Bird of the Day, theme 'Iridescence'

natureAug 18, 20261153,457

Bird of the Day is running the theme Iridescence, asking contributors to show birds with color-changing plumage. Today's gallery features glossy and metallic feathers captured in natural light, with many submissions highlighting starlings, grackles, hummingbirds, and tropical species. Standout examples include a Rainbow Bee-Eater (Merops ornatus) photographed in Long Pocket, Brisbane, a starling singing on a telephone line in golden hour light, and a Roseate Spoonbill tending its newborn chick. Expect close-up shots of shimmering heads and wings, sunlit perches, and parental scenes that emphasize iridescent color shifts.

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Off to walk Sam folks. Take care of yourselves. Remember: A calm mind knows the difference between what matters and what merely makes noise. So enjoy your day. Back later to help Rob. #BirdOfTheDay #Iridescence #birds #ColorADay #BlueTue #ECK

A striking close-up portrait of a male peacock, showing his vivid iridescent blue and turquoise plumage, distinctive white facial markings, dark expressive eye and long pale beak. His delicate crest feathers fan upward from his head, catching the light with shimmering blue and bronze tones. He stands among lush green foliage and creamy white flower clusters, with a softly blurred natural background creating a beautiful sense of depth.

1963h ago

Den 🇮🇪1

That's great Alan. Such a quite peaceful bird! 😲

Rina1

So true, Alan! Great shot as always 👏👏 Enjoy your walk with Sam 🤗😘

Rosemarie1

Such a beautiful bird💙 enjoy your walk with Sam. Great advice, Alan, thanks

Dennis Waldron

@wphoto.bsky.social

A Grackle showing off his best #Iridescent side. #BirdOfTheDay #grackle #ECK #birds #nature #photography #birdphotography

2063h ago

Neil Cameron

@neilcam57.bsky.social

Rob Crank Photography's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence Rainbow Bee-Eater (Merops ornatus) Long Pocket, Brisbane #ECK #birds #birdphotography #birdsofbluesky #wildlife #nature #Photography #Nikon #PhotographersUnited #PhotographersOfBlueSky

1786h ago

Alan H1

Just fabulous Neil. What a terrific capture.

J.P. Williams1

A black mask *and* red eyes. Definitely a baddie!

Cheech1

Always love a Bee-Eater. Lovely photo.

Rob Crank Photography

@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence, any bird with colour changing plumage. The Alt theme is #Mothers, any female bird. Check the Alt Txt on the female Mandarin for the reason for that Alt Theme. #birds #ECK #photography #CanonR5mkii @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography

1627h ago

Tony Allen-Mills4

Sorry to learn of this Rob. Hope your love of nature helps get yoj through a difficult time.

Helen Bennett 🌿3

I won't repeat our chats, but just know I'm thinking of you as you go through such a difficult time, Rob. Look after yourself and your loved ones 🫂💔

Justine Jones2

I’m so sorry you and your family are going through this. Your words show how deeply loved she is, and I’m glad she’s being kept comfortable and surrounded by the people who care about her most. Sending you all strength, love, and peace in the days ahead.

Graham Jones1

Rob, I'm so sorry to hear the news about your MIL. These are stressful times for our extended family. Take care.

Occasionally Lost1

I'm so sorry to hear this, Rob. Take care of yourself. 🙏

Mariska1

Wishing you a lot of strength to you, Rob, and your family✨️

Cri 🕊🐝🐜📝🎭⚽😷

@crawlieswithcri.bsky.social

Alan H says the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #StrikeAPose — Birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose. Mr. Varied Thrush demonstrates their classic defense pose! #birds #becurious🪶

1619h ago

James Petruzzi4

I thought that was the "warning, I'm about to jazz hands my wings" pose? :)

patricknearyart.bsky.social1

The callings and vocalizations between the members of an active flock of varied thrush is one of the greatest and strangest events you will ever hear.

Jamie Scott 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@jcsctoan.bsky.social

Today's #BirdofTheDay theme is #Iridescence any bird with colour changing plumage. Starling taken at my local nature reserve. Have a good day folks #rspb.bsky.social #rspb.scotland.bsky.social #NaturePhotography #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #birdwatching #ECK

1265h ago

Neil Cameron1

There's definitely one thing Starlings do well and it's iridescence, and you've shown this spectacularly!

Ian Slater1

They used to be so commonplace, in big groups. Can’t remember when I last saw one.

