Brown pelican in flight against pastel-colored sky at sunrise. 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.
Bald eagle, closeup of head and shoulders showing distinctive white head feathers, yellow beak and brown body and wings.
Bald eagle makes a splash while in flight as it takes a fish out of the water.
Brown booby flying over Rose Atoll at sunset, with dark colorful storm clouds and other birds in the background.
A white tern, or fairy tern, alights on a branch at Rose Atoll in American Samoa.
Two Western Grebes Walk on Water. Grebe rushing, a courtship behavior, happens when the birds slap the lake surface up to 20 times per second, literally running across the water.
Bald eagle spreads its wings to land amid a large group of bald eagles.
Galapagos penguin, underwater, swimming. Bartolome Island.
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight, Platalea ajaja, Alafia Banks, Florida.
Burrowing owl, Cape Coral, Florida, subspecies Athene cunicularia floridana. This 10-inch-tall burrowing owl is standing beside 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.
Extreme closeup view of a Western Grebe as it rushes, running across the water as part of an elaborate courtship behavior.
Two Western Grebes in a Spectacular Rush Across the Surface of Lake Wohlford. Rushing is a courtship behavior among grebes and requires the aquatic birds to step as rapidly as 20 beats per second to walk across water in this way. Simply amazing.
Double-crested cormorant nuptial crests, tufts of feathers on each side of the head, plumage associated with courtship and mating.
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs. Adult winter non-breeding plumage.
Northern cardinal, male.
Magnificent frigatebird, adult male on nest, with throat pouch inflated, a courtship display to attract females.
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.
Spectacular Brown Pelican Head Throw Display. This California brown pelican is arching its head and neck way back, opening its mouth in a behavior known as a head throw or bill throw.
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. Adult winter non-breeding plumage.
Brown pelican flying over waves and the surf. Pelicans ride the updrafts of waves enabling them to glide long distances while minimizing the energy exerted by flapping wings.
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. Adult winter non-breeding plumage.
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Note the winter breeding plumage, olive and red throat, yellow head.
Brown pelican in flight with wings spread wide, slowing as it returns from the ocean to land on seacliffs, adult winter non-breeding plumage.
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.
Magnificent frigatebird, adult female on nest.
Brandt's Cormorant flying with wings spread wide as it slows to land at its nest on ocean cliffs.
An unusual mixed-species pair of grebes rushing, Western Grebe on left and Clark's Grebe on right. In this spectacular courtship behavior, the grebes beat their feet so rapidly they literally run over the surface of the water.
Clark's Grebes Dip Shaking, a courtship behavior in which the grebes face each other and alternate dipping their beaks in the water and shaking their head, tossing water into the air. Coupled with ratchet-pointing, several rounds of dip-shaking are often an immediate precursor to rushing.
California Brown pelican in flight, soaring along sea cliffs above the ocean in La Jolla, California. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status.
California brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs, dark background caused by seacliffs in morning shadow.
Pelican yoga, Utthita Tadasana, extended mountain pose with backbend. A California brown pelican preening, rubbing the back of its head and neck on 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. Adult winter breeding plumage showing brown hindneck and red gular throat pouch.
Sandhill cranes landing in water ponds at dusk, spending the night standing in water as a protection against coyotes and other predators. Motion blur.
Sandhill cranes in synchronous flight side by side, matching their wingbeats perfect as they fly over Bosque del Apache NWR.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Brown pelican flying over waves and the surf.
Yellow morph of the California 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.
Nazca booby in flight.
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.
Sandhilll cranes in golden sunset light, silhouette, standing in pond.
Mated pair of Brandt's Cormorants tend to the nest they have built on sea cliffs. Note the colors they assume during mating season: striking blue gular pouch (throat) along with faint blue-green iridescence in their plumage.
Whimbrel Foraging Amidst Spring Wildflowers on Coast Walk, La Jolla.
American White Pelican in Flight, breeding adult with fibrous plate on upper mandible of bill, Lake Wohlford.
Clark's Grebes Rushing on Lake Hodges, San Diego.
Double-crested cormorant nuptial crests, tufts of feathers on each side of the head, plumage associated with courtship and mating.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
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.
Sandhill Cranes Fly Over Bosque del Apache NWR.
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.
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.
California Brown Pelican Flying over the Ocean, wings outstretch, with a few other pelicans in the background.
California Brown Pelican banking and turning as it flies over the ocean.
Brown pelican in flight, spreading wings wide to slow in anticipation of landing on seacliffs.
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.
Brandt's cormorant cormorant in flight.
Royal tern in flight, winter adult phase.
Willet.
Spotted sandpiper.
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.
Pyrrhuloxia, male.
Bullock's oriole, first year male.
Northern cardinal, female.
Greater roadrunner.
Curve-billed thrasher.
Acorn woodpecker, female.
Black-headed grosbeak, male.
Brown-headed cowbird, male.
House finch, male.
Wild turkey.
Bridled titmouse.
Canyon towhee.
Hooded oriole, female.
House sparrow, breeding male.
Cactus wren.
Golden eagle.
Great egret (white egret).
Wood duck, male.
Double-crested cormorant, breeding plumage showing tufts.
