a whooper swan
African penguins
black-browed albatross
a ruppell's griffon vulture
a hummingbird
emperor penguins
a northern flicker
a bald eagle
black grouse
an ostriches
an owl
four ducklings
bee eaters
a Schalow's turaco
an Atlantic Puffin
an Indian roller
a cassowary
bird of paradise
a flamingo
a hawk
a red knobbed hornbill
an emperor penguin chick
a whooping crane
a Brazilian hawk-headed parrot
a belted kingfisher
a peacock
a Chinese ring necked pheasant
a gentoo penguin and chick
a lilac breasted roller
a curl crested aracari
birds migrating
a blue crowned pigeon
1 of 32
Whooper swan. Hokkaido, Japan
Photograph by Stefano Unterthiner

Our Favorite Pictures of Birds Around the Globe

From vibrant feathers to vast wingspans, see striking photos that show the beauty of birds.

ByNational Geographic Staff
January 24, 2018

“The future of birds, and us, are intertwined more than we know. We soar, or plummet, together.”—National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore

In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, National Geographic is launching the “Year of the Bird”, a 12-month storytelling project which will shed light on the vital role birds play in the future of our planet, and what we can do to protect them.

Here we share but a small sampling of the 10,000 or so species of birds alive in the world today.

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