Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Macaulay Library’s Best Bird Photos 2025 | Living Bird

Byadmin

Jan 3, 2025


Birders around the world have contributed more than 65 million photos to our Macaulay Library archive. Here are some of the best from the past year.

From the Winter 2025 issue of Living Bird magazine. Subscribe now. If you like this photo essay, you’ll also enjoy last year’s Best of Macaulay essay.

For our 2025 photo essay we’re celebrating wonderful photos in five themes: the lush, flower-filled habitats of birds in Birdlife in Full Bloom; fun companion shots in Double Vision; the rainbow of birds in Colors of the Bird World; cuteness, vulnerability, and the bonds of family in The Next Generation; wet and wild times in Making a Splash; and an exclusive meet-and-greet with some of the world’s least-seen birds in Rarities. In the final section, we say thank you to all the photographers who make the Macaulay Library archive such a uniquely rich resource.

Birdlife in Full Bloom

The Macaulay Library archive doesn’t just feature birds; many photos capture birds within the context of habitat. When photographers frame birds within colorful flowers, it’s often a chance to record behaviors, too—whether a Ruby-throated Hummingbird sipping from a sage plant, a Fiji Parrotfinch nibbling at blossoms in search of nectar, or a Silvereye melting into a bed of golden wattles, Australia’s national flower.

A little taupe bird perches on a branch with pale pink flowers all around.
Bushtit in Canada. Photo by Rain Saulnier / Macaulay Library.
Brown, beige patterned bird with long legs and a very long bill, stands in lavender colored grasses.Brown, beige patterned bird with long legs and a very long bill, stands in lavender colored grasses.
Hudsonian Godwit in Alaska, Photo by Wentao Yang / Macaulay Library.
Small little girl with a bright, iridescent back and white chest and abdomen, hovers in the air, while drinking nectar out of a plant with small, indigo flowers.Small little girl with a bright, iridescent back and white chest and abdomen, hovers in the air, while drinking nectar out of a plant with small, indigo flowers.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Michigan. Photo by Beau Cotter / Macaulay Library.
Iridescent green bird with white throat tuft, perches horizontally on a stem with dark red flowers.Iridescent green bird with white throat tuft, perches horizontally on a stem with dark red flowers.
Tui in New Zealand by Caiden B / Macaulay Library.
A bright green bird with a red face and relatively chunky bill, holds a pink flower bud in its bill.A bright green bird with a red face and relatively chunky bill, holds a pink flower bud in its bill.
Fiji Parrotfinch in Fiji. Photo by Jodhan Fine / Macaulay Library.
A little grey bird with a yellow accents and head, with white eyering and sharp, little bill, stands on a bush with small yellow flowers.A little grey bird with a yellow accents and head, with white eyering and sharp, little bill, stands on a bush with small yellow flowers.
Silvereye in Australia. Photo by Eric Yeo / Macaulay Library.
Two black and white patterned birds with tufty crests and large, black bills, one hovering, one perched, engage beak to beak.Two black and white patterned birds with tufty crests and large, black bills, one hovering, one perched, engage beak to beak.
Pied Kingfishers in Egypt. Photo by Mansour Elkerdany / Macaulay Library.

Double Vision

The vast majority of Macaulay Library photos feature a single bird, but many feature two subjects—such as a pair of Pied Kingfishers in a moment of courtship along the Nile River, or sometimes even a bird and an insect (in this case, a moth alight­ing atop the head of a Peruvian Racket-tail hummingbird).

