Bird Stock Photos


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Bird Stock Photos by Professional Photographer Phillip Colla. Bird stock photography.
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

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, Kachemak Bay

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, Kenai Peninsula

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 Lands Amid A Group Of Bald Eagles, Kachemak Bay

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

Galapagos Penguin, Bartolome Island

Northern cardinal, male, Cardinalis cardinalis, Amado, Arizona

Northern Cardinal, Amado

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, Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

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

Magnificent Frigatebird, North Seymour Island

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

Pyrrhuloxia, Amado

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, Amado

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, Madera Canyon Recreation Area

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

Brown Pelican, 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, 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 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 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

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

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

Double-crested Cormorant, La Jolla

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

Brown Pelican, Coronado Islands

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

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

Atlantic Puffin, Machias Seal Island

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

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

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 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

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 sea lion, Spheniscus mendiculus, Bartolome Island

Galapagos Penguin, Bartolome Island

Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, Floreana Island

Greater Flamingo, Floreana Island

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 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

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

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

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 started 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

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, Santee Lakes


Updated: November 7, 2009