Birdwatching

A Scarlet Macaw is seen at Bird Park in Foz do Iguacu September 19, 2007. Visitors can see around 500 colourful birds flying in the huge aviaries which have been built to blend in with the humid subtropical forest. PAULO WHITAKER/REUTERS/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: rtrltwo506826

The first bird I ever got to know was the parakeet my parents bought when I was a teenager. Until then, I had always thought that birds were kind of dull and didn’t have personality like a cat or a dog. I quickly found out that I was wrong. Since then, I’ve paid a lot more attention to birds when I see them. They can be fascinating to just sit and observe for a few minutes.

There are more than 10,000 species of birds in the world and about one or two new species is discovered each year. They range in size from huge ostriches to tiny hummingbirds, and live in many different climates. Some birds migrate every year to get out of the cold weather while others remain sedentary all their lives. There are carnivorous birds, scavengers, insectivorous, and birds that gorge themselves on fruit. Their range of color is quite extraordinary, from the magnificent plumage of the peacock to the plane-jane look of a female duck. During mating season, the males of some species put on extraordinary and sometimes hilarious shows to try and attract their favorite female. In other species, however, the birds mate for life.

As you can probably tell, I am blown away by the range of the bird life on earth. There is so much variety! Unfortunately it would be impossible to capture the entire spectrum in this photo set though, so we just pulled some of our favorite pictures for you to enjoy.

Portrait of a golden eagle, Highlands, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Roy Rainford/Robert Harding/Newscom. FInd it at Newscom.com: rhphotos049724

Wallonie, Namur, Belgium, Ingram Publishing/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ipurestockx109201

A Grey Crowned Crane walks in the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary in Cape Town, South Africa 14 July 2008. This sanctuary is the largest bird park in Africa with over 3000 birds, monkeys and small animals of 400 different species in walk-through enclosures that attract tens of thousands of international visitors each year. NIC BOTHMA/EPA/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: epaphotosthree654283

Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) & White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) roosting, Hato Masaguarel working farm and biological station, Guanrico Province, Venezuela. Pete Oxford / DanitaDelimont.com Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos366496

Costa Rica. Resplendent quetzal in flight. Cathy & Gordon Illg / Janyes Gallery / DanitaDelimont.com Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos366481

Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera), The only species of bird to have a bill longer than the rest of its body, Yanacocha Reserve, Cloud Forest, West slope of Andes, Ecuador. Pete Oxford / DanitaDelimont.com Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos365736

South America, Brazil, Pantenal. Red crested bird; Gavriel Jecan / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos192133

Secretary Birds, East Africa, Tanzania, Serengeti. Todd Gustafson / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos023328

A two-week old male Chilean flamingo chick, hatched on August 16, 2009, is seen at at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo on August 31, 2009.A two-week old male Chilean flamingo chick, hatched on August 16, 2009, is seen at at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo on August 31, 2009.JULIE LARSEN MAHER/UPI/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: upiphotos960864

And the award for cutest bird picture ever goes to this little guy: