Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown pelican in flight at sunrise, La Jolla, Pelecanus occidentalis

 Bald eagle, closeup of head and shoulders showing distinctive white head feathers, yellow beak and brown body and wings, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bald eagle portrait, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Alaska.

 Bald eagle makes a splash while in flight as it takes a fish out of the water, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Bald eagle takes a fish out of the water. Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
Brown booby flying over Rose Atoll at sunset, with dark colorful storm clouds and other birds in the background, Sula leucogaster, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Brown Booby, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 A white tern, or fairy tern, alights on a branch at Rose Atoll in American Samoa, Gygis alba, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Fairy Tern, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 Bald eagle spreads its wings to land amid a large group of bald eagles, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bald eagle spreads its wings to land amid a large group of bald eagles. Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Alaska.
Galapagos penguin, underwater, swimming. Bartolome Island, Spheniscus mendiculus

Galapagos penguin, underwater, swimming. Bartolome Island, Galapagos. Spheniscus mendiculus.

 Northern cardinal, male, Cardinalis cardinalis, Amado, Arizona

Male Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, Arizona

 Magnificent frigatebird, adult male on nest, with throat pouch inflated, a courtship display to attract females, Fregata magnificens, North Seymour Island

Magnificent Frigatebird, North Seymour Island
Sandhill crane spreads its broad wings as it takes flight in early morning light. This crane is one of over 5000 present in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, stopping here during its winter migration, Grus canadensis, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill crane spreads its broad wings as it takes flight in early morning light, Grus canadensis, New Mexico.

 Magnificent frigatebird, adult female on nest, Fregata magnificens, North Seymour Island

Magnificent frigatebird, adult female on nest, Fregata magnificens, Galapagos Islands.

 Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla
Nazca booby in flight, Sula granti, Wolf Island

Nazca Booby, Wolf Island

 Snow geese at dawn. Snow geese often "blast off" just before or after dawn, leaving the ponds where they rest for the night to forage elsewhere during the day, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese At Dawn, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Sandhilll cranes in golden sunset light, silhouette, standing in pond, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhilll Cranes In Golden Sunset Light, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Juvenile bald eagle, second year coloration plumage, closeup of head and shoulders, looking directly at camera, snowflakes visible on feathers. Immature coloration showing white speckling on feathers, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Kachemak Bay

 Pyrrhuloxia, male, Cardinalis sinuatus, Amado, Arizona

Male Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus, Arizona.

 Bullock's oriole, first year male, Icterus bullockii, Amado, Arizona

Bullock's Oriole, Amado
Northern cardinal, female, Cardinalis cardinalis, Amado, Arizona

Northern Cardinal, Amado

 Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, Amado, Arizona

Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, Arizona.

 Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre, Amado, Arizona

Curve-billed Thrasher, Amado
Acorn woodpecker, female, Melanerpes formicivorus, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Acorn Woodpecker, Madera Canyon Recreation Area

 Black-headed grosbeak, male, Pheucticus melanocephalus, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Black-headed grosbeak, male. Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona. Pheucticus melanocephalus.

 Brown-headed cowbird, male, Molothrus ater, Amado, Arizona

Brown-headed Cowbird, Amado
House finch, male, Carpodacus mexicanus, Amado, Arizona

House Finch, Amado

 Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Wild Turkey, Madera Canyon Recreation Area

 Bridled titmouse, Baeolophus wollweberi, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Bridled Titmouse, Madera Canyon Recreation Area
Canyon towhee, Pipilo fuscus, Amado, Arizona

Canyon Towhee, Amado

 Hooded oriole, female, Icterus cucullatus, Amado, Arizona

Hooded Oriole, Amado

 House sparrow, breeding male, Passer domesticus, Amado, Arizona

House Sparrow, Amado
Cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, Amado, Arizona

Cactus Wren, Amado

 Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos

Golden Eagle

 Great egret (white egret), Ardea alba, Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Newport Beach, California

Great Egret, Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve
Wood duck, male, Aix sponsa, Santee Lakes

Wood Duck, Santee Lakes

 Double-crested cormorant, breeding plumage showing tufts, Phalacrocorax auritus, La Jolla, California

Double-crested Cormorant, La Jolla

 Western gulls, courtship behaviour, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western Gull, La Jolla
Brown pelican head throw. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Pelican Head Throw, La Jolla

 Western gull, early morning pink sky, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western Gull, La Jolla

 California brown pelican preening, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

California Brown Pelican Preening, La Jolla
Brown pelican preening, cleaning its feathers after foraging on the ocean, with distinctive winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

California Brown Pelican Preening, Lifts A Feather, La Jolla

 California brown pelican spreads its wings wide as it slows before landing on seacliffs, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla

 Bald eagle in flight, sidelit, cloudy sky and Kenai Mountains in the background, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle In Flight, Kachemak Bay
Snow geese in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese In Flight, Bosque Del Apache

 Sandhill crane in flight, wings extended, Grus canadensis, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Crane In Flight, Bosque Del Apache

 Snow geese in flight, wings are blurred in long time exposure as they are flying, Chen caerulescens, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese In Flight, Bosque Del Apache
Snow geese at dawn. Snow geese often "blast off" just before or after dawn, leaving the ponds where they rest for the night to forage elsewhere during the day, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese At Dawn, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 California brown pelican preening, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

California Brown Pelican Preening, La Jolla

 California brown pelican in flight, soaring over the ocean with its huge wings outstretched. The wingspan of the brown pelican can be over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. Adult winter non-breeding plumage showing white hindneck and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla
Double-crested cormorant, breeding plumage showing tufts, Phalacrocorax auritus, La Jolla, California

Double-crested Cormorant, La Jolla

 A brown pelican preening, reaching with its beak to the uropygial gland (preen gland) near the base of its tail. Preen oil from the uropygial gland is spread by the pelican's beak and back of its head to all other feathers on the pelican, helping to keep them water resistant and dry, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla, California

Brown Pelican, La Jolla

 Western gull, flying, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western Gull, La Jolla
Snow goose in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Goose In Flight, Bosque Del Apache

 Flock of red-winged blackbirds, in flight, blurred in time exposure, Agelaius phoeniceus, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Flock Of Red-winged Blackbirds, Bosque Del Apache

 Brown pelicans feeding on krill, Pelecanus occidentalis, Coronado Islands (Islas Coronado)

Brown Pelican, Coronado Islands
Bald eagle in flight, banking over beach with Kachemak Bay in background, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle In Flight, Kachemak Bay

 Sandhill cranes flying, wings blurred from long time exposure, Grus canadensis, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes Flying, Bosque Del Apache

 Double-crested cormorants in flight at sunrise, long exposure produces a blurred motion, Phalacrocorax auritus, La Jolla, California

Double-crested cormorants in flight at sunrise, long exposure produces a blurred motion, La Jolla. Phalacrocorax auritus.
Bald eagle vocalizing, calling, with open beak while on wooden perch, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle Vocalizing, Kachemak Bay

 Snow geese at sunrise. Thousands of wintering snow geese take to the sky in predawn light in Bosque del Apache's famous "blast off". The flock can be as large as 20,000 geese or more. Long time exposure creates blurring among the geese, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow geese at sunrise, abstract blur. Long time exposure creates blurring among the geese. New Mexico.

 Atlantic puffin, mating coloration, Fratercula arctica, Machias Seal Island

Atlantic Puffin, Machias Seal Island
Snow goose in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Goose In Flight, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Snow geese rest on a still pond in rich orange and yellow sunrise light. These geese have spent their night's rest on the main empoundment and will leave around sunrise to feed in nearby corn fields, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese Rest On A Still Pond In Rich Orange And Yellow Sunrise Light, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Bald eagle in flight, wing spread, soaring, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle In Flight, Kachemak Bay
Double-crested cormorant drys its wings in the sun following a morning of foraging in the ocean, La Jolla cliffs, near San Diego, Phalacrocorax auritus

