Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Feb. 5, 2025

Being the "black sheep" isn"t always a bad thing—just ask the Scottish Blackface, seen here in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. With its striking dark features and a knack for thriving in places others wouldn"t, this British breed has turned the idiom on its head. Far from an outcast, it"s the backbone of Scotland"s rural life and a true champion of the hills and moors. Interestingly, the Blackface sheep didn"t originate in Scotland but south of the Anglo-Scottish border. The breed"s history is fascinating, and varieties such as the large-framed Perth and the medium-framed Lanark types are found across the United Kingdom. Though it"s the most common breed in the region, the Blackface sheep has spread across the world, including the United States. Its coarse fleece is perfect for making durable products like carpets and tweeds—definitely not your average sweater material.

© Mike Powles/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

What are these colourful insects?
Feb. 5, 2024Monarch butterflies, Goleta, California
Feb. 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb. 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Behold the architectural marvel
The other continent down under
Oct 24, 2026Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dec. 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
King of the jungle? Nope
Mar. 4, 2025Happy Fat Tuesday!
Sep. 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
May 27, 2025Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia
Sep. 3, 2023Skyscrapers in Manhattan
Aug. 29, 2023Zelenci Nature Reserve, Slovenia
Apr. 9, 2024World Ski and Snowboard Festival
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Aug. 14, 2025Cable car station on Piz Nair mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland
Whats so funny?
Oct. 10, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
Come on, guys, this way!
A grove glows green
Strong sibling bonds
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
Love is in the snow
Sep 26, 2026Horseshoe Falls illuminated at night in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Jun. 30, 2024Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida
Oct. 16, 2024Fossils of belemnites and ammonites, Jurassic Coast, UK
Mar. 21, 2024International Day of Forests
Dec. 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
May 5, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, US
Sep. 4, 2024Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
Jun. 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh