The 51 Best Spring Bird Pictures Ever

Courtesy Scott Diedrich

9. Oriole in Flowering Tree

“I really love the spring bird migration that happens in my area. At the same time, crabapples and other flowering trees are in full bloom. I had the pleasure of photographing this male Baltimore oriole—one of my favorite subjects—among the flowers,” says Scott Diedrich of Buffalo, New York. Check out the 8 oriole species you should know.

Courtesy Alan Hailston

10. Northern Cardinal

“Two years ago, I noticed a male northern cardinal frequenting my double cherry tree every morning. My goal was to get a picture of him, surrounded by the pink cherry blossoms while they were still in bloom. After a couple weeks of waiting, I finally got the photo I wanted,” says Alan Hailston of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Don’t miss more simply stunning photos of Northern cardinals.

Courtesy Gary Robinette

11. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

” A ruby crowned kinglet rockin’ the crown. I had been shooting these guys all winter, but they don’t show that crown until they get excited in the spring,” says Gary Robinette.

Courtesy Kay Dye

12. Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

“I was excited to find this scissor-tailed flycatcher in our driveway after my husband told me he saw the bird. It showed off for me and my my new camera,” says Kay Dye.

Courtesy Jean Owens

13. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

“The beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak is one of my favorite migrating birds in the spring. I was pleased to see a large number of the male and females this spring. My viburnum was a large attraction for them,” says Jean Owens. Learn about 5 grosbeaks backyard birders should know.

Courtesy Pearl Bouchard

14. Cedar Waxwing

“We planted this tree for the shade, and much to my delight the cedar waxwings find it every spring. They let me sit on the patio and take bird pictures,” says Pearl Bouchard. Learn all about cedar waxwing baby birds and nests.

Courtesy Bill Klipp

15. Palm Warbler

“Key West, being the southernmost land point of the Continental U.S., puts us on the flyway of all sorts of songbirds each spring as they migrate from the Caribbean and South America. This little bird visited my backyard banana flower each morning, lapping up the dripping nectar for over a week,” says Bill Klipp. Check out 10 spring warblers you should know.

Courtesy Jeffrey Kauffman

16. Northern Flicker

Jeffrey Kauffman of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, shared a photo of a female Northern flicker heading back to her nest to take care of her chicks. Learn about 8 different kinds of bird nests and how to spot them.

Courtesy Kerry Loving

17. Kissing Cardinals

“Every time I look at this bird picture, I smile. Serendipitously, I clicked my camera shutter in the split second that they ‘kissed.’ Capturing this moment between a male and female northern cardinal has been on my photography bucket list for a long time. I’m so glad I finally reached my goal,” says Kerry Loving of Carlisle, Iowa. Check out 6 proven ways to attract cardinals.

Courtesy Sharon Burt

18. Black-Capped Chickadee

“I always enjoy springtime, when our crabapple tree in our front yard is in full bloom. Many birds come in to eat the sweet blossoms including this adorable black-capped chickadee. These cuties are one of my favorite birds to watch,” says Sharon Burt.

Courtesy Catherine Delee Smith

19. Red-Headed Woodpecker

“This photo represents a first for me—I had never seen a red-headed woodpecker in my backyard before. It stayed on the suet feeder for quite some time, giving me plenty of opportunity to admire its brilliant colors,” says Catherine M. Smith of Islip, New York. Check out 10 woodpecker species birders should know.

Courtesy Kimberly Miskiewicz

20. American Robin

“An American robin stopped by our endless water fountain one bright and sunny afternoon for a quick dip. It went around the top of the fountain several times, as if trying to find the perfect spot,” says Kimberly Miskiewicz of Raleigh, North Carolina. Here’s how to attract robins to your yard or garden.

Courtesy Walker Catlett

21. White-Breasted Nuthatch

“While I searched for spring migrants, this white-breasted nuthatch landed on a branch just a few feet away from me,” says Walker Catlett of Charlottesville, Virginia. Offer these 4 foods to attract nuthatches.