Double-crested Cormorant, La Jolla

 Western gull, adult breeding plumage, note yellow orbital ring around eye, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western Gull, La Jolla

 Heermanns gull, adult breeding plumage, Larus heermanni, La Jolla, California

Heermann's Gull, La Jolla
Magnificent frigatebird, adult male on nest, with raised wings and throat pouch inflated in a courtship display to attract females, Fregata magnificens, North Seymour Island

Magnificent Frigatebird, North Seymour Island

 Heermanns gull, moon setting, sunrise, Larus heermanni, La Jolla, California

Heermann's Gull, La Jolla

 Cormorants rest on sandstone seacliffs above the ocean. Likely Brandts and double-crested cormorants, Phalacrocorax, La Jolla, California

La Jolla Cliffs
Western gull on sandstone cliffs, Larus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Western Gull, La Jolla

 Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, La Jolla, California

Double-crested Cormorant, La Jolla

 Western gull in flight, La Jolla, California

Western Gull In Flight, La Jolla
Sandhill crane portrait, as it forages in tall grass, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Crane Portrait, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Blue-footed booby, courtship display, Punta Suarez, Sula nebouxii, Hood Island

Blue-footed Booby, Hood Island

 Magnificent frigatebird (note blue eye ring), juvenile, Fregata magnificens, North Seymour Island

Magnificent Frigatebird, North Seymour Island
Western gull, Larus occidentalis

Western gull in flight, Larus occidentalis

 White (or fairy) tern, Gygis alba, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Fairy Tern, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 Swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcata, South Plaza Island

Swallowtail Gull, South Plaza Island
Nazca booby, Punta Suarez, Sula granti, Hood Island

Nazca Booby, Hood Island

 Blue-footed booby, courtship display, Sula nebouxii, North Seymour Island

Blue-footed Booby, North Seymour Island

 Galapagos penguin at sunset, Spheniscus mendiculus, Bartolome Island

Galapagos Penguin, Bartolome Island
Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, Floreana Island

Greater Flamingo, Floreana Island

 Sunset at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, with sandhill cranes silhouetted in reflection in the calm pond. Spectacular sunsets at Bosque del Apache, rich in reds, oranges, yellows and purples, make for striking reflections of the thousands of cranes and geese found in the refuge each winter, Grus canadensis, Socorro, New Mexico

Sunset At Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Small black bird, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Small Black Bird, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
A sandhill crane, standing in still waters with rich gold sunset light reflected around it, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

A Sandhill Crane, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Heermanns gull, presunrise purple-pink glow in the distant sky, Larus heermanni, La Jolla, California

Heermann's Gull, La Jolla

 Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter breeding plumage with distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, La Jolla, California

Brown Pelican, La Jolla
Sandhill cranes flying, wings blurred from long time exposure, Grus canadensis, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes Flying, Bosque Del Apache
Juvenile bald eagle, calling vocalizing, side profile view, second year coloration plumage, closeup of head, snowflakes visible on feathers. Immature coloration showing white speckling on feathers, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Juvenile Bald Eagle, Kachemak Bay

 Bald eagle in flight, heavy snow falling, snow covered beach and Kachemak Bay in background, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis, Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle In Flight, Kachemak Bay

 House finch, female, Carpodacus mexicanus, Amado, Arizona

House Finch, Amado
Northern cardinal, male, Cardinalis cardinalis, Amado, Arizona

Northern Cardinal, Amado

 Gila woodpecker, female, Melanerpes uropygialis, Amado, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker, Amado

 Northern cardinal, female, Cardinalis cardinalis, Amado, Arizona

Northern Cardinal, Amado
California brown pelican portrait, winter mating plumage, bright red gular pouch and dark brown hindneck, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla

 Willet on sand, Catoptrophurus semipalmatus, La Jolla, California

Willet, La Jolla

 Snow geese blast off. After resting and preening on water, snow geese are startled by a coyote, hawk or just wind and take off en masse by the thousands. As many as 50,000 snow geese are found at Bosque del Apache NWR at times, stopping at the refuge during their winter migration along the Rio Grande River, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese Blast Off, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Sandhill cranes in flight, silhouetted against a richly colored evening sky. A composite of two photographs taken moments apart, combined digitally, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes In Flight, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Snow goose in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Goose In Flight, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Sandhill cranes in flight, silhouetted against a richly colored evening sky. A composite of two photographs taken moments apart, combined digitally, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes In Flight, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Snow geese at sunrise. Thousands of wintering snow geese take to the sky in predawn light in Bosque del Apache's famous "blast off". The flock can be as large as 20,000 geese or more. Long time exposure creates blurring among the geese, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese At Sunrise, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Sandhill cranes in flight in early morning light, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes In Flight In Early Morning Light, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Red tailed tropic bird, Phaethon rubricauda, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Red-tailed Tropicbird, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 Brown booby, Sula leucogaster, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Brown Booby, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary
Brown booby (juvenile), Sula leucogaster, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Brown Booby, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 Sandhill cranes, flying across a colorful sunset sky, blur wings due to long time exposure, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Sandhill cranes fly across a crescent moon. A composite image formed from two photographs, taken a few moments apart, at sunset, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Grus canadensis, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes Fly Across A Crescent Moon, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Sandhill cranes, flying across a colorful sunset sky, blur wings due to long time exposure, Grus canadensis, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Sandhill Cranes, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Snow geese in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese In Flight, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Burrowing owl (Western North American race hypugaea). This 10-inch-tall burrowing owl is standing besides its burrow. These burrows are usually created by squirrels, prairie dogs, or other rodents and even turtles, and only rarely dug by the owl itself, Athene cunicularia, Athene cunicularia hypugaea, Salton Sea, Imperial County, California

Burrowing Owl, Salton Sea
Snow goose in flight, Chen caerulescens, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Goose In Flight, Bosque Del Apache

 Snow geese gather in massive flocks over water, taking off and landing in synchrony, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Snow Goose, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

 Snow geese in flight, wings are blurred in long time exposure as they are flying, Chen caerulescens, Bosque Del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow Geese In Flight, Bosque Del Apache
Great blue heron in flight, Ardea herodias, Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California

Great Blue Heron, Batiquitos Lagoon

 A California brown pelican entangled in a plastic bag which is wrapped around its neck. This unfortunate pelican probably became entangled in the bag by mistaking the floating plastic for food and diving on it, spearing it in such a way that the bag has lodged around the pelican's neck. Plastic bags kill and injure untold numbers of marine animals each year, Pelecanus occidentalis, La Jolla

Pelican Entangled In Plastic Bag, La Jolla

 White pelican, breeding adult with fibrous plate on upper mandible of bill, Batiquitos Lagoon, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, Carlsbad, California

White Pelican, Batiquitos Lagoon
Brown booby, Sula leucogaster, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

Brown Booby, Rose Atoll National Wildlife Sanctuary

 California brown pelican opening its large beak, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla

 Gambel's quail, male, Callipepla gambelii, Amado, Arizona

Gambel's Quail, Amado
Gambel's quail, chicks and female, Callipepla gambelii, Amado, Arizona

Gambel's Quail, Amado

 Mexican jay, Aphelocoma ultramarina, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Mexican Jay, Madera Canyon Recreation Area

 Gambel's quail, chicks, Callipepla gambelii, Amado, Arizona

Gambel's Quail, Amado
Pyrrhuloxia, male, Cardinalis sinuatus, Amado, Arizona

Pyrrhuloxia, Amado

 Black-headed grosbeak, female, Pheucticus melanocephalus, Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona

Black-headed Grosbeak, Madera Canyon Recreation Area

 Brown-headed cowbird, male, Molothrus ater, Amado, Arizona

Brown-headed Cowbird, Amado
Northern shoveler, adult nonbreeding plumage, Anas clypeata, Santee Lakes

Northern shoveler, adult nonbreeding plumage, Anas clypeata, San Diego.