Birds

Of all our wildlife, birds remain one of the most easily accessible and interesting creatures. The sheer number and diversity of our species almost guarantees rewarding photo opportunities, whether in your own backyard or in the remote wilderness. That said, the small size and quick movements of many birds make them an often challenging subject to photograph!

Bald Eagle watching for prey
The always majestic Bald Eagle, as seen here in Chapleau, Ontario.
Bald Eagle takes flight
A mature Bald Eagle shows off its impressive wing span and talons as it takes flight in the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, Ontario.
Bald Eagle takes flight
A mature Bald Eagle shows off its impressive wing span and talons as it takes flight in the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, Ontario.
Immature Bald Eagle
A young (immature) Bald Eagle in Chapleau, Ontario. Not having yet acquired the distinctive white head and tail of the mature Bald Eagle, immatures are sometimes confused with the mature Golden Eagle.
Northern Goshawk
A young (immature) Northern Goshawk surveys the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve for possible prey. As adults, the eye colour of these raptors changes to a striking fiery red!
Sandhll Cranes
This mated pair of Sandhill Cranes browses in a field north of Blind River, Ontario. These cranes, part of the Eastern Population of their species, winter in the southern United States and return each spring to breed in Ontario.
Great Horned Owl in twilight
This Great Horned Owl, seen here at dusk, surveys the area carefully, preparing for a night of hunting. Its potential prey includes rabbits and meadow voles.
Great Horned Owl in twilight
This Great Horned Owl, seen here at dusk, surveys the area carefully, preparing for a night of hunting. Its potential prey includes rabbits and meadow voles. They have been known to attempt to seize skunks, porcupines and snakes. Very small domestic pets are probably not safe from them!
Great Horned Owl in twilight
This species is one of the largest owls in the Canadian forests, with a wingspan of up to 150 cm. On rare occasions, they have been known to 'dive bomb' the heads of unsuspecting humans passing through their territory, often inflicting painful head wounds with their large talons.
Look out below!
So this is how a Great Horned Owl takes care of its, er, daily business.
Getting some rest...
This Great Horned Owl seems so relaxed that it could fall asleep.
Owl cleaning talons
This pose shows off the owl's number one hunting weapon, it's formidable talons used to stab and grasp its prey.
Owl cleaning talons
This pose shows off the owl's number one hunting weapon, it's sharp and powerful talons used to stab and grasp its prey.
Eyes in the back of its head?
One interesting feature that makes owls such formidable predators is the ability to rotate their head 270 degrees. This, combined with their binocular vision and silent flight, allows them easily spot and swoop down on their prey.
Owl portrait
With its very human-like gaze, it's little wonder that this bird has given rise to the popular expression 'wise old owl'.
I see you!
This owl finally decided to 'stare me down'. I didn't hang around long and left him/her to the night's hunt.
Watchful eyes and ears
Owls will perch for hours listening and watching for the slightest movement from prey, and are ready to pounce in a fraction of a second.
Owl 'bark'
In some situations, a Great Horned Owl may utter a piercing screech that some describe as a 'bark'. This one was probably telling me off.
High atop a pine tree
Owls usually perch in fairly dense foliage, such that a person may not even notice the owl perched silently high above the ground.
High atop a pine tree
Owls usually perch in fairly dense foliage, such that a person may not even notice the owl perched silently high above the ground.
Proud Tom
The male turkey is often referred to as a Tom. This one in Algonquin, seen here during a rain shower, displays a lovely array of colours and textures.
Proud Tom
The male turkey is often referred to as a Tom. This one in Algonquin, seen here during a rain shower, displays a lovely array of colours and textures.
Female Eastern Bluebird
This female Eastern Bluebird is seen in the Rouge National Urban Park (Toronto) with a freshly-caught moth to feed its young.
Female Eastern Bluebird on nesting box
This female Eastern Bluebird is seen in the Rouge National Urban Park (Toronto) with a freshly-caught moth to feed its young.
Female Eastern Bluebird on nesting box
This female Eastern Bluebird is seen in the Rouge National Urban Park (Toronto) with a freshly-caught moth to feed its young.
Gray jay with a morsel
The Gray (Canada) jay is a crow-size jay at the southern extent of its range in Algonquin Park. Many of the jays in Algonquin have been banded as part of a research effort to determine why their number have decreased dramatically in recent years.
Inquisitive Gray Jay
The Gray (Canada) jay is a crow-size jay at the southern extent of its range in Algonquin Park. Many of the jays in Algonquin have been banded as part of a research effort to determine why their number have decreased dramatically in recent years.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
This woodpecker is relatively rare in southern Ontario.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
This woodpecker is relatively rare in southern Ontario.
Red-bellied woodpecker finds food
This bird seems to have found some unidentified but tasty morsel.
Red-bellied woodpecker extracting food from tree bark
This bird seems to have found some unidentified but tasty morsel.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Male Cardinal feeding his mate (1)
This male Cardinal has just arrived to present his mate with a tasty morsel.
Male Cardinal feeding his mate (2)
The male Cardinal has just moved closer to his mate to pass her the insect he brought her for dinner.
Male Cardinal feeding female (3)
Here the female Cardinal is reaching toward her mate to grasp the insect he presented her with.
Male Cardinal feeding female (4)
In this final image of the sequence, the female Cardinal is taking into her bill the insect that her mate brought to her.
Cardinals in a family portrait
These two mates seem to be posing for a family portrait; in reality the male has just brought the female some food, which she is still holding in her bill.
Male Cardinal
This male Cardinal seems to have cocked his head to one side in curiosity, but more likely just to get a better look at that odd photographer!
Cedar Waxing in early spring
A Cedar Waxwing basks in the afternoon sun of a spring day in Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Cedar Waxwing on pine
A beautiful male Cedar Waxing perches on a small pine tree in Algonquin Provincial Park.
Mourning Dove on Red Maple tree
The Mourning Dove, a common sight in our cities and parks, is known for its plaintive and soothing call, which males use to attract the females.
Common Loon with Trout
This male loon was proudly displaying his catch for all the world to see in Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, Canada.
Common Loon with Trout
This male loon in Yoho National Park seemed to be showing off his catch and was in no particular hurry to eat it!
Common Loon portrait
This male Loon has just re-surfaced from a dive.
Puffin in his domain (1)
An Atlantic Puffin on a sea cliff high above the ocean in Bona Vista, Newfoundland, apparently enjoying a beautiful sunset.
Puffin in his domain (2)
Although puffins seem at home on these sea cliffs, they spend the winter months out on the open Atlantic Ocean and only return to land in the spring!
Curious Puffin
This Bona Vista Newfoundland puffin really seems to be trying hard to get a look at the strange human behind the camera!
PUffin checking out neighbour
This puffin is striking a pose that accentuates the rather odd appearance of these seabirds.

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