Courtesy Stephen McDowell

22. House Finch

“One day while I was watching my feeders and photographing birds, I noticed this one. It had red on its head, neck and chest, but it wasn’t bright like my cardinals. Not knowing what type of bird I had captured, I sent the bird picture to a couple of my photo buddies. Almost immediately I received several emails telling me all about my new friend, the male house finch,” says Stephen McDowell of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Learn how to tell the difference between house finches and purple finches.

Courtesy Stuart Allison

23. Song Sparrow

“This little song sparrow landed on a redbud tree branch, its breakfast in beak, early one morning. Song sparrows are such a conspicuous part of spring. Whenever I come upon one boldly standing on its perch, singing its song, it makes all the colors of spring seem much brighter,” says Stuart Allison of Coronado, California. Learn how to identify sparrows.

Courtesy Carmen Macuga

24. Eastern Bluebird

“I love eastern bluebirds but rarely see them in our area, so I created a habitat to encourage their nesting. Last year, I succeeded, and a beautiful pair of bluebirds moved in. This photo was taken the first spring they decided to stay and raise their young,” says Carmen Macuga of Crown Point, Indiana. Check out these common backyard birds that you should know.

Courtesy Martha Chavez

25. Leucistic Robin

“When I saw an American robin with leucism (partial albinism) last fall, I was absolutely enchanted. Winter passed, and I wasn’t sure if I would see this special bird again. I was so happy when it reappeared in my yard once March arrived. This robin is a great photo subject and seems to enjoy posing for the camera!” says Martha Chavez of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Learn the difference between albino and leucistic birds.

Courtesy Janelle Pitula

26. White-Throated Sparrow

“When I began pursuing photography a few years ago, I dreamed of taking bird pictures in my backyard crabapple tree while it was in bloom. Last year, I waited and waited as the sun slowly set and I captured this lovely white-throated sparrow as it sat and snacked on the tree’s blossoms. Patience and hard work really paid off!” says Janelle Pitula of Oswego, Illinois.

Courtesy William Canosa

27. Yellow Warbler

“I snapped the shutter at the perfect moment last spring. Yellow warblers like this one were making their way through Connecticut as part of their migration journey,” says William Canosa of Brandford, Connecticut. Check out 25 photos of warblers you should add to your life list.

Courtesy Edward Boos

28. Florida Scrub-Jays

“The Florida scrub-jay lives only in Florida. For the past five years, my wife and I have visited a site where a family of three to five of these naturally curious birds resides. During one visit, I walked away from my camera and was surprised when three scrub-jays landed on it. Fortunately, I had a hand-held camera with me and captured the moment,” says Edward Boos of Scaly Mountain, North Carolina. Meet the jays: blue jays, California scrub-jays and Steller’s jays.

Courtesy Steven Biegler

29. Northern Mockingbird

“The range of sounds a northern mockingbird can make is amazing, and I’m fortunate to have one of these wonderful birds frequent my backyard. I think this photograph exemplifies what mockingbirds do better than any other bird: sing their hearts out. I especially love the way the sunlight illuminates the inside of its open beak,” says Steven Biegler of North Bellmore, New York. Learn how to attract Northern mockingbirds.

Courtesy Elijah Gildea

30. Calliope Hummingbird

“Every spring and throughout most of the year, 50 to 100 hummingbirds , like this male Calliope, visit my 11 feeders. They drink about 2 gallons of sugar water per day! April is my favorite month because I’ve had as many as six species show up then—Anna’s, rufous, Calliope, black-chinned, Allen’s and a single Costa’s,” says Elijah Gildea of Redding, California. Check out more stunning hummingbird photos.

Courtesy David Meachum

31. Prothonotary Warbler

“This beautiful prothonotary warbler photo was taken during the annual birding festival at Indiana Dunes. The bird had been eluding photographers all weekend, showing up only occasionally. But on the final day of the festival I was one of two lucky photographers to catch it singing outside a birdhouse near a small bog. The other photographer was from England—he had traveled all the way there just to spot the reclusive prothonotary,” says David Meachum of Memphis, Indiana.

