23 Photos of Beautiful Birds from Around the World

I’m not much for bird photography.

I like it, It’s that most of the time I’m just not good at it. But in celebration of National Bird Day, I thought I would share some of my favorite beautiful bird photos, I’ve taken at home and abroad! From Central Park to the Masai Mara, and a variety of places in-between.

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Oxpecker, Kenya
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Lilac-Breasted Roller, South Africa
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Sparrows and a Dove, USA
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Brown Pelican, USA
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Kingfisher, Belize
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White Ibis, USA
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Little Bee Eater, Kenya
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Ground Hornbill, Kenya
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Little unknown bird, South Africa UPDATE: Thanks to Patricia Pomerleau who told me that this is a Fork-tailed Drongo
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Bee Eater, Botswana
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Egret, Kenya
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Vulture, Kenya
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No idea. You? USA.. UPDATE: Thank you James Robertson for letting me know this is a juvenile Black_Crowned Night Heron.
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American White Pelican, USA
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Crowned Crane, Kenya
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Cardinal, USA
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Mallard, USA
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Lilac Breasted Roller, Botswana
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Wood Duck, USA
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Osprey, USA
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Canadian Goose, USA
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Vulture, Kenya
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Oxpecker, Kenya

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144 thoughts on “23 Photos of Beautiful Birds from Around the World

  1. thuoc ga da says:

    Among these birds, there are species I know my name and species I don’t know. These are the rare bird species of the world.

  2. Cuckoo Zhiyou says:

    Hi I have been following your blog and enjoyed reading your posts. I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. See it here: Hope you could take part. Best wishes for blogging.

  3. willitflyblog says:

    I’m scrolling the page and every time saying “this is the best photo” then I scroll a little down “no,this is the best”

  4. nfrodrigues says:

    Anyone who has tried to photograph birds knows how hard it can be so I must say congratulations! These shots are very inspiring 😉

  5. phidipides2 says:

    Great photos! Where was the white pelican shot taken? Also, “swallows and a dove” – I think you meant “sparrows and a dove”.

  6. Mark Simms says:

    These are stunning Susan, I especially like the first image (which honestly I think is incredible and right up there with anything I’ve seen in magazines from professional wildlife photographers). Also, the shot of the Brown Pelican is beautiful…..how have you got the water so still to get that perfect reflection?

    • Susan Portnoy says:

      Thank you, Mark. Love that image of the buffalo and oxpecker too. One of my favorites.
      re: Pelican….The old grey pelican floated under a footbridge in the marina I was near at twilight. The soft lighting shone on the bird but left the water below ink black. Thankfully, it was a pretty calm night.

  7. agiatlanta says:

    That brown pelican photo is surprisingly stunning! Most people pay attention to “prettier” birds. It’s great to see a variety of birds and very artistic approaches to them.

    • Susan Portnoy says:

      It was all about serendipity. The old grey pelican floated under a footbridge in the marina I was near at twilight. The soft lighting shone on the bird but left the water below ink black. I was so stoked when I saw the results. 🙂

  8. francetaste says:

    You sell yourself short–these are completely amazing. That first shot, on the Cape buffalo, is especially incredible, considering you don’t want to be face to face with a Cape buffalo.

  9. Pie says:

    Stunningly beautiful….all of them!!! My favs are the ground hornbill and the mallard…..but the 2 vultures….mmmmmm…..can’t decide!!!

  10. Patricia Pomerleau says:

    I LOVE the buffalo and the Oxpecker. The buffalo is looking right at you and I can almost see a caption. Birds aren’t my thing. I do like them, and love other’s beautiful bird photography, but I won’t go looking for them. However, if they come to me, I am charmed by them and try to do my best. Your pelican is fabulous as is the snow on the duck’s fill image. BTW, your “Little unknown bird, South Africa’ is a “Fork-tailed Drongo”

      • James R Robertson says:

        Glad to have been of help Susan. I had the same “what the heck is it?” question when I first saw one as it does not look like the adult. (The juvenile little blue heron is pure white, which was another that threw me off)

    • Susan Portnoy says:

      I just found out this am and kind of threw this post together since I like birds. That’s one of my favorite too. I love the look on the buffalo’s face with the oxpecker sitting on his nose. LOL

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