Bird Blog for Birds

I'm on team comedy! Come and get me!

The chicks are striped for camouflage in the leaf litter. They won't get their elaborate adult colours until four years of age.

Hedda, Vigdis and Fjalar. Värmland, Sweden (26 July 2026).

Eurasian Kestrel [July 2026, Koblenz DE]

I was sooo excited when I saw them, it took me a couple tries to get a photo of the parent feeding the baby. But so cute.

Mom added a sign to the garden. Can't imagine why

wandering tattler, north shore of kauai

European honey buzzard/Pernis apivorus/bivråk. Värmland, Sweden (29 July 2017).

Video of a kingfisher bird hunting, shot at 600 frames/second (FPS). Kingfishers adjust for water refraction by using two visual focal points (foveae) in each eye to accurately calculate the prey's true depth and position before diving. They can strike at speeds up to 40 kilometers/hour. When light transitions from water to air, it bends away from the normal line at the boundary due to the differing refractive indices. Because of this bending, the fish appears higher in the water column than its actual physical location. The kingfisher's brain automatically processes this angular disparity using its dual foveae. This allows the bird to aim its dive trajectory below the visual image of the prey to hit the actual physical target. Kingfishers possess specialized eyes containing both a central and a temporal fovea. The central fovea provides sharp vision while navigating through the air, while the temporal fovea engages to provide high-acuity, stereoscopic binocular vision under the water. Their eyes have a special membrane which shields them from high-speed impact pressure while acting as a clear underwater lens. Also, the physical structure of a kingfisher's eye is slightly flattened. When the bird hits the water, the change in pressure and medium causes a shift in the eye's focus. This unique shape, paired with an highly flexible lens, allows them to compensate for the rapid transition from air refraction to water refraction instantaneously. The song in this video is "Levitation" by Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley.

photograph by Neil Wasserman

photograph by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz

Ditto Landing, Madison County, Alabama, USA

Fucker

July 21, 2026 - Samoan Whistler (Pachycephala flavifrons) Found on the islands of Savaii, Upolu and Nu’utele in Samoa, these whistlers live in forests and cultivated areas. They eat insects, picking prey from leaves, twigs, branches, and plants growing on trees or capturing it in short flights. Little is known about their breeding behavior though they probably nest in trees. One of their nests was found in late March and a nearly fledged chick was seen in August.