Two rounded grey birds with iridescent green and pink necks, orange eyes and feet, and a small bill, lean into each other while standing on concrete .Two rounded grey birds with iridescent green and pink necks, orange eyes and feet, and a small bill, lean into each other while standing on concrete .
Feral Rock Pigeons in Canada. Photo by David Turgeon / Macaulay Library.
Two long-tailed blue and gray birds stand on a dead branch and face each other.Two long-tailed blue and gray birds stand on a dead branch and face each other.
Florida Scrub-Jays in Florida. Photo by Matt Zuro / Macaulay Library.
Two large grey birds and long legs and a long neck and bill, with touched of red on the head, stand together and one stretches back its large wings.Two large grey birds and long legs and a long neck and bill, with touched of red on the head, stand together and one stretches back its large wings.
Brolgas in Australia. Photo by Martin Anderson / Macaulay Library.
A bright green iridescent little bird with a long, thin bill, and two, long spoon-like tail feathers, sits in the moss with a butterfly perched on its head.A bright green iridescent little bird with a long, thin bill, and two, long spoon-like tail feathers, sits in the moss with a butterfly perched on its head.
Peruvian Racket-tail (with butterfly on head) in Ecuador. Photo by Daysy Vera Castro / Macaulay Library.
Two yellow and blue birds with a white face and dark stripe through the eye, perch on a horizontal piece of wood.Two yellow and blue birds with a white face and dark stripe through the eye, perch on a horizontal piece of wood.
Eurasian Blue Tits in Switzerland. Photo by Jonas Traber / Macaulay Library.
Two white and apricot birds with long necks, blue-ringed eyes, and a large pale blue bill, stand chest to chest and cross bills.Two white and apricot birds with long necks, blue-ringed eyes, and a large pale blue bill, stand chest to chest and cross bills.
Australasian Gannets in New Zealand. Photo by Eamon Riordan-Short / Macaulay Library.
Two taupe and gray, crested birds with a black mask, one feeding the other a red berry, perch on a tree in the green woods.Two taupe and gray, crested birds with a black mask, one feeding the other a red berry, perch on a tree in the green woods.
Cedar Waxwings in New Jersey. Photo by Deborah Bifulco / Macaulay Library.
A large white bird with gray wings taking off of a grassy hillside with a rainbow in the sky.A large white bird with gray wings taking off of a grassy hillside with a rainbow in the sky.
Northern Royal Albatross in New Zealand. Photo by Oscar Thomas / Macaulay Library.

Colors of the Bird World

Photos in the Macaulay Library archive run across the color spectrum of birds and their habitats, from pink to green to brown to blue, and beyond. The dominant hues in tens of millions of Macaulay Library photos help train the Merlin Bird ID app to identify bird species using people’s perceptions of color. Thousands of generous photographers have empowered Merlin to serve as a global resource to connect people with birds.

Close up of an owl face, brown and beige patterned with yellow-beige eyes, flies towards the camera.Close up of an owl face, brown and beige patterned with yellow-beige eyes, flies towards the camera.
Short-eared Owl in Canada. Photo by Rakesh Baro / Macaulay Library.
Two beige, brown and black birds, stand camouflaged in a brown and beige bush.Two beige, brown and black birds, stand camouflaged in a brown and beige bush.
Harris’s Sparrows in Minnesota. Photo by Kyle Nelson / Macaulay Library.
A flock of brown-chestnut birds with striped heads with beige or white and black striped heads, stand together close to the ground looking in the same direction.A flock of brown-chestnut birds with striped heads with beige or white and black striped heads, stand together close to the ground looking in the same direction.
A flock of aptly named Flock Bronzewings in Australia. Photo by Jason Vassallo / Macaulay Library.
A large, coral, colored bird with long legs and a long neck, with large yellow and black bill, stands reflected in the water.A large, coral, colored bird with long legs and a long neck, with large yellow and black bill, stands reflected in the water.
James’s Flamingo in Argentina. Photo by Marco Fidalgo / Macaulay Library.
Small, rounded chocolate colored bird with a blush of pink on it's back side, a gray and black cap, and a small, dark yellow, conical bill, stands in brown grasses.Small, rounded chocolate colored bird with a blush of pink on it's back side, a gray and black cap, and a small, dark yellow, conical bill, stands in brown grasses.
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in Wisconsin. Photo by Matt Boley / Macaulay Library.
A tall beige and grey bird, with black spotted markings, a long neck and legs, and yellow eye stands in gravel with pretty lavender, pink background.A tall beige and grey bird, with black spotted markings, a long neck and legs, and yellow eye stands in gravel with pretty lavender, pink background.
Asian Houbara in the United Arab Emirates. Photo by Ivan Sjögren / Macaulay Library.
A taupe bird with a black mask and chin, russet-orange face and crest, and wings touched with white, yellow and red, stands on a branch against a pink, lavender sky.A taupe bird with a black mask and chin, russet-orange face and crest, and wings touched with white, yellow and red, stands on a branch against a pink, lavender sky.
Bohemian Waxwing in Poland. Photo by Lukasz Haluch / Macaulay Library.
A yellow bird with a white-gray chest and abdomen and white, black-bordered eyeting, stands on a branch in a pink-flowered tree.A yellow bird with a white-gray chest and abdomen and white, black-bordered eyeting, stands on a branch in a pink-flowered tree.
Swinhoe’s White-eye in Taiwan. Photo by Ting-Wei Hung/ Macaulay Library.
A brilliant, iridescent green and blue little bird with a black-tipped, red beak, and pointed wings, hovers in the air over lavender flowers.A brilliant, iridescent green and blue little bird with a black-tipped, red beak, and pointed wings, hovers in the air over lavender flowers.
Glittering-bellied Emerald in Brazil. Photo by Marky Mutchler / Macaulay Library.
A bright green parrot with red and cobalt color patches on its wings, flies against a green background.A bright green parrot with red and cobalt color patches on its wings, flies against a green background.
Brown-hooded Parrot in Costa Rica. Photo by Jean Bonilla / Macaulay Library.
A dark-green, feathery bird with a wide, short bill, and a hidden red tail feather, perches on a fir treeA dark-green, feathery bird with a wide, short bill, and a hidden red tail feather, perches on a fir tree
Glossy Black-Cockatoo in Australia. Photo by JJ Harrison / Macaulay Library.
An iridescent, green bird with touches of chestnut and pink-gray, a long neck, bill and legs, flies against a gradient green sky.An iridescent, green bird with touches of chestnut and pink-gray, a long neck, bill and legs, flies against a gradient green sky.
Glossy Ibis in India. Photo by Anonymous / Macaulay Library.
Gray, black and white bird, in the air, flying above a blue lake and snowy sedimentary mountains.Gray, black and white bird, in the air, flying above a blue lake and snowy sedimentary mountains.
Clark’s Nutcracker in Canada. Photo by Daniel Gornall / Macaulay Library.
A beautiful steel blue duck with burgundy pattern on chest, yellow eye and pale, pink bill with a black, wide tip.A beautiful steel blue duck with burgundy pattern on chest, yellow eye and pale, pink bill with a black, wide tip.
Blue Duck in New Zealand. Photo by Max Chalfin-Jacobs / Macaulay Library.
Striking close up of a silver-white-gray head of a bird on the water, with a large yellow and black bill.Striking close up of a silver-white-gray head of a bird on the water, with a large yellow and black bill.
Buller’s Albatross in New Zealand. Photo by Brendan Tucker / Macaulay Library.
Close up of white and gray birds on the water, bird closest has a pale-pink bill, black top and blue tube on top of bill.Close up of white and gray birds on the water, bird closest has a pale-pink bill, black top and blue tube on top of bill.
Southern Fulmar (with royal albatrosses and Pintado Petrels) in New Zealand. Photo by Oscar Thomas / Macaulay Library.
A dinosaur looking bird with a large shaggy black feathered body, neck and face of blues with orange, pink and red touches, and a giant bony crest on head.A dinosaur looking bird with a large shaggy black feathered body, neck and face of blues with orange, pink and red touches, and a giant bony crest on head.
Southern Cassowary in Australia. Photo by Paul Kessler / Macaulay Library.
Three fluffy chicks follow a gray, black and brown striped bird with a chestnut face stripe and red eye.Three fluffy chicks follow a gray, black and brown striped bird with a chestnut face stripe and red eye.
Buff-banded Rail and chicks in New Zealand. Photo by David Southall / Macaulay Library.

