Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week #60

Posted by Steve Boyes of National Geographic Expeditions in Explorers Journal on January 27, 2014

“Quick re-fill before the long migration to southern Africa” White storks are long-distance migrants that breed throughout Europe as far N as Finland), as well as NW Africa, SW Asia, and S Africa, wintering in Africa from tropical SubSaharan Africa to S South Africa and the Indian subcontinent. (Sjoerd van Berge Henegouwen)

Swallow-tailed bee-eaters are distributed throughout subtropical SubSaharan Africa and are often seen in large groups on perches. (Anja Denker)

“Beautiful family having breakfast” Swallow-tailed bee-eaters are distributed throughout subtropical SubSaharan Africa and are often seen in large groups on perches. (Anja Denker)

Asian paradise flycatchers have a wide distribution from Bangladesh, N Pakistan, most of India and Sri Lanka, all the way to Manchuria (China) and tropical Asia. (Gurum Ekalavya)

“Paradise pilates” Asian paradise flycatchers have a wide distribution from Bangladesh, N Pakistan, most of India and Sri Lanka, all the way to Manchuria (China) and tropical Asia. (Gurum Ekalavya)

American bald eagle swoops down to steal a meal from this great blue heron. Both species have a very wide distribution across most of N America. (Edward Celnicker)

“American civil war” American bald eagle swoops down to steal a meal from this great blue heron. Both species have a very wide distribution across most of N America. (Edward Celnicker)

Greater birds-of-paradise are found in the high canopy of the lowland and hill forests of SW New Guinea and the Aru Islands (Indonesia). (Markus Lilje / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

“Canopy carnival” Greater birds-of-paradise are found in the high canopy of the lowland and hill forests of SW New Guinea and the Aru Islands (Indonesia). (Markus Lilje / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Green bee-eaters have an extremely wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and the Gambia to Ethiopia, the Nile valley, W Arabia and Asia through to Indian Subcontinent and Vietnam. (Harshad Bhurke)

“Keep an eye out” Green bee-eaters have an extremely wide distribution in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and the Gambia to Ethiopia, the Nile valley, W Arabia and Asia through to Indian Subcontinent and Vietnam. (Harshad Bhurke)

"Precision flight in formation" The Indian skimmer was previously known as the "Indian Scissors-bill" and is still found in flocks on some large rivers, lakes, swamps and coastal wetlands. (Sonal Patil)

The Indian skimmer was previously known as the “Indian Scissors-bill” and is still found in flocks on some large rivers, lakes, swamps and coastal wetlands. (Sonal Patil)

“Magnificent eye-full” Magnificent sunbirds are endemic to the Philippines and their flight pattern is similar to hummingbirds. (Jeniel Buday)

Green-crowned brilliants are found in the Costa Rican highlands all the way to W Ecuador, preferring wet mountain forest edges, gaps and tall secondary growth. (Kimberly Powell)

“Sugar fellows” Green-crowned brilliants are found in the Costa Rican highlands all the way to W Ecuador, preferring wet mountain forest edges, gaps and tall secondary growth. (Kimberly Powell)

Mangrove pittas are difficult to study and spot in the wild, preferring the high mangrive forests of SE Asia and S Asia. (Rich Lindie / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

“Hidden gem emerges” Mangrove pittas are difficult to study and spot in the wild, preferring the high mangrive forests of SE Asia and S Asia. (Rich Lindie / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Magnificent frigatebirds are widespread in the tropical Atlantic, preferring to breed in large colonies in trees in Florida, the Caribbean and Cape Verde Islands. (Mark Antony Heath)

“Danger above” Magnificent frigatebirds are widespread in the tropical Atlantic, preferring to breed in large colonies in trees in Florida, the Caribbean and Cape Verde Islands. (Mark Antony Heath)

“Replacement squirrel” Squirrel cuckoos are found in wooded habitats from NW Mexico to N Argentina and Uruguay, and on Trinidad. (Mark Antony Heath)

Red-billed hornbills are found throughout the subtropical savanna and woodland of sub-Saharan Africa. (Morgan Hauptfleisch)

“Dinner under the moonlight” Red-billed hornbills are found throughout the subtropical savanna and woodland of sub-Saharan Africa. (Morgan Hauptfleisch)

Indian skimmers are found throughout SE Asia where they have a patchy distribution with declining population numbers due to collapse of river systems. (Parvinder Singh Anand)

“Greetings on the sandbank” Indian skimmers are found throughout SE Asia where they have a patchy distribution with declining population numbers due to collapse of river systems. (Parvinder Singh Anand)

Asian paradise flycatchers are found in the thick forests and well-wooded habitats from Turkestan to Manchuria, all over India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Archipelago on the islands of Sumba and Alor. (Prasanna AV)

“Perfect pose” Asian paradise flycatchers are found in the thick forests and well-wooded habitats from Turkestan to Manchuria, all over India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Archipelago on the islands of Sumba and Alor. (Prasanna AV)

"Blue" rock pigeons are originally from Europe, North Africa and W Asia, but feral "pigeons" have become established in cities around the world. (Prasanna AV)

“French kissing” “Blue” rock pigeons are originally from Europe, North Africa and W Asia, but feral “pigeons” have become established in cities around the world. (Prasanna AV)

Common kingfishers are widely distributed across Eurasia and North Africa, where hey are resident except in areas where rivers freeze in winter. (Prasanna AV)

“Bug-catcher” Common kingfishers are widely distributed across Eurasia and North Africa, where hey are resident except in areas where rivers freeze in winter. (Prasanna AV)

“Eye of the heron” Indian pond herons are resident breeders in S Iran and E to Pakistan, India, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. (Prasanna AV)

“All dressed up” Pheasant-tailed jacanas breed in India, SE Asia and Indonesia, and have been recorded as vagrants in Australia. (Prasanna AV)

Spotted owlets breed in tropical Asia from India to SE Asia, and have adapted well to life alongside urban development and farmland. (Prasanna AV)

“You’re going to have to keep one eye open…” Spotted owlets breed in tropical Asia from India to SE Asia, and have adapted well to life alongside urban development and farmland. (Prasanna AV)

“Ready, set…” Green herons are distributed throughout the waterbodies and rivers of N and central America. (Prathap)

“Magic blue bird…” Purple sunbirds are resident breeders in W Asia from the Indian Subcontinent all the way to SE Asia. (Shishir Saksena)

Oriental dwarf kingfishers are found in the lowland forests of the Indian Subcontinent and SE Asia, most common in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. (Ritesh Nangare)

“Cricket carnivore” Oriental dwarf kingfishers are found in the lowland forests of the Indian Subcontinent and SE Asia, most common in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. (Ritesh Nangare)

White-throated kingfishers have a wide distributed in Eurasia from Bulgaria, Turkey, W Asia to the Indian Subcontinent and the Philippines. (Mitul Jhaveri)

“Sharp eye, full belly” White-throated kingfishers have a wide distributed in Eurasia from Bulgaria, Turkey, W Asia to the Indian Subcontinent and the Philippines. (Mitul Jhaveri)

The little-known yellow-breasted barbet is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan. (Rich Lindie / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

“Busy barbet” The little-known yellow-breasted barbet is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan. (Rich Lindie / www.rockjumperbirding.com)