Koko-hallhaigur, Ardea cocoi

Koko-hallhaigur on suur ja elegantne lind, keda leidub kogu Lõuna-Ameerikas, eriti jõgede, järvede ja märgalade läheduses. Teda on lihtne ära tunda kontrastse musta pealae, pika valge kaela ja halli sulestiku järgi. Tiibade siruulatusega kuni 1,8 meetrit liugleb ta lennates üsna graatsiliselt, söögiks tarvitab aga kalu, kahepaikseid ning muid vee-elukaid. Nimi "Koko" tuleneb Tupi keelest, kus lindu traditsiooniliselt kutsuti "socóíks" – see arvatavasti tuleneb omakorda linnu häälest. Foto sai tehtud Ecuadori Amazonases, Cuyabeno looduskaitsealal.

The Cocoi Heron is a large and elegant wading bird found throughout South America, especially near rivers, lakes, and wetlands. It is easily identified by its contrasting black cap, long white neck, and gray plumage. With a wingspan of up to 1.8 meters, it glides gracefully in flight and hunts for fish, amphibians, and other aquatic prey. The name "Cocoi" is derived from the Tupi language, where it was traditionally called "socóí," a name believed to be derived from the bird’s call. The photo was taken in the Ecuadorian Amazon, in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.

Mandžuuria rästas, Turdus pallidus

Euroopa hallrästale sarnanev Mandžuuria rästas Kyotos, Jaapanis.

A Pale thrush, similar in appearance to the European Fieldfare, in Kyoto, Japan.

Harilik nastik, Natrix natrix

Nastiku portree. Harjumaa.

Portrait of a grass snake. Harjumaa, Estonia.

Kaelustuvi, Columba palumbus

Kaelustuvi ehk meigas kirikakarde keskel. Lissabon, Portugal.

Common woodpigeon in the middle of a lawn daisies. Lisbon, Portugal.

Tõmmupart, Anas superciliosa superciliosa

Tõmmupart on vastupidav lendaja ning võib eriti kuivadel aastaaegadel läbida suuri vahemaid märgalade vahel. Samuti on ta suurepärane maskeeruja – tema kirjupruun sulestik aitab tal sulanduda roostikesse ja mudastesse vetesse. Siiski paistis ta selgelt silma Fiordlandi Mirror Lake järvel, mille kaldalt peegelduvad sitked linaliiliad olid vee värvikirevaks muutnud.
The New Zealand Grey Duck is known for its strong flying ability and may travel great distances between wetlands, especially during dry seasons. It is also excellent at camouflage; its mottled brown plumage helps it blend seamlessly into reeds and muddy waters. However, it stood out quite clearly against Mirror Lake in Fiordland, New Zealand, which had been turned colorful by the reflection of New Zealand flax on the shore.

Harilik porr, Certhia familiaris

Porr Alatskivi lossipargis.

Eurasian Treecreeper in Alatskivi Castle park, Estonia.

Kodutuvi, Columba livia domestica

Tavatu sulestikuga kodutuvi Qurayyati mangroovide märgalal, Omaanis. 

Domestic pigeon with an unusual plumage in Qurayyat mangrove wetland, Oman.

Mainakuldnokk, Acridotheres tristis

Uudishimulik mainakuldnokk Taipei veelindude kaitsealal, Taiwanis.

Curious myna in Taipei waterbird protected area, Taiwan.

Tuttvart, Aythya fuligula

Tutiga vart. Harjumaa.

Tufted Duck in Harjumaa, Estonia.

Punarind, Erithacus rubecula

Kevade laul. Sintra-Cascais looduspark, Portugal.

Song of the spring. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Portugal.

Anisognathus somptuosus cyanopterus, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager

Eestikeelse nimeta erksavärviline tangara on Andide mäestiku elanik, kes eelistab kõrgemaid tihedaid metsi ja mägialasid. Tema elustiil on aktiivne ning toiduks tarvitab lind nii putukaid kui ka puuvilju, see aitab tal kõrgel mägedes hakkama saada. Mägedes hakkama saamine on ka põhjuseks, miks see tangara liigub ringi nn peregruppides - koos otsitakse süüa ning koos on lihtsam ka kiskjatega hakkama saada ja järglaste eest hoolitseda. Foto sai tehtud Mindo pilvemetsas, Ecuadoris.