The Next Generation

The Macaulay Library is full of images that feature bird families, parents and their young. Sometimes photos are contributed by scientists who take a pause from fieldwork to capture a stunning moment, as the intimate glimpse of a female whip-poor-will and its three-day-old chick uploaded by a University of Rhode Island master’s student.

A black bird with bright red eye and pale pink bill and forehead, sits in the grass with a red-faced chick in its wing.A black bird with bright red eye and pale pink bill and forehead, sits in the grass with a red-faced chick in its wing.
Eurasian Coot in India. Photo by Kalyan Gantait / Macaulay Library.
A brown and gray bird flaps while in the water and looks down onto a tiny black-and-white, stripe-faced chick.A brown and gray bird flaps while in the water and looks down onto a tiny black-and-white, stripe-faced chick.
New Zealand Grebe in New Zealand. Photo by Oscar Thomas / Macaulay Library.
A young, fluffy bird holds onto an older bird of dark green and brown with a long, sharp bill, long, yellow legs, and yellow eye.A young, fluffy bird holds onto an older bird of dark green and brown with a long, sharp bill, long, yellow legs, and yellow eye.
Green Heron in Costa Rica. Photo by Kayann Cassidy / Macaulay Library.
A small, white, fluffy chick with long, yellow legs, stands next to a plant.A small, white, fluffy chick with long, yellow legs, stands next to a plant.
Piping Plover in Illinois. Photo by Max Kelly / Macaulay Library.
A brown and beige fluffy chick falls through the air.A brown and beige fluffy chick falls through the air.
Hooded Merganser in Minnesota. Photo by Steve Furcich / Macaulay Library.
A gray and dark brown bird sits in the leaves with a fluffy, orange chick under its chin.A gray and dark brown bird sits in the leaves with a fluffy, orange chick under its chin.
Eastern Whip-poor-will in Rhode Island. Photo by Megan Gray / Macaulay Library.
A brown bird with long, straight wings, flies while shaking water off its head.A brown bird with long, straight wings, flies while shaking water off its head.
A Brown Booby makes a rare appearance in Indiana. Photo by Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay Library.