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence, The Alt theme is #Mothers I’ve chosen two glossy Ibises. Same type, different look! 🪶 #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Spain #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK #TwosDay #TidesoutTuesday

1206h ago

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Ohh wow Rina to see this beauties with your own eyes must be wonderful 😍 lovely photo 😘

Emmanuel E.1

𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀𝘆 𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀! 📸

Atlantic Birding

@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 Rob has chosen #Iridescence as today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme. Alt. is #mothers, any female bird. My 1st thought on iridescent birds is the magnificent Starling, seen here singing on a telephone line in the golden hour. #birdphotography #ECK #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky #nature #wildlife

Two Starlings perched on a telephone line in the golden sunset. The birds are perched on two wires coiled together, which travels from the bottom right to the top left of the frame.
They are both facing the direction of the camera, and to the left slightly, so that the left side of their bodies can be seen.
The further left bird is looking away while the right hand bird has its head lifted in song with one eye on the camera.
Their glossy black plumage is shining with iridescent green in the setting sunshine, with a little blue on the right hand bird under the wing. They are peppered with white speckles and their yellow bills and legs are golden in the sunset.
The background is a uniform white sky

1076h ago

Alan H2

Bursting with iridescence. Great shot AB.

Mr Garden1

Smashing shot. 👏👏 Peak iridescence. 😍 They look beautiful. 😍

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰. 🌟

jon5cents1

Great choice - starlings were my first thought, and you caught them well!

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Gosh, magnificent colours. 😍 nice photo.

Doug Engstrom1

You really captured the iridescence of those birds.

Gray

@grays.art

Anna’s Hummingbird perched (Calypte anna) Tiburon, California 9-14-25 If you want a bird named after you in 19th century France, be or marry an ornithologist. Rob’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence: color-changing plumage. Alt theme #Mothers: any female bird. #eck #threewordgenre #birds #art

A close-up, front-facing photograph of a male Anna's hummingbird perched atop a delicate, dried, branching seed pod against a soft, neutral-green bokeh background. The hummingbird’s head and throat are covered in iridescent, scale-like feathers that shimmer with vibrant shades of magenta and deep wine-red. Its eyes are dark and bright, and its short, dark beak points to the left. The bird's round body features a mottled pattern of grey, white, and subtle green plumage.

843h ago

Jean Kelsey1

Fabulous shot! Good morning, Gray! Have a wonderful day 😊

LaffingKat1

Wonderful shot! Funny, I never thought about who Anna was.

Scarlett

@wirewrapandweaveit.bsky.social

Good morning my friends, I hope that your day is a beautiful one 😊! #BirdOfTheDay #Iridescence #birds #bluejay

983h ago

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

A grackle in a spider web. For the #birdoftheday theme of #iridescence #birds #grackle #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A common grackle stands on a thin, light colored branch covered with a spider web. The bird is looking to the side and its feathers are showing a variety of colors

795h ago

Alan H1

Stunning shot Amy. So good.

Emmanuel E.1

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁! 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗲𝗯 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

Neil Cameron1

What a lovely shot, Amy.

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Lovely looking bird. Great photo. 👍🏼

The Garden Jungle

@thegardenjungle.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence, so I suspect you’ll see a lot of images of the spectacular colours of a Starling, hope you enjoy this one #birds #thegardenjungle #wildlifephotography #birdwatching #shropshire #UKwildlife #birdphotography #canon #photography

746h ago

Alan H2

What a striking shot TGJ. Love it.

Dave Meredith

@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Iridescence. A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the #BrucePeninsula, Ontario. #BruceCounty #ECK #photography #birds #nature #wildlife #TenMinutesFromHome #BackyardPhotography #VintageLens #ManualFocus

676h ago

Alan H1

Fabulous shot as always Dave.

Yvonne Redknap

@yredknap.bsky.social

For today's #BirdOfTheDay theme #Iridescence, I have a Common Grackle, taken in a friend's garden earlier this year. #photography #Birds #Eck

The Grackle is perched on a narrow bare branch of a lilac tree. He is looking to the right and, in the early morning light, his head and neck shine an iridescent blue. The colours of his plumage contrast with the light grey of the the trees and sprouting green leaves around him.

645h ago

alisonwillis1.bsky.social

@alisonwillis1.bsky.social

Good morning, from a much cooler and thankfully wetter (remind me I said that in Winter!) Yorkshire Coast. A local Rook showing off its stunning plumage in the sunlight #BirdOfTheDay #Iridescence #ECK #nature #birds #BudgetGear #CasualPhotography 📷🪶

A close-up shot of a rook perched sideways on a weathered wooden fence. Its black feathers display a brilliant, multi-colored iridescence, shifting between deep shades of metallic purple, blue, and teal where the sunlight hits its back and wings. The bird has a distinct bare, pale-grey patch of skin at the base of its long, dark beak. The background consists of softly blurred green and yellowish-brown foliage.

695h ago

Neil Cameron1

Fantastic shot of such an interesting bird, Alison!

Bird of the Day, theme 'Iridescence'nature

Bird of the Day, theme 'Iridescence'

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