California brown pelican spreads its wings wide as it slows before landing on seacliffs.
Western gulls, courtship behaviour.
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.
Western gull, early morning pink sky.
Brown pelican portrait, displaying winter plumage with distinctive yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch. This adult is just transitioning to the brown hind neck characteristic of the brown pelican breeding plumage.
California Pelican flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave.
California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave.
California brown pelican preening, beak and feather detail.
Brown pelican flying over waves and the surf.
California Pelican flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave.
Brown pelican preening, cleaning its feathers after foraging on the ocean, with winter breeding plumage including distinctive dark brown nape, yellow head feathers and red gular throat pouch.
Brown pelican head throw. During a bill throw, the pelican arches its neck back, lifting its large bill upward and stretching its throat pouch.
Snow geese fly in huge numbers 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.
Male Brandt's Cormorant Skypointing, Courtship Display, Breeding Plumage with blue throat and a few white pin-feathers, La Jolla. Skypointing is an interesting courtship behavior that many birds practice. Among Brandt's Cormorants the male performs this, likely as a way of attracting a mate to the nest he has built by showing off his striking blue throat. He tips his head backward showing off his striking blue throat, and partially raises his wings. Seen here on seacliffs above the ocean.
Clark's Grebes Ratchet Pointing, a courtship behavior in which the grebes assume a low facing position in the water, point beaks at one another and emit a ratchet-like sound. Coupled with dip-shaking, several rounds of ratchet pointing is often an immediate precursor to rushing.
Royal tern, winter adult phase.
Snow geese fly in huge numbers 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.
Snow Geese in Flight, Bosque del Apache NWR.
Sandhill cranes landing in water ponds at dusk, spending the night standing in water as a protection against coyotes and other predators. Motion blur.
Sandhill Cranes in Flight at Sunrise, Bosque del Apache NWR. At sunrise, sandhill cranes will fly out from the pool in which they spent the night to range over Bosque del Apache NWR in search of food, returning to the pool at sunset.
California Brown Pelican Flying over the Ocean, early morning light just after sunrise.
Royal Tern in flight, adult breeding plumage with black head cap, La Jolla.
California Pelican flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave, La Jolla coastline in the distant background.
California Brown Pelican flying over a breaking wave.
Bald eagle in flight, sidelit, cloudy sky and Kenai Mountains in the background.
Snow geese in flight.
Sandhill crane in flight, wings extended.
Snow geese in flight, wings are blurred in long time exposure as they are flying.
Cormorants rest on sandstone seacliffs above the ocean. Likely Brandts and double-crested cormorants.
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.
California brown pelican preening, the tip of the bill seen spreading preen oil on feathers.
Juvenile California Brown Pelican Flying over the Ocean, early morning light just after sunrise.
Royal Tern in flight, breaking waves and surf in the background, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy.
California Pelican flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave.
Snow geese fly in huge numbers 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.
Ring-Billed Gull in Flight, top view.
Heermann's Gulls in Flight with Ocean Background.
Orange-Crowned Warbler Amid Spring Flowers, Coast Trail, La Jolla.
Peregrine Falcon in flight, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
Roseate Spoonbill in Flight, Platalea ajaja, Alafia Banks, Florida.
White Ibis in flight, Eudocimus albus, Alafia Banks, Florida.
Two Western Grebes Walk on Water, Rushing, Backlit by the Rising Sun. Grebe rushing, a courtship behavior, happens when the birds slap the lake surface up to 20 times per second, literally running across the water.
Heermanns gull portrait with open beak, La Jolla, California.
Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii, Lake Hodges, San Diego.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Snow Geese in Flight, Bosque del Apache NWR.
Sandhill cranes in synchronous flight side by side, matching their wingbeats perfect as they fly over Bosque del Apache NWR.
Northern Shoveler in flight, Bosque del Apache.
Snow Geese in Flight, Bosque del Apache NWR.
Sandhill cranes landing in water ponds at dusk, spending the night standing in water as a protection against coyotes and other predators. Motion blur.
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.
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.
Snow geese resting, on a still pond in early morning light, in groups of several thousands.
Sandhill Cranes Fly Over Bosque del Apache NWR.
Sandhill crane and corn fields, Bosque del Apache.
Many California Brown Pelicans Flying over the Ocean in a large gathering.
Brown pelican, entangled in monofilament fishing line, showing winter breeding plumage colors.
Cormorants in flight, wings blurred by time exposure.
California Brown Pelicans flying on a wave, riding the updraft from the wave. Encinitas and Carlsbad coastline in the background.
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.
Double-crested cormorant, breeding plumage showing tufts.
Western gull, flying.
California Brown Pelican head throw, stretching its throat to keep it flexible and healthy. Note the winter breeding plumage, olive and red throat, yellow head.
Snow goose in flight.
Flock of red-winged blackbirds, in flight, blurred in time exposure.
Brown pelicans feeding en masse on clouds of krill, Coronado Islands, Mexico.
Bald eagle in flight, banking over beach with Kachemak Bay in background.
Sandhill cranes flying, wings blurred from long time exposure.
Royal Tern in flight, adult breeding plumage with black head cap, La Jolla. California sea lion in the background.