The golden fanned crest, scarlet red throat pouch and three-foot graceful body of the East African Crowned Crane makes it stunning to watch. This beautiful bird is on the Uganda coat of arms but also lives in the savannahs across Africa. This one strolls the grounds of the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Gardens in City Park. The zoo celebrated its 150 birthday in 2016.
Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 6, 1146 Hungary Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Amateur and serious birdwatchers alike are thrilled to discover Lake Tjörnin. Estimates suggest up to 50 species of water birds visit The Pond during the year, ranging from the small Arctic tern to the graceful whooper swan. Feeding the birds has become so popular that Icelanders use a phrase to describe it: “stærsta brauðsúpa í heimi.” This translates to “world’s largest bread soup.”
Tjörnin, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Sometimes it is unexplainable why a place or thing is high on your bucket list. So was my quest to photograph an Atlantic puffin while in Iceland. Immediately after disembarking the ferry to Heimaey, I drove my rental car to the southernmost tip off the island. The cliffs surrounding Stórhöfði hosts the world’s largest colony of common puffins from mid-April through August. These birds are adorable. Standing only eight inches tall with a 21 inch wingspan, their colorful beaks and triangular eyes accented with a red ring makes them appear like an animated Disney character.
Puffin Lookout, Stórhöfði, Iceland Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The Long Walk is a row of colorful buildings stretching along the river towards Galway Bay. They were constructed during the 18th century by descendants of John Eyre. He was a captain in Oliver Cromwell’s army. After they conquered Galway in 1652, the Eyre of Eyrecourt acquired considerable property in the city. The land was handed down for generations. This quay is now an Architectural Conservation Area. The graceful mute swan is swimming towards Claddagh, a former fishing village.
7 Claddagh Quay Galway, Ireland Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This rooster proudly left his old wooden coop and began to strut his stuff. However, when the tether stopped his advance, he crowed in protest. He lives near Shoubak, a small town of 12,500 people near the northwest corner of Ma’an Governorate bordering Tafilah Governorate. This region is arid and very dry during the summer because it rarely rains from June through August. Then during the winter it can reach temperatures below freezing.
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The blue-and-yellow macaw is one of 19 species of parrots from Mexico plus Central and South America. This species is the most hybridized by the pet industry and among public exhibitors. This may explain why this bird’s chest appears more orange than the classic blue-and-yellow coloring. For more sightings of great birds, visit Ochsner Island, also called Bird Island, at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana.
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The great black-backed gull is a very common sight along the coastal waters of New England and the Atlantic coast of Canada. Its body can stretch over two feet. This domineering bird pushes its four pound weight around by demanding handouts from tourists. Several local companies offer bird watching tours around Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Among the favorites are puffins and peregrine falcons.
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Several crested ducks swim gracefully in the Camden Harbor. This rare, domestic breed has its origins from the East Indies. The tuft of plumage on the crestopher’s head resembles a large cotton ball. The male or drake white crested averages about seven pounds.
16 Atlantic Ave Camden, ME 04843 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Fisherman, tourists and especially seagulls turn out in droves in April and early May as the herring “run” from the sea upstream along the rivers of Cape Cod, Massachusetts to lay their eggs. Also called alewives, these swarms of silver fish struggle against the currents and up the “ladders” while birds pluck them out of the water, find a dry rock, swing back their head and gobble them down while neighboring birds squawk in protest.
830 Stony Brook Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
If you look closely along the water’s edge of the Marina Cobo San Lucas you may catch a glimpse of this elegant great egret. This pure white heron is oblivious to the bustle of tourists while he gracefully wades through the shallow water in search of dinner. Suddenly, with a burst of speed, he plunges his S-shaped neck forward and snatches a fish in his yellow bill.
Blvd. Paseo de la Marina 36, Marina, 23450 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This juvenile brown pelican will not wear the adult’s plumage until his third year. In the meantime, he seems very content to sit on the promenade facing the International Pier while watching boats big and small come and go. The Norwegian Spirit is a 2,000 person ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.
