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Bird of the Day, theme 'Elegant'

natureSep 19, 202625014,195

Bird of the Day is a daily sharing event with today’s theme #Elegant and an alternate theme #Scruffy. Posts show elegant subjects and poses, from snowy egrets in breeding plumage and a striking Agami Heron to graceful mute swan pairs and a poised kingfisher. Gallery entries also include small, finely marked birds like a brown creeper and cedar waxwing, motion studies such as a barn swallow in flight and a western grebe, plus contrasting scruffy takes like a windswept robin and a ruffled red-shouldered hawk. Look for labeled examples tagged #Elegant or #Scruffy to join in.

Christina Evans
@christinae.bsky.social

An #elegant Snowy Egret in breeding plumage for the #BirdoftheDay. #birds #Florida

A lovely Snowy Egret in breeding plumage stands out against a very dark green background, showing off the beautiful feather plumes on top of their head. The bird is looking to the right in profile and into the distance. Their eye is yellow, surrounded by bright red/pink color which goes to the black beak. Light is shining from the right. In front of the bird are branches of green elderberry.
95320d ago
argentumsmama.bsky.social1

Thank you for the gorgeous photograph and the beautifully written alt-text.

verdiaria06.bsky.social1

Humans do not deserve such inexorable beauty serenity and dignity; instead, they should be kneeling in awe and gratitude that they be granted coexistence and space on this exquisite planet.

Mike Melton
@mikemelton.bsky.social

My #elegant contribution for #birdoftheday is an Agami Heron #CostaRica #birds #nature #herons

Large long-billed bird with deep reddish-brown body plumage, bluish-gray wings and neck, and a red face standing among dense green foliage.
62520d ago
Grumpy 💙 European 🪶2

That's no fair 🤣🤣🤣 How can Europeans even compete with such a tilted playing field? Seriously: Fantastic picture of a fantastic bird!

🌸🐱🐭🌸 🖇️1

Looks like work of art! 😍

Lance Ellisor1

great googly moogly that bird is sublime

Stephanie Rewis1

What part of the country were you in? 💜

babs drinks tea1

indeed, the very definition of elegance

John Cook 🇦🇺🧑🏼‍🦽‍➡️🚲1

What a fabulous looking creature

Robyn
@handcranked.bsky.social

Creeping Beauty This brown creeper flew into my yard. Had no idea what they looked like but guessed it by the way it moved. I find it quite #elegant with gorgeous markings. #BirdOfTheDay #BlueSkyArtShow #golden #ColorADay #GreenSat #SmallBirdSaturday #EastCoastKin #ECK #PhotographersUnited #birds

A gorgeous little brown creeper on a thick, lichen-covered branch going almost sideways across the frame. It has stunning markings in shades of dark brown and beige on the back and a light belly. The back and belly feathers are very fluffy. The curved beak and eyes are dark. The bird is upright and facing to the left. You can faintly make out the bird's powerful claw clutching the side of the branch. There are leaves in shades of gold, orange, and green blurred in the background with small bits of blue sky dotted throughout.
51820d ago
Neil Cameron2

They really are a lovely little bird. Nicely done indeed, Robyn!

Dave Meredith2

A close cousin found in Europe is called the Tree Creeper. Both common English names being descriptive of the family.

Graham Jones1

Beautiful and fabulous camouflage outfit.

CupcakeYOW1

My son rescued one that had hit our window. We put him in a shoe box & drove to the local rehab centre. On the way, the little bugger sized up the thumb hole and flew out. Pulled over and was able to catch him, put him back in box & got to rehaber. Good thing 2 - he had a concussion from the strike

Nicole Adams SideEye-Photography
@blathin384.bsky.social

Good Morning ☀️ AB said, today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Elegant; any elegant looking bird. A Snowy Egret.. one of the most elegant of birds . #ECK #photography #birds #reflection

Photo of a Snowy Egret in shallow water where the surface is so extremely smooth that it casts a perfect reflection of the bird. Like a mirror.
41921d ago
Atlantic Birding3

Great shot Nicole; love the reflection!