Courtesy William Canosa

32. American Redstart

“I captured this American redstart during a stroll in Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Connecticut. To get the best light possible, I take walks in early morning and try to position myself in a spot where the quality, character and direction of light are in my favor. Then I wait quietly for birds to enter the good light. I use bird photography as a form of meditation, so being patient is actually the easy part,” says William Canosa of Branford, Connecticut. Check out amazing wildlife photos in Yellowstone National Park.

Courtesy Ron Newhouse

33. Orchard Oriole and Painted Bunting

“Before heading home after a day of bird-watching on the trails at South Llano River State Park, I stopped at a bird blind near the park’s entrance. The temperature was in the 90s, so this water feature was very busy! A male painted bunting and a female orchard oriole sharing the dripping water provided a very colorful picture of the action,” says Ron Newhouse of Bryan, Texas. 

Courtesy Paul Griffin

34. Indigo Bunting

“The sun hit this indigo bunting just right, making the bird appear much brighter and more turquoise than its typical dark blue. I took this bird picture while walking the La Chua Trail in Gainesville, Florida, with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i,” says Paul Griffin of Gainesville, Florida. Learn to identify and attract indigo buntings.

Courtesy Rebecca Granger

35. Northern Cardinal in Crabapple Tree

“Cardinals, some of my all-time favorites, visit my yard every day year-round. During the spring, they often perch in my blooming crabapple tree. I love this time of year when birds sing and blooms show their beauty,” says Rebecca Granger of Bancroft, Michigan. Follow these proven tips to attract more cardinals. 

Courtesy Diana Wolfe

36. Oriole on Feeder

“In the past, I had only a couple of oriole visitors for a short time. But last year I put out plenty of oranges and grape jelly, and I saw up to six orioles each day at my feeder. They sure do like the oranges!” says Diana Wolfe of Macy, Indiana. Learn how to feed orioles.

Courtesy B.J. Lanich

37. Gray Catbird

“This gray catbird visited our yard last spring, and it always chose to perch at the top of the white spruce tree. I took this photo on a cool morning, so when it fluffed its feathers, it became even more attractive than usual,” says B.J. Lanich of Wausaukee, Wisconsin.

Courtesy Pete Ritz

38. Baby Hummingbirds

“A few years ago, some new, feathered neighbors moved into my orange tree. It wasn’t until the female hummingbird finished her nest that I spotted her. I put up a feeder and started taking bird pictures when she seemed to tolerate my presence, photographing her babies until they were strong enough to leave the nest. The mother was an amazing caregiver, and it was incredible to watch these tiny birds grow,” says Pete Ritz of Scottsdale, Arizona. Check out more adorable pictures of baby hummingbirds.

Courtesy Cathy Biliouris

39. Purple Finch and American Goldfinch

“This purple finch and American goldfinch stopped by my backyard at the same time. They looked like they were annoyed with each other and didn’t want to share the feeder!” says Cathy Biliouris of Ashby, Massachusetts.

Courtesy Robin Seeber

40. Yellow-Throated Warbler

“My husband spoke to me in a soft, hurried voice: ‘Honey, don’t move.’ I froze. I looked at him and saw him point up. I carefully raised my eyes and saw a yellow-throated warbler. It was hard to contain my excitement as that tiny, gorgeous bird sat on our antique dinner triangle. Once it flew away, my husband urged me to add it to our farm list—it was number 61. The warbler came back for several days, and we watched it munch on sunflower chips at our feeder and gather horse hair. We hope to see this species around here again,” says Robin Seeber of West Alexander, Pennsylvania. Check out proven tips to attract nesting birds.

Courtesy Diane Barone

41. Cactus Wrens

“Cactus wrens at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson were busy with their babies in a saguaro. I think this bird picture is so funny! I tried to come up with a caption and settled for, ‘The kids have left home.'” says Diane Barone of Boise, Idaho. To see more birds, go birdwatching in different bird habitats.