Av. Rafael E. Melgar 15, Centro, 77600 San Miguel de Cozumel, Q. R., Mexico Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
While enjoying the coastal waters of the Yucatán Peninsula you will likely share the beach with brown pelicans. This consummate fisherman has a wingspan of over six feet which lets it soar up to 80 feet above the Caribbean Sea. When it spots dinner, this seabird plunges straight down and scoops up in its foot-long bill as much as 2.5 gallons of water along with its catch. It eats up to four pounds a day or about half its body weight … sort of like vacationers at the hotel buffet.
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This scarlet macaw was part of an ensemble of performing parrots that mesmerize children and their parents during a beachside show. This native of the northern South America and parts of Central America including Mexico is large, colorful and chatty. With proper care in captivity they can live up to 70 years.
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This extreme close-up of an intense, red face belongs to a Barred Cochin Bantam Rooster. He looks mean but they are actually very calm and tame. This poultry breed originated in China and was first brought to the U.S. in 1845. The bantam rooster has a five-pointed crown and weighs about 11 pounds. This bird won a blue ribbon at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
1785 Judson Ave, St Paul, MN 55108 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The world’s tiniest penguins are blue, short and adorable. Adult little blue penguins stand about 13 inches and weigh two to three pounds. They are indigenous to the coastlines of New Zealand and southern Australia. The Aussies call them fairy penguins and the Māori name is kororā. Increasingly, the eudyptula minor are breeding on offshore islets to escape predators and human disturbances. Both have caused a significant drop in their population. The flightless birds typically nest in sheltered, underground burrows near the sea. They will also reside in rock crevices and manmade nesting boxes. One of New Zealand’s largest colonies is in Oamaru along the eastern coast of the South Island. An excellent place to see little blue penguins waddle ashore at dusk is at the tourist site called Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony.
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony, Waterfront Rd, Oamaru 9400, New Zealand Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
State Highway 6 begins hugging the scenic West Coast at Woodpecker Bay where the Fox River empties into the Tasman Sea. The next several miles of waterfront heading south are home to colonies of little blue penguins. Averaging just over one foot tall, they are the world’s smallest. The Māori name is kororā. This yellow penguin crossing sign is amusing but no joke. The blue penguins often waddle across the road at dusk and sunrise between their burrow and the sea. Tragically, several are accidently killed each year by motorists.
State Hwy 6, Fox River 7871, New Zealand Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Queenstown is a leisurely resort city of about 15,000 people. Enjoy a quiet walk along the bay feeding the mallard ducks and Toulouse geese. This large, originally French bird with its distinctive dewlap (flap of skin below the jaw) is becoming popular among New Zealand breeders for its eggs, feathers and the production of foie gras.
3 Marine Parade, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
These cute, fluffy cygnets swimming in the East Harbor of Kristiansand hardly have the appearance of an adult mute swan. Once they reach maturity, this migratory waterfowl will have white plumage, an elegant S-shaped neck and an orange bill accented by a black knob at the base. Although they are flightless at this age, they will eventually have a wingspan of 80 to 90 inches and weigh about 25 pounds. There are about a half million mute swans in the world. They tend to favor the temperate areas of Europe so there is only a small population in Norway.
[58.141519, 7.997352] Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Walk into any pet store and you will probably find a parakeet for sale. The nickname for this small, long-tailed bird is blue budgie. The formal name is the budgerigar. In the wilds of Australia, their coloring is predominately green and yellow. Their domestic cousins have been breed to reflect a rainbow of colors. This little guy is a male, indicated by the blue cere or area around his nostrils. He was very talkative when we met him at the aviary in the Safari Village section of Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.
