-tailed tits have more brown in their feathers...
The ones in Hokkaido have pure white faces meaning they could be mistaken for a flying cotton ball.They have even earnt their own name in Japan.
"The shima-enaga bird," which translates to "long-tailed island bird."
Very apt.They have proven extremely popular among Japenese folk.
So much so, that there's tons of merchandise and even food designed to look like these tiny birds.