Bird photos

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.
Species: Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 21806  

Sandhilll cranes in golden sunset light, silhouette, standing in pond.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 21798  

Clark's Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges, San Diego.
Species: Clarks grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii
Location: Lake Hodges, San Diego, California
Image ID: 36830  

Double-crested cormorant nuptial crests, tufts of feathers on each side of the head, plumage associated with courtship and mating.
Species: Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 36848  

Western Grebes rushing in a courtship display. Rushiing grebes run across the water 60 feet (20m) or further with their feet hitting the water as rapidly as 20 times per second. Lake Hodges, San Diego.
Species: Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
Image ID: 36887  

Western Grebes rushing in a courtship display. Rushiing grebes run across the water 60 feet (20m) or further with their feet hitting the water as rapidly as 20 times per second.
Species: Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
Location: Lake Hodges, San Diego, California
Image ID: 37854  

Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Species: Royal tern, Sterna maxima
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38669  

Spectacular Brown Pelican Head Throw Display. This California brown pelican extends its head and bill up and back, stretching its neck and pouch in a behavior known as a head throw or bill throw. Adult winter breeding plumage. Pelican yoga, High Mountain pose, Tadasan.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38691  

Sandhill Cranes Fly Over Bosque del Apache NWR.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 38720  

Sandhill crane spreads its broad wings as it takes flight in early morning light. This sandhill crane is among thousands present in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, stopping here during its winter migration.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 38727  

Marichyasana, sage twist pose, pelican yoga. Brown pelican doing yoga, actually its preening, bending its neck back to spread preen oil on the back of the head and neck, likely second winter coloration.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38805  

California Brown Pelican Flying over the Ocean, wings outstretch, with a few other pelicans in the background.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38807  

California Brown Pelican banking and turning as it flies over the ocean.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38809  

Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30254  

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.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30289  

Brandt's cormorant cormorant in flight.
Species: Brandt's cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30306  

Royal tern in flight, winter adult phase.
Species: Royal tern, Sterna maxima
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30307  

Willet.
Species: Willet, Catoptrophurus semipalmatus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30308  

Unidentified sea bird.
Species: Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30318  

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.
Species: Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis
Location: Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska
Image ID: 22589  

Pyrrhuloxia, male.
Species: Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22894  

Bullock's oriole, first year male.
Species: Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22895  

Northern cardinal, female.
Species: Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22897  

Greater roadrunner.
Species: Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22902  

Curve-billed thrasher.
Species: Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22904  

Acorn woodpecker, female.
Species: Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
Location: Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona
Image ID: 22906  

Black-headed grosbeak, male.
Species: Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Location: Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona
Image ID: 22911  

Brown-headed cowbird, male.
Species: Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22916  

House finch, male.
Species: House finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
Location: Amado, Arizona
Image ID: 22927  

Wild turkey.
Species: Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Location: Madera Canyon Recreation Area, Green Valley, Arizona
Image ID: 22935