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The emu reminds me of a former frat brother: both are over six feet tall, have disheveled thinning hair, large beaks, are naturally curious, tend to stare at humans, make loud sounds, rarely drink but drinks a lot on occasion resulting in red eyes. The emu is a native of Australia and is featured on the country’s coat of arms along with the kangaroo. This emu resides at the Wildlife Safari in Weston, Oregon. He boldly runs up to your car window and begs for food … just like my cheapskate frat brother use to do.
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This female common ostrich from Africa holds several records among birds: its height at six to nine feet, its weight at 220 to over 300 pounds, the largest vertebrate, the fastest at over 40 m.p.h., the largest eggs at almost six inches and the fewest toes at two. Yes, when threatened, they do lay their heads on the ground in an attempt to hide. But they hold their head high at the Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.
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The greater rhea, also called the American rhea, is endemic to eastern South America. Their name is derived from the Greek mother of the gods. This flightless bird looks similar to an ostrich. However, it is smaller at about five feet tall and weighs 80 pounds. Another difference is the rhea has three toes versus the ostrich’s two. They are a threatened species in the wild but are becoming popular among farmers for their meat, eggs, leather and oil used in cosmetics. This bird is one of the last you will see during your two-hour drive through the Wildlife Safari in Weston, Oregon.
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The tallest ostrich species is this red-necked or North African ostrich. The bird stands over nine feet tall thanks to his enormous pink neck and long legs. Once widespread in Northern Africa plus parts of Egypt and Morocco, it is now considered critically endangered. This 300 pound, flightless bird can be seen at the 600 acre Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.
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Dangerously few wild white-naped cranes remain in the Northern parts of China, Russia and Mongolia. This is why it is great to see zoos and animal management parks such as Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon, provide a natural-setting for these birds. Formerly called grus vipio, it stands four feet, weighs about a dozen pounds and has a distinguished red circle around its eyes.
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Saint Kitts has about 120 species of trees. The varieties vary across the island based on soil types, proximity to the sea and wind plus a multitude of micro-climates. This is an acacia (Acacia farnesiana). The tree thrives on dry, rocky hills. The colloquial name of needle bush explains why this evergreen hosts a flock of cattle egrets. The branches are lined with long, thin and sharp thorns. They provide the colonies of nesting birds with protection from predators.
Cayon St, Brumaire, St. Kitts & Nevis Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
This Green-winged Macaw, also called Red-and-green, is next to a Blue-and-yellow Macaw, also called Blue-and-gold. These Neotropical parrots are about three feet long and originate from overlapping parts of South America. This pair resides in the center of Sentosa Island, which is a huge theme park and resort area near downtown Singapore. Next to the birds is the 122 foot replica of Merlion, which is a mythical creature of half lion and fish and the symbol for the country.
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Belgium is the origin for two, nearly identical breeds of chicken: the braekel and the campine. The former is rare. However, this gold campine hen is a good producer of white eggs and is frequently raised for shows. The gold neck and head gives this five-pound chicken a distinguished look as it strutted around a farm near Pierre, South Dakota.
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The Coscoroba swan, with its gorgeous white feathers accented by a red beak, is an elegant waterfowl from primarily Chile and Argentina. It stands here on a rock, marveling at the calm water reflecting a canopy of green foliage. It is one of 7000 animals you’ll enjoy during a day at the Zoo Basil, one of the most visited attractions in Switzerland.
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Typically when you see a captive colony of flamingos, most of them are standing around on one leg, pruning themselves or stretching their long, pink neck into the water in search of food. However, during my visit to the Basil Zoo, I watched an intruding male try to attract a female. Immediately, the bonding mate intervened and a fight broke out. Soon it became a free-for-all of pecking, intertwining necks and flapping wings. When it was all over, however, the aggressor won his gal. I love a happy, romantic ending.
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I love watching the elegant, graceful and tall grey heron as it slowly wades through waterways until, suddenly, the S-shaped neck lunges forward so its bill can snatch a fish. When dinner is done, its six-foot wingspan lifts it back into a treetop nest. This expert hunter is found along the shores of Europe, Asia and Africa or at Zoo Basel in Switzerland.
