The study had one goal: to discover “what makes a great bird photo?”
The researchers analyzed close to 30,000 bird photos from nine popular bird photography accounts on Instagram, utilizing an algorithm that compared the photographs that acquired the most “likes,” giving each photo an Image Aesthetic Appeal score in an aim to pinpoint “Instagram’s most aesthetically appealing bird.”
The frogmouth made for an unexpected winner.
“The surprising winner in this ranking is the frogmouth, which seems to be a matter of poetic justice, as this nocturnal bird with very distinct facial features was once designated ‘the world’s most unfortunate-looking bird,’” the study states, referencing a 2004 article from Nature Australia.
As the studyâs summary suggests, the aim was simple: to learn âwhat makes a great bird photo?â.
But even the researchers admit the frogmouth was a âsurprising winnerâ for the category of âInstagramâs most aesthetically appealing birdâ.
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Frogmouths are often mistaken for owls, although they share little of their majestic grace. The stocky, dishevelled birds have piercing yellow eyes and wide, hooked beak, giving them their name.