OWL EYES Photograph by Tony Hisgett Seen here is an intense close up of an Indian Eagle-Owl’s eyes. The Indian Eagle-Owl, also called the Rock Eagle-Owl or Bengal Eagle-Owl (Bubo bengalensis) is a species of large horned owl found in the Indian Subcontinent. The species is often considered a subspecies of the…
THE CITY IS MINE Photograph by ZeroOne on Flickr In this fantastic capture by ZeroOne, we see a pigeon atop the Empire State Building, overlooking New York City below. Perhaps the pigeon is on the lookout for its next meal, or simply contemplating who will feel his wrath as he relieves himself…
URBAN RAPTOR Photograph by Jes (mugley on Flickr) In this awesome photo by Jes (mugley on Flickr) we see a Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) perched on a railing in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian Kestrel or Nankeen Kestrel is one of the smallest falcons, and unlike many, does not rely on speed to…
THE MASKED OWL Photograph by benjamin444 | CC BY-SA 3.0 The Australian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) is a barn owl of Southern New Guinea and the non-desert areas of Australia. Masked Owls show strong reverse sexual dimorphism (obvious differences between male and female). A male Masked Owl’s weight ranges from 420-800g, while…
THE BELTED KINGFISHER Photograph by HAROLD BEGUN In this stunning capture by Harold Begun, we see the beautiful Belted Kingfisher perched on a branch. The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, the only member of that group commonly found in the northern United States and Canada. It is…
FIRST FLIGHT Photograph by naturen-ar-fantastisk.blogspot.com In this momentous occasion, we see two baby common goldeneye ducks leaving the nest and taking to the air for their first ever flight. The expressions on their face are priceless! What an amazing event to witness 🙂 The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized sea…
Waxwings are a family (Bombycillidae) of passerine birds characterized by their soft, silky plummage. Some of the wing feathers have unique red tips where the shafts extend beyond the barbs; in the Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax, and give the group its common name. There are three species of…
COOLEST. DUCK. EVER. Photograph via ubomw on Reddit Why fly when you can surf? This is without doubt, the coolest duck in the history of our planet. It was uploaded to Reddit earlier this week by ubomw and has since spawned an epic photoshop battle. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to verify…
Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius) are a species of bird endemic to Southern Africa. They are best known for their gigantic communal nests, which are not only a rarity, but also the largest built by any bird. The nests, designed for year-round usage, can house up to 100 families, totaling 300-400 birds. Some nests have…
THE GOLDEN EAGLE Photograph for Peter Cairns/northshots.com The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America, and parts of Africa. Golden Eagles use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talons…