The Blue-winged Mountain-tanager is a resident of the Andes mountain range, favoring higher, dense forests and mountainous areas. Its active lifestyle involves a diet of both insects and fruits, which enables it to thrive in high mountain environments. The challenges of mountain living are also the reason why this tanager moves around in so-called family groups – together they search for food, defend against predators, and care for their offspring. This photo was taken in the cloud forest of Mindo, Ecuador.

Naerukajakas, Larus ridibundus

Varbad vees. Naerukajakas Pirital.

Toes in the water. Laughing gull in Tallinn, Estonia.

Põldvarblane, Passer montanus saturatus

Sulgedega pühademuna kirsiõite vahel. Ueno park, Tokyo, Jaapan.

A feathered Easter egg nestled among the cherry blossoms. Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan.

Lõuna-prilliklind, Zosterops lateralis lateralis

Lõuna-prilliklind Fiordlandi regioonis, Uus-Meremaa Lõunasaarel. 

Silvereye in Fiordland region in South Island of New Zealand.

Kuldnokk, Sturnus vulgaris

Kuna on kevad, tuleb ka kuldnokk üles pildistada. Seekord juhtus see Pärnumaal.

Since it's spring, it's time to capture the starling on camera. This time, the opportunity presented itself in Pärnumaa, Estonia.

Rägapart, Anas querquedula

Üsna eba-Omaanilik foto vee ja rohelusega, aga Khor Ad Daharizi kaitseala riigi edelaosas annab täiesti korraliku märgala mõõdu välja. Paari hommikuga jäi kaamera ette üle 40 erineva linnuliigi ning rägapart oli üks nendest.

A rather uncharacteristic photo of Oman, with water and greenery, but the Khor Ad Daharizi reserve in the southwest of the country truly resembles a proper wetland. In just a couple of mornings, I was able to capture over 40 different bird species with my camera, and the Gadwall was one of them.

Põhja-kirjurästas, Zoothera aurea toratugumi

Põhja-kirjurästas on oma käitumiselt pigem arg ja varju hoidev lind, mistõttu võib teda looduses märgata üsna harva. Ta on eraklik ja enamasti hääletu, vaid pesitsusajal võib kuulda rästa meloodilist ning aeglast laulu. Huvitaval kombel veedab ta suure osa ajast maapinnal, otsides putukaid ja vihmausse, ning lendab vaid siis, kui teda häiritakse. Foto sai tehtud Taiwani kõrgmäestikus, 2,3 km kõrgusel merepinnast, Alishani rahvuspargis.

The White's Thrush is a shy and elusive bird by nature, which makes spotting it in the wild rather uncommon. It is solitary and mostly silent, with its slow and melodic song heard primarily during the breeding season. Interestingly, it spends much of its time on the forest floor, foraging for insects and earthworms, and only takes flight when disturbed. This photo was taken in the high mountains of Taiwan, at 2,300 meters above sea level, in Alishan National Park.

Kiivitaja, Vanellus vanellus

Tutiga põllupapagoi - kiivitaja. Pärnumaa.

Tufted field parrot - Northern Lapwing. Pärnumaa, Estonia.

Punaflamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber glyphorhynchus

Üksik punaflamingo rohekal järvekesel Isabela saarel, Galapagose saarestikus, Ecuadoris.

A lone American flamingo wading in a small greenish lake on Isabela Island, in the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador.

Jaapani kirjurähn, Picoides kizuki nippon

Jaapani kirjurähn on väike ja vilgas rähn, kes on elutseb Ida-Aasias - muuhulgas Jaapanist, Koreas ning Hiina ja venemaal. Tal on pruunikas-valge triibuline selg, heledamad kõhualused ning terav ja kile häälitsus, mida võib sageli kuulda metsades, parkides ning aedades. Erinevalt paljudest teistest rähniliikidest hauduvad ja hoolitsevad Jaapani kirjurähni isaslinnud ja emaslinnud poegade eest kordamööda. Foto sai tehtud Jaapanis, Naras.

The Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker is a small, agile woodpecker native to East Asia, including Japan, Korea, and parts of China and russia. It has a brown and white barred back, pale underparts, and a sharp, high-pitched call, often heard in forests, parks, and gardens. Unlike many other woodpecker species, both male and female Japanese Pygmy Woodpeckers take turns incubating eggs and caring for the young. The photo was taken in Nara, Japan.