Courtesy Stephen Ofsthun

42. Sandpipers

“There are at least three types of sandpipers in this bird picture I took at Lake Thunderbird State Park. I was lucky enough to capture the shot while in a moving kayak!” says Stephen Ofsthun of Norman, Oklahoma. Take a quiz: how many shorebirds can you identify?

Courtesy Gilberto Sanchez

43. Female Cardinal

“Designing and building my garden to attract wildlife in Orlando, Florida, is a work in progress. Cardinals often make an early morning appearance, and it’s a joy to see them. This beautiful female perched in my spicy jatropha tree before she went to one of the feeders. Her morning songs always bring life to my yard,” says Gilberto Sanchez of Orland, Florida. We asked the experts: Do cardinals mate for life?

Courtesy Stephen Shelasky

44. Eastern Towhee

“As I strolled through the Hank’s Meadow loop trail in the Quabbin Reservoir, I spotted a female eastern towhee. Just a few minutes later the male showed up!” says Stephen Shelasky of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Meet the towhees: the birds scratching up a storm in your backyard.

Courtesy Brenda Kerttu

45. Mountain Bluebird

“Anyone who knew my Grandma Bernice knew she loved birds and that her favorite was the mountain bluebird. When I was a kid, we would go check her nest boxes to make sure they were clean and ready for new bluebird families. Now, years later, I think of my grandma every time I see a mountain bluebird, especially in spring,” says Brenda Kerttu of Naples, Idaho. Learn how to help the bluebirds and monitor nest boxes.

Courtesy Lisa Faith

46. Tree Swallows

“A pair of tree swallows were building a nest in our nest box and decided to take a break on my backyard wind spinner. They went around and around many times, like they were enjoying their own merry-go-round!” says Lisa Faith of Antioch, Illinois. Learn to identify 8 types of swallows.

Courtesy Eric Sydenstricker

47. Western Tanagers

“I hadn’t taken photos of birds for six years until the day these beautiful western tanagers showed up in my backyard. Their colorful plumage was so amazing, I just had to dig out my camera. I now have an updated DSLR camera and my wife tells people that I’ve become obsessed with taking bird pictures. She’s not wrong—I haven’t missed many days of bird photography since those tanagers,” says Eric Sydenstricker of East Wenatchee, Washington. Discover 4 vibrant tanager species to know.

Courtesy Rick Hamilton

48. Burrowing Owl

“My wife has always wanted to see a burrowing owl, so last year we took a trip to Florida. Once there, we were fortunate enough to find two parks with multiple nesting pairs. Of the hundreds of bird pictures I took, this one is my favorite! Next year, we plan to go to Florida a month later than last time, so we can see and photograph the fledglings,” says Rick Hamilton of Westminster, Maryland. Check out 15 outstanding pictures of owls.

Courtesy Karol Habersetzer

49. Blue Jay

“Blue jays are the perfect birds to photograph thanks to their iridescent feathers, soft blue crown and majestic size. This beautiful jay was calling attention to itself while perched on our flowering crabapple tree. These birds have so many different and interesting songs!” says Karol Habersetzer of West Bend, Wisconsin. Here’s how to identify and attract blue jays.

Courtesy Caitlin Bozek

50. Great Blue Heron

“I often take walks through Beaver Island State Park in Grand Island, New York. I am always in awe of the wildlife there—especially the great blue herons. There’s usually a lot of heron action in the park in spring, thanks to a major rookery located on Pirates Island, on the Niagara River. I took this bird picture of one of the herons leaving an inlet, probably on its way back to the rookery after catching its lunch,” says Caitlin Bozek of Grand Island, New York. Discover 7 fascinating facts about great blue herons.

Courtesy Joe Stambaugh

51. Purple Finch

“This purple finch perched on the soft maple tree by our patio before flying down to enjoy a meal of black oil sunflower seeds and peanut butter spread on pine cones. I love how its color perfectly matches the maple buds that were just beginning to open,” says Joe Stambaugh of Astoria, Illinois. Want to see more spring birds? Check out birding hotspots for spring migration.