It’s Sunday, and that means we have a batch of biologist John Avise‘s bird photos. Today’s group features headshots of birds in zoos. John’s text and IDs are indented, and you can click on the photos to enlarge them.
Zoo Headshots
I love visiting well-designed zoos, especially those with large open aviaries and other open-like enclosures. The San Diego Zoo is exemplary in these regards. This week’s post shows head portraits of several avian species from around the world that I’ve managed to photograph in zoo aviaries. In such large enclosures, taking good photos remains challenging because the birds have plenty of space to freely move and fly around in their simulated natural habitats.
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) male (native to South America):
Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) (native to Africa):
American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) (native to the West Indies and northern South America):
Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) (native to southern South America):
Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) (native to sub-Saharan Africa and India):
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) (native to Southeast Asia):
Red-and-Green Macaw (Ara chloropterus) (native to South America):
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) (native to South America):
Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) (native to Africa):
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) (native to Africa):
Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) (native to southern Africa):
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) (Native to Africa):
Ahh here it is – I was confused, I had two RWPs I hadn’t seen yet.
This one is 100% unmistakably John Avise’s Sunday set – beautiful!
Thank you for the lovely pics. I’ve always loved cock-of-the-rocks (or is that cocks-of-the- rock?) in particular.
One thing that interests me about shoebills is the fact that, compared to most birds – e.g., every other bird in today’s lineup – they seem to be almost aggressively plain. Their boring grey plumage is only part of it. The main thing is the fact that their huge bills have so much potential for interesting decorative effects (e.g., think of toucans, for example), and yet they don’t even have a hint of a tint.
“aggressively plain” is a lovely observation!
Nice pix, too!
Fantastic! Every time I see head shots of birds, I can’t help but wonder what’s going on in those brains of theirs. I wish that birds had facial expressions. They almost always seem to be poker-faced, which makes it difficult for us humans to know. There are whole universes in there that we just can’t unlock!
Oh my goodness. Just what Norman said — these closeup head shots bring out a whole other side of birds that is easy to forget about from farther away– their individuality, what are they thinking? — as well as the astonishing ways evolution has shaped their bills and their facial features.
I agree that the aviary at the San Diego Zoo is spectacular. I haven’t seen it since I was a child, but I’ll never forget it. The best!
And great headshots, as well. I almost forgot to say. Birds are really something, aren’t they?