Ash-throated Flycatcher

I rarely see an Ash-throated Flycatcher, and even when I do, I'm seldom able to get a good shot. This one landed right above where I had set to watch for birds. Its head tilt is characteristic, but I like to think it just wanted to get a really good look at me.

Chipping Sparrow

I love sparrows and photograph them every chance I get. The Chipping Sparrow is one of the more distinctive, especially in its summer plumage. While these birds look big in photos, I'm amazed at how tiny they are, especially when I try to photograph one hopping around.

Male Anhinga with Prey

Watching this Anhinga hunt for food was exciting but frustrating as he darted underwater in seemingly random directions. He was hard to follow, but after a while, he finally surfaced with this Mayan Chiclid. I could hardly believe I had captured the moment.

Sandhill Crane

I almost couldn't get this Sandhill Crane photo because the bird was in the shade, and the bright background just about overpowered the whole scene. Luckily, there was just enough side light to show off the bird, and I could lighten it up a bit in post-processing.

Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I was sitting quietly watching for birds when this Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed up. I got a couple of quick shots, but soon he was way too fast to follow as he started gleaning insects. His red tuft started going down and was no longer visible by the time he left.

black-crested Titmouse

The Black-crested Titmouse is a bird of the western states. We have five titmice in the US, and they all have some sort of tuft in common. They also have a curious personality and bold response to anything new in their environment. You can't slip up on a titmouse.

Cooper's Hawk

Many people who feed birds eventually find that a Cooper's Hawk has captured a bird in their yard. It can be upsetting when the bird it captures is a favorite. And yet, it is part of nature, the circle of life. Have you lost a favorite bird in this way?

Palm Warbler

I tend to get distant Palm Warbler photos when it is in a tree and closer shots on the ground where it flicks its tail and combs every square inch for insects. This one moved in quick random directions, often facing away. It was hard to follow and get this shot.

White Pelicans

In one season or another, you might see White Pelicans in many US states. I have never seen one of these social birds alone. A flock has many names, such as a brief, pod, pouch, scoop, and squadron. Their wingspan of nine feet makes them even more impressive in flight.

White Pelican in Flight

Male Spotted Towhee

We are not supposed to attribute human characteristics to animals, but I've found it is a common experience in my readings. So, I'll admit to giving a little chuckle when I saw this shot of a male Spotted Towhee. How would you caption it?

White-throated Sparrow

I think the White-throated Sparrow is beautiful any time of the year, but their field marks seem to really pop in the spring. They eat seeds, so they are often on the ground, but this one checked out a brush pile where shoots of dead grass still had a few seeds.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

It was a cool day, but the sun kept me warm, and the birds kept me going. I had been taking photos of common birds when this uncommon to me, Golden-crowned Kinglet landed nearby. I forgot about the other birds and grabbed a couple of quick shots before he took off.

Warbling Vireo

I looked and listened for the Warbling Vireo for a couple of years before I found one. I had heard recordings of their calls and wanted to hear one in the wild. I was thrilled to catch this one singing and discovered they sometimes sing almost continuously.

Green Heron

This Green Heron had been watching the water below. With their slow movements, herons hunting for food are good subjects for even novice bird photographers. The biggest challenge is in getting close enough in the wild to get a good shot.

Male Hooded Warbler

I remember saying "Wow!" as soon as I saw this male Hooded Warbler. I get excited over many birds, usually the one in front of my camera, but this bird took me to a whole new level. There's something about his bold markings and curious looks that holds my attention.

Black Vulture

I went out when the sun was highest and brightest, ordinarily not the best time. However, that's when the light is best for photographing birds under a very deep canopy. There I found this Black Vulture in perfect light above a small pond as it looked for something to eat.

Female Northern Parula

This Northern Parula blended in nicely with the golden background light of the late afternoon. It scrutinized every leaf for yet one more insect. I think this one was plumping up a bit for the long migration south last fall, perhaps as far away as Central America.

Male phainopepla

Although not related, some people describe the male Phainopepla as the black desert cardinal with his erect tuft. But his brilliant red eye and iridescent plumage stand out the most to me. I caught this one just before he took off.

Mountain Bluebird

I had decided to go birding in the late morning even though the light is usually too harsh. It was cool, but the sky was clear, and the sun was bright. Fortunately, I briefly saw this Mountain Bluebird. He was in just enough shade to soften the shadows.