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Have you ever been greeted by a six foot, female ostrich from Africa? Or maybe other large, flightless birds like the rhea and emu? You can experience this at the 400 acre Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch near San Antonio. This ostrich’s acute eyesight sees your vehicle entering the Massai Savanna section. Then those long, bare legs and two-toe feet can propel her at over 40 m.p.h. These allow her to be the first to arrive at your car window. She expects to be feed a treat that is included in your admission ticket. I photographed this bird sticking her head into the sunroof of a BMW and grabbing a bag of food out of a young boy’s hand.
26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The scarlet macaw is one of six parrot species from Central America and northern parts of South America. The bird displays rich, red plumage. The large, white beak is ideally designed for feeding and producing loud squawks when its mouth is not full. It is also a powerful tool for navigation like gripping the side of this cage. This 32 inch, two-pound parrot is in the “Walk-A-Bout” section of the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch near San Antonio, Texas.
26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest metropolitan area of Vietnam with more than nine million people and the expectation to grow another four to five million by 2025. Parts of the city, formerly called Saigon, have flourished post-war with gorgeous skyscrapers, office buildings and shopping centers. Others have maintained buildings that reflect their historic, cultural and religious past. Yet much of the city is congested with motor scooters weaving through the crowded streets that are lined with old, dirty storefronts. And among these contrasts, you are likely to see poultry walking aimlessly around.
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It may seem unlikely to find Canada geese in Wales. However, since their introduction in the 17th century, they have become the most common goose species. Locally, they are called gwydd Canada. In Gaelic, their name is Gèadh-dubh. This pair was feeding along the Outer East Moat of Caerphilly Castle. Since this medieval stronghold was built in 1271, it has been the largest castle in Wales.
Caerphilly Castle, Castle St, Caerphilly CF83 1JD, UK Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions
The grey face with a muted orange patch indicates this cockatiel is female. The male’s plumage is brighter yellow and orange. Her vertical crest suggests she was excited while being photographed so closely. This charming bird is at the Willawong Station, a walk-in aviary at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. It is a common household pet and native to most of Australia.
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The eastern rosella displays brilliant layers of white, red, yellow, black and green along its 12 inch body. This subspecies, called the golden-mantled rosella, adds a blue and more hues of green and yellow to the mix. The bird is beautiful and very intelligent. However, it does not make a good pet such as the budgie parakeet or cockatiel. The eastern rosella lives among other Australian parrots at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
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The Indian peafowl is also called the blue peafowl for its predominately metallic blue feathers. It is India’s national bird where it lives across the country. It is also a frequent image in temples. The peacock, or male, enjoys the vibrant plumage and long train that fans out with iridescent eyespots. These 9 to 13 pound peafowl can fly but prefers to walk or strut like this one at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
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The Steller’s sea eagle is an enormous raptor from the coastline and rivers of northeastern Asia. An adult female can grow to 20 pounds with a body length of 41 inches and a wingspan of eight feet. These dimensions are much larger than the American bald eagle. Scientifically known as haliaeetus pelagicus, these powerful birds watch for food with their incredible vision from tall trees or while circling about 20 feet. Then they dive into the water to retrieve a trout or salmon in its sharp, curved talons. This eagle can be seen in the Northern Trail section of Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
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There are 250 species of bees in the Northern Hemisphere. This one with its black body and yellow stripes is the American bumblebee. The anthophila has a long, hairy tongue. They use this proboscis to lap at the pollen and nectar in a flower such as this yellow arrowleaf balsamroot. The insect then stores their harvest in pollen baskets located on their back legs. As the bee flies, they create an electrostatic charge which holds the pollen on their legs. Then it is released onto the well-grounded stigma of the next flower. This process creates the beautiful wildflowers around Teton Village in Wyoming.
3335 Village Dr, Teton Village, WY 83025 Enlarge/Slideshow See On Map Directions