Making A Splash

Birds flock to water in search of food and safety, while photographers flock to water for the birds it draws in, and the surprising ways water can bring still photographs to life. A photo of a vagrant Brown Booby in Indiana is all the more valuable to the Macaulay Library when it records an interesting behavior, such as a dog-like head shake following a dive.

A pink bird with a long spoon-shaped bill and red eye, flaps and splashes in the waterA pink bird with a long spoon-shaped bill and red eye, flaps and splashes in the water
Roseate Spoonbill in Florida. Photo by Anne Inga / Macaulay Library.
Two birds with long russet-colored necks, flat black and white heads, and a long bill, sit low in the water with bills open.Two birds with long russet-colored necks, flat black and white heads, and a long bill, sit low in the water with bills open.
Red-necked Grebe in Canada. Photo by Jeff Dyck / Macaulay Library.
A brown and cream duck with an orange and black bill and orange wrists, splashes towards the camera.A brown and cream duck with an orange and black bill and orange wrists, splashes towards the camera.
Flying Steamer-Duck in Argentina. Photo by Dubi Shapiro / Macaulay Library.
A glossy black bird with a long, dark-orange bill, eyering and yellow eye, flaps in the surf.A glossy black bird with a long, dark-orange bill, eyering and yellow eye, flaps in the surf.
Black Oystercatcher in California. Photo by Van Pierszalowski / Macaulay Library.
A tall, white, feathery bird, with long black legs and yellow feet, a large black bill, and white crest, flaps its wings and runs through the water.A tall, white, feathery bird, with long black legs and yellow feet, a large black bill, and white crest, flaps its wings and runs through the water.
Snowy Egret in California. Photo by Barbara Swanson / Macaulay Library.
A brown, russet, and beige colored bird with a long pink-grey bill, scoops water over its head.A brown, russet, and beige colored bird with a long pink-grey bill, scoops water over its head.
Bar-tailed Godwit in Australia. Photo by Ian Mo / Macaulay Library.
A dark grey and brown, little bird, perched on a mossy, fern covered, forest branch.A dark grey and brown, little bird, perched on a mossy, fern covered, forest branch.
A Taliabu Bush Warbler in the northern Maluku Islands, Indonesia. This is one of only eight images of this species in the Macaulay Library archive. Photo by James Eaton / Macaulay Library.

Rarities

The Macaulay Library contains photos of more than 10,000 bird species, yet photographers are continually adding new-to-the-archive species—such as an image of a rarely photographed bush warbler from the remote Indonesian island of Taliabu, and a recently rediscovered sabrewing species in Colombia’s Santa Marta mountains.

A small, chocolate brown bird stands on a mossy tree in the forest.A small, chocolate brown bird stands on a mossy tree in the forest.
The Tachira Antpitta was a “lost species” for many years until recently rediscovered in southern Táchira, Venezuela.
Photo by David Ascanio / Macaulay Library.
A bright, iridescent green and blue little bird with a long, black bill, perches on a small branch.A bright, iridescent green and blue little bird with a long, black bill, perches on a small branch.
The Santa Marta Sabrewing is a rare hummingbird that lives only in a small mountainous area in the north of Colombia. Photo by Elquin Toro / Macaulay Library.
A black and white bird with an orange underside, perches on a thin branch.A black and white bird with an orange underside, perches on a thin branch.
The Massau Triller lives on the small island of Massau in Papua New Guinea, a biodiversity hotspot with pristine primeval rainforest. The triller depends on undisturbed forest and is vulnerable to extensive logging operations on the island. Photo by Jonathan Bergmark / Macaulay Library.
A black and white bird with uplifted wings and a small, conical bill, stands on a hill of ice.A black and white bird with uplifted wings and a small, conical bill, stands on a hill of ice.
Snow Bunting in Alaska. Photo by Miles Brengle / Macaulay Library.

Thank You

A global resource, the Macaulay Library’s collection of natural history media is made possible thanks to the dedication, passion, and generosity of birders around the world. Every photo, video, and audio recording you share deepens our understanding of birds, their behavior, and conservation needs. Your work not only documents the beauty of birds and wildlife, it also serves as an invaluable resource for scientists, educators, and nature enthusiasts around the world. This year’s “Best of Macaulay Library” collection is a celebration of your commitment to capturing the magic of the natural world and sharing it with others.

