Spring is in the air! A White-throated Sparrow resides in a flowering Crabapple tree in Northern Illinois. Photo by Janelle Pitula.A White-naped Woodpecker family in Vansda National Park, India. Both parents are involved in the care of their offspring. Photo by Anand Patel.Tawny Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. A pair share a tender moment in Rajasthan. Photo by Shantanu Bhattacharya.A Taiwan Blue Magpie is caught mid bath in Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan. Birds bath to rid themselves of dirt and parasites. Photo by Sjoerd Van Berge Henegouwen.Snail Kites are wide spread in South America but due to their locally small range and population sizes they are listed as endangered in the US. Photo by Melissa Penta.The Roseate Spoonbill uses its strangely shaped bill to strain small food items out of the water. Photo by Leslie ReaganReeves Pheasant male tries to impress the less extravagant female.
Photo by Jay ShahThe Rainbow-bearded Thornbill is a species of hummingbird found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Photo by John Kinghorn.A Purple Sunbird feeding on Christmas candle stand flower in Karnataka, India. Photo by Narahari Kanike.More than 200 species of birds live in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania and the Purple Heron is one of them. Photo by Teri FranzenPin Tailed Whydahs are an African species that have been introduced to California. They are obligate brood parasites so the question remains, who is taking care of their babies? Photo by Monique DaoA female Pheasant-tailed Jacana will lay two clutches to two different males for hatching and chick rearing. Photo by Irtiza BukhariThe exquisite Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher proudly poses with its arachnid prey. Photo by Bhupinder Randhawa.To initiate a mating dance a male Nazca Booby will engage in “sky-pointing” which the female will mimic if she’s interested… Photo Sjoerd Van Berge HenegouwenA group of godwits can be called an “omniscience”, “pantheon”, or “prayer” of godwits. This “Omniscience” of Marbled Godwits was photographed in Long Beach, California by Barbara Wallace.The Lilac-breasted Roller never ceases to delight the bush-going birder. Photo by Francois Rademeyer.No other bird has a longer breeding cycle than King Penguins. They take 14 to 16 months to fledge a single chick and can therefore only fledge a maximum of two chicks every three years. Here, a pair from South Georgia take a breather. Photo by David Berliner Nature Photography.Great Indian Hornbill shows off its impressive wing feathers in Kerala, India. Photo by Vidjit VijaysankerThe Glossy Ibis is fully nomadic and is the most widespread of all ibis species. Photo by Prasenjit ChoudhuryOne of the largest bird species in the world, a Dalmatian Pelican glides along the placid surface of Wellingdon Dam in Gujarat. Photo by Keyur Nandaniya A Crested Kingfisher takes off with its lunch in Wuhan, China. Photo by Jay ShahThe Brown-headed Parrot is one of four parrot species found in South Africa and is a welcomed sighting on any Kruger Park game drive. Photo by Jay van RensburgBrown headed gull out of its breeding plumage in Pondicherry, India.
Photo by Mohan DravidBirds are well-known for their lack of teeth and ability to fly, but more seldomly mentioned are their remarkable tongues. Here a Bank Myna reveals its bizarre looking oral apparatus. Photo by Rajesh ChaubeA Black Naped Monarch Flycatcher trying to impress his potential mate with a morsel of food. Photo by Ram Vaidyanathan.