Cats Pajamas1

Peaceful and elegant shot, Nicole!

Lawrence Sauter1

This fits the theme perfectly!

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Lovely egret and wonderful photo 🤍

jrrosin1.bsky.social1

That’s a real gem Nicole 😁

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸 🥾1

What a perfect reflection of such an elegant bird!

Birdrgirl🦉❌👑
@birdrgirl.bsky.social

There’s just something about the 🪶Cedar Waxwing…. #BirdOfTheDay #Elegant #VermontBirds

42921d ago
PineBeech2

It’s that dot of yellow enamel paint on the tail that gets me every time.

Joanne in Boston2

They are such a privilege to see aren’t they…

Michael Waynick2

Decades ago I spotted a silky tan crested little bird I'd never seen before, and wondered what it was. Totting up the costs of field guides, binoculars, hiking clothes, and travel expenses since then, that little bird cost me a LOT.

Dan2Dogs1

One of my favorite birds, the Cedar Waxwing. Beautiful. They bring happy thoughts of my mom to mind. She loved these birds and looked forward to their annual migration through the town where we lived in Montana.

SeaLevelOslo
@sealeveloslo.bsky.social

A barn swallow in flight on a golden sky #BlueSkyArtShow #golden #BirdOfTheDay #elegant #SmallBirdSaturday #birds #photography

A photo of a barn swallow flying overhead with wings out wide, making a silhouette against the golden light and clouds on the sky.
35620d ago
Helen Bennett 🌿2

Super capture, Slo.... it really is beautiful 💛✨👏

Marjo Slingerland-Boks2

Such a wonderful photo ✨️💛

Rina
@rina2012.bsky.social

Proud, majestic and exuding sheer elegance. The white peacock shows just how beautiful nature’s whims (leucism) can be. 👑 Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Elegant or #Scruffy #birds #photography #nature #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK #Stunday

A majestic, entirely white peacock stands in profile on sandy ground. In the background, dense green bushes and a tree trunk can be seen. Its long, delicate tail feathers lie elegantly on the ground, and a fine crown of feathers adorns its head.
30221d ago
Kathy 💙1

Gorgeous peacock, Rina. Beautiful capture

Charlie Ludwig
@chuck4242.bsky.social

A Ruby Throated Hummingbird feeding at some salvia. #Birds #Birding #Wildlife #Nature #Photography #Animals #Photos #Photo #ECK #BirdOfTheDay #Elegant

A Ruby Throated Hummingbird feeding at some salvia.
34320d ago
Michael R Photography 🌿
@msriffle.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #elegant. When i saw the theme, I immediately thought of the snowy egret. This is the last of the images I made of this beauty on this morning. #photography #wildlife #ECK #birds #BirdsInFlight #birdsky #birders #nature #biodiversity #ecology

30821d ago
idamay.bsky.social2

Ahh! Such beauty and grace!

Jan1

Good morning Michael, Power out here.....so the generator is doing it's thing. Rumbling and disturbing my peace and quiet........notice I am gruntled! 🙃The storms predicted haven't even arrived as yet and here we are.........bah hiss! lol

TimBert1

Great photograph and depiction of elegance.

Atlantic Birding
@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 Good Morning, Happy Saturday Everyone! Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #Elegant; any elegant looking bird Alt. is #Scruffy; any bird looking a bit worse for wear - A graceful Grey-Crowned Crane - A Rook that’s been feeding in decaying seaweed #birds #ECK #birdphotography #naturephotography

A Grey Crowned Crane, taken in captivity, standing on mown grass looking at the camera. The bird is right of centre of the frame, facing the camera so that it’s looking directly with the left side of its body visible. Its crown almost reaches the top of the picture and its feet are cut off at the bottom. The bird has a striking fan of thin, golden feathers in the top of its head. Its has a black forehead and white cheeks patches, its beak is a grey colour with visible nasal holes on the top. It has long grey feathers along its neck, turning to a darker grey on the underbelly and back. The wings are white, turning to black at the ends and tail. Its legs are long and black. The background is mown grass, with a large rock poking out of the grass to the left of the shot and a stone path along the top.
25321d ago
Psheltona 🖖🏻🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦🇨🇦🇩🇰🇬🇱🇪🇺📚⚽️@psheltona.bsky.social6

Here is my elegant #BirdOfTheDay from Warwick Castle in England

Rob Crank Photography3

Good morning and great captures and themes Ian, off to look for something scruffy.

Pirritin2

Poor Rook, it really looks scruffy 😁 Fabulous captures AB 🤩

cookslikejamie2

Elegant is such a good choice, I haven't seen a bad shot yet!

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Great photos Ian and themes 👍 Hope you have a good day ✨️

Clinty11

Love the crane AB! Happy Saturday!

Eric Olson Photography
@ericolsonphotography.com

“Quiet Elegance” From my gallery “Living Presence” ericolsonphotography.com/living-presence #BirdOfTheDay #Elegant #Birds #Photography #EastCoastKin #ECK #EricOlsonPhotography

A great egret stands on a fallen log over still water, lowering its long neck toward its reflection. Soft foliage and dark water create a muted, natural setting.
29120d ago
Lawrence Sauter1

Oh this is beautifully elegant 🥰

Kevin Wertman
@kevin.wertman.org

Atlantic Birding set today's #BirdOfTheDay to #Elegant, which I think I covered yesterday. So today I'm going with his alt theme of #Scruffy 😀 #Photography #Birds #Cardinals

A bright red cardinal sits on the edge of a large terracotta planter. It is in the middle of molting so he is missing most of his head feathers other than two or three individual feathers sticking up.
25720d ago
John2

What a handsome fella! 😂

DWebster🇺🇦🇨🇴🇨🇺🇲🇽🇨🇦🌎🦜2

I think these guys must be the best 'molters' of them all!

Cairnglastenhope2

Do the feathers grow back? Is this a normal moulting thing that happens or is it some illness that causes it? Hope the wee bird is alright!

winefreak.bsky.social1

Is it a bald cardinal?

Ramen1

I always feel bad for the birds when molt hits. Everybody looks like a buzzard. 🤣

StaceyinAustin1

I have one of those too!😆

Mike Saunders 🇺🇦
@hardwaterhacker.bsky.social

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Elegant - any elegant looking bird. The alt is #Scruffy - any bird looking a bit worse for wear. I'm going with this elegant Western Grebe. #birds #nature #wildlife

A horizontal photo of a Western Grebe on calm water in soft morning light. The grebe is on the left, looking to the right, body slightly angled towards the camera. The bird has a bright white breast, neck, throat, and chin. The top of the head is black. The black extends down the back of the neck. The head feathers stand up, giving the bird a square buzz cut look. The back feathers are gray and wet from a recent dive. The grebe has piercing red eyes. Only the right eye is visible. It has a long, pointed beak. The beak is pale orange. The top of the beak is dark, nearly black. The scene is filled with soft morning light. Shades of pale pink and gold fill the scene. The water is still other than small ripples from the bird. The water appears pale blue.
24220d ago
T Pet1

What kind of bird is this one?

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Wow! Definitely looking quite elegant. Fantastic photo, Mike. 👌🏼

Janet Hill1

Oh WOWOW! This is really amazing, Mike

Bill Stedman
@steddybirds.bsky.social

I am not #scruffy … just a little wet right now. #BirdOfTheDay #birds #bluejays #backyardbirds #birdphotography #ECK 🪶

A a very wet bluejay, perched on a wooden rail with its back to the camera, turns to look down and to the right during a rain shower. In the background are pink rhododendron blooms.
22620d ago
redlady84.bsky.social1

Aww he needs a warm towel and a forehead kiss

Zita Hildebrandt1

He looks so resigned. I want to provide a little spa towel so he can dry himself off 🥹

Aintright
@aintright.bsky.social

Marilyn the Robin looking a little windswept. #BirdOfTheDay #Scruffy #birds #ECK #birdphotography #naturephotography

22121d ago
Dill Childs1

Ooh la lah! She looks as if she's about to dance the can-can!

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