Bird photos

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.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38710  

Sandhill cranes landing in water ponds at dusk, spending the night standing in water as a protection against coyotes and other predators. Motion blur.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 38716  

Sandhill cranes in synchronous flight side by side, matching their wingbeats perfect as they fly over Bosque del Apache NWR.
Species: Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico
Image ID: 38723  

Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Species: Royal tern, Sterna maxima, Thalasseus maximus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 38952  

Brown pelican flying over waves and the surf.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30193  

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.
Species: Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 15371  

Nazca booby in flight.
Species: Nazca booby, Sula granti
Location: Wolf Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Image ID: 16681  

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  

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.
Species: Brandt's cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40130  

Whimbrel Foraging Amidst Spring Wildflowers on Coast Walk, La Jolla.
Species: Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 40256  

American White Pelican in Flight, breeding adult with fibrous plate on upper mandible of bill, Lake Wohlford.
Species: White pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Location: Lake Wohlford, Escondido, California
Image ID: 40902  

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  

Royal Tern in flight, adult non-breeding plumage, La Jolla.
Species: Royal tern, Sterna maxima, Thalasseus maximus
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, Thalasseus maximus
Location: La Jolla, California
Image ID: 30307  

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

Spotted sandpiper.
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