Say's Phoebe

Yes, Say's Phoebe is a brown bird, but oh how I love the subtle earth tones in its plumage. It is one of my favorite birds from trips to the desert. I caught this one on the low branches of a tree after I was in the area for a couple of hours—what a peaceful moment.

White Ibis

I was moving along a canal as well as I could. The vegetation was so dense in places that sometimes I couldn't get close. I accidentally startled this White Ibis into a tree. Fortunately, the light was just right to expose the bird and its beautiful eye.

Male American Redstart

I got a little giddy when I saw this American Redstart. I don't see nearly enough of these Halloween-colored birds. I watched him flash his colorful wings and tail to scare up insects and then lunge to grab them. I had to snap quickly, knowing he would move on in seconds.

Northern Shoveler

I remember my failed attempts to photograph a Northern Shoveler. Most of the time, I couldn't get close, and then when I could, I wasn't able to capture the lovely nuances in the plumage. So now, each shot I get with a little feather detail makes me smile.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

This Red-bellied Woodpecker was flying between trees, searching every little cavity. She was checking out her winter caches but kept coming up empty. I was near this tree, and she eventually landed on it but moved on after finding another empty hole.

Male Purple Martin

The Purple Martin breeds in summer throughout the central and eastern states, and as our largest swallow they swirl through the sky, making dizzying turns as they catch insects in flight.

Female American Kestrel

Driving down the road, I noticed an American Kestrel up ahead. I slowed quietly to a stop, rolled down my window, and grabbed my camera. I swung the camera up, hoping I had not disturbed her, but her sudden poo said otherwise, and I got this shot just before she took off.

Male House Sparrow

This male House Sparrow brightened my day when I saw him gathering nest material. Nest building is one of the best signals that spring is in full swing. He was backlit by the sun, so the exposure was tricky, but I love the hopeful image he presents.

Barred Owl

The sun was just going down as I walked along a canal. Unfortunately, I was facing the sun, which is a terrible lighting scenario. So, I turned around to see if anything was interesting behind me where the light would be better. That's when I spotted this Barred Owl.

Verdin

We share a few birds with Mexico along our southern border. The Verdin is one of them, a tiny bird that weighs about the same as a US quarter coin. When one of these speedsters shows up, you have to move quickly to get a shot because they don't stop for long.

Blue Jay

I had watched this Blue Jay pry that acorn out of his cache, but I wasn't able to get that shot. Thankfully, not all was lost when he flew up to this branch. I'm not sure if he was showing off his prize or just resting up, but it gave me enough time to get this shot.

Male Yellow Warbler

I remember a week when I had spent so many hours in the field I was behind on everything except birding. The day wasn't over, but I was tired and decided to head back. Then this Yellow Warbler landed nearby. I perked right up and got a couple of shots before he took off.

Male Northern Cardinal

I like the tried and true shot of a Northern Cardinal on a green background, but I was pretty happy when I caught this male against the warm and gray colors of winter. He spotted me right away, but something else got his attention and gave me time to get this shot.

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpeckers tend to dominate the territory they claim, often driving off other species. They retreat to the upper canopy out of camera range if pursued but will come down to lower branches and the ground when they feel safe. That's how I got this beauty.

Northern Harrier

Photographing the Northern Harrier in flight is challenging because their flight path is unpredictable. They swoop low over fields of tall grass but bank unexpectedly in new directions, often crossing roads or hills. I caught this one about 150 feet away.

Black-and-White Warbler

I wasn't impressed by the description of the Black-and-White Warbler until I saw my first one, and then my reaction was, "Wow!" This one was looking for insects over, under, and behind every branch. That frenetic movement makes them challenging to photograph.

Cassin's Kingbird

Cassin's Kingbird breeds in the US and Mexico. Its distinctive white throat distinguishes it from the Western Kingbird, which shares its US range. I watched this bird fly around within its territory for a couple of days without getting a shot, but I finally got this.

Tricolored Heron

As I moved around one side of a small lake, I saw this Tricolored Heron walking toward me. It was quite a distance away, so I just froze, then slowly turned, so I faced the lake where the heron would pass. It seemed to take forever, but I finally got this shot.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Coming across a Red-breasted Nuthatch is always exciting. They spend plenty of time upside down, but they also spend a lot of time right side up. I caught this one flitting through conifers, but despite my best effort, I couldn't keep up with him, and soon he was gone.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck makes a whistling sound when taking off. It is relatively friendly in the wild compared to other ducks, which often move away when you look at them. This one was part of a group that surprised me so much I almost didn't get the shot.