In 2024, your contributions helped to train a new Merlin Bird ID photo identification model—a feature that helps millions of people around the world identify birds in photos. Media from the archive were used in several scientific studies, from new plumage descriptions, to range revisions, to taxonomic splits. This library, and its growth to over 67 million photos and nearly 2.5 million audio recordings, continues to provide endless inspiration and awe for nature lovers around the world. From all of us at the Macaulay Library and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, thank you for helping share the story of birds and wildlife, one upload at a time.

Smiling man with backwards baseball cap.Smiling man with backwards baseball cap.
David Ascanio / Venezuela
Smiling man with green hat and a large, dark-green parrot on shoulder.Smiling man with green hat and a large, dark-green parrot on shoulder.
Joshua Bergmark / Australia
Woman with a baseball cap, looks into a camera with a large lens, looking at photographer..Woman with a baseball cap, looks into a camera with a large lens, looking at photographer..
Deborah Bifulco / U.S.A.
Man with camo baseball hat looking through a camera with a large lens, in the forest.Man with camo baseball hat looking through a camera with a large lens, in the forest.
Jean Bonilla / Costa Rica
A long, brown-haired woman stands with mountains in the background.A long, brown-haired woman stands with mountains in the background.
Daysy Vera Castro / Ecuador
Young man with puffer jacket and binoculars, in the woods.Young man with puffer jacket and binoculars, in the woods.
Max Chalfin-Jacobs / U.S.A.
Young man smiling at the camera with lily-pad filled pond in background.Young man smiling at the camera with lily-pad filled pond in background.
Beau Cotter / U.S.A.
Bearded man with beanie smiles at camera, tundra in background.Bearded man with beanie smiles at camera, tundra in background.
James Eaton / Malaysia
Man looking though a camera with a large lens.Man looking though a camera with a large lens.
Marco Fidalgo / Argentina
Young, smiling, man with red T-shirt and lake in background.Young, smiling, man with red T-shirt and lake in background.
Jodhan Fine / U.S.A.
Young woman in baseball cap and jacket, smiles at the camera and holds a bird.Young woman in baseball cap and jacket, smiles at the camera and holds a bird.
Megan Gray / U.S.A.
Short-haired man in khaki green T-shirt with binoculars.Short-haired man in khaki green T-shirt with binoculars.
Lukasz Haluch / Poland
Smiling man in blue beanie and owl exhibit behind him.Smiling man in blue beanie and owl exhibit behind him.
Max Kelly / U.S.A.
Dark-haired man with neat haircut and beard stands in waist-high water and holds a ridiculously large-lensed camera.Dark-haired man with neat haircut and beard stands in waist-high water and holds a ridiculously large-lensed camera.
Maxime Légaré-Vézina / France
Woman with sunglasses and beanie that says "eBird."Woman with sunglasses and beanie that says "eBird."
Marky Mutchler / Ecuador
Man in a blue baseball camp and jacket stands in front of a van.Man in a blue baseball camp and jacket stands in front of a van.
Van Pierszalowski / U.S.A.
Young man in blue baseball cap smiles at camera, with tornado in far distance.Young man in blue baseball cap smiles at camera, with tornado in far distance.
Isaac Polanski / U.S.A.
Man with beanie smiles at camera with body of water in background.Man with beanie smiles at camera with body of water in background.
Eamon Riordan-Short / Canada
Man with a backwards baseball cam, chartreuse jacket and binoculars, stands with a mountain lake background.Man with a backwards baseball cam, chartreuse jacket and binoculars, stands with a mountain lake background.
Rain Saulnier / Canada
Smiling man with a jacket and backpack.Smiling man with a jacket and backpack.
Dubi Shapiro / Israel
Smiling man with baseball cap and blue jacket.Smiling man with baseball cap and blue jacket.
David Southall / Australia
Red-haired young man with blue jacket and plaid shirt.Red-haired young man with blue jacket and plaid shirt.
Oscar Thomas / New Zealand
Bearded man with glasses and wide-brimmed cap, stands in the woods with a large-lensed camera, and another man in the background.Bearded man with glasses and wide-brimmed cap, stands in the woods with a large-lensed camera, and another man in the background.
Elquin Toro / Colombia
Young man in plaid shirt, looks to the side.Young man in plaid shirt, looks to the side.
Brendan Tucker / Australia
Man with gray T-shirt and binoculars stands with mountainous forest in background.Man with gray T-shirt and binoculars stands with mountainous forest in background.
Jason Vassallo / U.S.A.
Man with baseball cap and longish hair looks through the camera lens, faces the photographer and is almost hidden behind large camera lensMan with baseball cap and longish hair looks through the camera lens, faces the photographer and is almost hidden behind large camera lens
Matt Zuro / U.S.A.

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