Adult Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus albididorsalis) in flight at breeding colony on Ile des Oiseaux, Parc National du Delta du Saloum, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

Adult male magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), San Gabriel Bay, Espiritu Santo Island, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

A wild adult male bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), attracted to hand-held flower near Playa Larga, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Adult South Georgia Pipit (Anthus antarcticus) feeding at low tide on Prion Island, Bay of Isles, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult female Magellan goose (upland goose) (Chloephaga picta), on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean, South America

Adult black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) in flight in the Svalbard Archipelago, Barents Sea, Norway, Arctic, Europe

Adult Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus), on ice floe in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, Arctic, Europe

An adult Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) in melt water pool in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, Arctic, Europe

Adult black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) wading and feeding in a brackish water lagoon on Floreana Island, Galapagos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Adult Swallow-tailed gull (Creagrus furcatus) in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Nazca booby (Sula grantii) downy chick in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ecuador, South America

Adult black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on ice near Alexander Island in Franz Josef Land, Russia, Arctic Ocean, Eurasia

An adult red-footed booby (Sula sula), in its white color morph plumage in flight over the ocean in Palau, Micronesia, Pacific

An adult Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra), hunting for prey on Montgomery Reef, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

Adult black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), in flight returning to nesting site on West Point Island, Falklands, South America

Adult king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) amongst chicks at breeding colony at Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island, Polar Regions

Adult Subantarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi) cleaning itself in glacier run off at Stromness Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Adult dovekies (Little Auk) (Alle alle) at their breeding site amongst scree slopes at Rubini Rock, Tikhaya Bay, Hooker Island, Franz Josef Land, Russia, Arctic Ocean, Eurasia

Adult azure kingfisher (Ceyx azureus), perched in Porosus Creek, Frederick Harbor, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), taking flight on a small islet near Isla Salsipuedes, Baja California, Mexico, North America

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), in flight, Isla Carmen, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

A wild adult male bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), displaying vivid coloration near Playa Larga, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Adult brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), on a small islet near Isla Salsipuedes, Baja California, Mexico, North America

Adult black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), close up of tail at nesting site on New Island, Falklands, South America

An adult red-footed booby (Sula sula), in its white color morph plumage in flight over the ocean in Palau, Micronesia, Pacific

Adult black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), close up at nesting site on West Point Island, Falklands, South America

Adult black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys), in flight returning to nesting site on West Point Island, Falklands, South America

Adult elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans), looking for fish on Isla Carmen, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

A wild adult Cuban emerald hummingbird (Chlorostilbon ricordii), Zapata National Park, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) in mixed juvenile and adult plumage with a prize from a wildebeest kill, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Serengeti, Tanzania, East Africa, Africa

Adult elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans), looking for fish on Isla Carmen, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), on a small islet near Isla Salsipuedes, Baja California, Mexico, North America

A wild adult male bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae), attracted to hand-held flower near Playa Larga, Cuba, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

An adult female willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) in summer plumage on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland, Polar Regions

Western gull (Larus occidentalis), in non-breeding adult plumage, Monterey Bay, Monterey, California, United States of America, North America

Male mute swan, Cygnus olor, known as a cob, in Southrop in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) close-up of face, adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

A Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris in Seahouses, Northumberland, UK, moulting from Juvenile to adult plumage.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) adult in breeding plumage, in flight, lake kerkini, greece

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding pluamge, bill pouch extended, lake kerkini, greece

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

White pelican (pelecanus onocrotalus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

Long-tailed duck (clangual hyernalis) adult male in summer breeding plumage, taking off from water, varanger, norway

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) adult in breeding plumage on water, lake kerkini, greece

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult female Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) on snow, much lighter plumage cf to Brown skua, Ross Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) in flight over a saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult male common eider duck (Somateria mollissima) in breeding plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

Adult male common eider duck (Somateria mollissima) in breeding plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Newly hatched blue tit chicks and adult in a nestbox

Adult male common eider duck (Somateria mollissima) in breeding plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus) on the water around the Antarctic Peninsula. Note the light coloration of the plumage of this animal.

Adult Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus ostralegus) in full breeding plumage at Isfjardardjup, Northwestern Iceland

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) taking flight in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

Eider duck (Somateria mollissima), male and juvenile swimming past a fish farm, tend to raft there in the winter.

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) taking flight with fish in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway

A pair of adult Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA

White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) nesting on electricity pylons in the Coto Donana in Andalucia, Spain.

Adult male Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Adult Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax (atriceps) atriceps) exhibiting intense breeding plumage on New Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in summer plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway.

Adult red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in breeding plumage on Flatey Island in Iceland

An adult Galapagos dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) in beautiful breeding plumage on Espanola Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

An adult Galapagos dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) in beautiful breeding plumage on Espanola Island in the Galapagois Island Archipelago, Ecuador, Pacific Ocean

2008; A nesting Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) in breeding plumage. Tymna Lagoon, Chukotskiy Peninsular, Russia, Asia

Adult Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Adult male common merganser (Mergus merganser) in breeding plumage taking flight in Gambier Bay on Admiralty Island, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Adult common teal (Anas crecca) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Lake Myvatn, Iceland

Adult pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) in breeding plumage with a sand lance in its beak at Sail Rock in Frederick Sound, Southeast Alaska, USA. Pacific Ocean.

Adult red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in breeding plumage on Flatey Island in Iceland

Adult double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) in Magdalena Bay between Isla Magdalena and the Baja Peninsula, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Two juvenile brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) behind an adult in the lower Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico. Note the uniform drab brown coloration of the juvenile plumage.

Wild Adult Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata), Colony, In breeding plumage, Bering Islands (Bering sea), Russia, Asia.

Adult pigeon guillemot (Cepphus columba) in breeding plumage with a capelin in its beak in Chatham Strait, Southeast Alaska, USA, Pacific Ocean.

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) in downy plumage (often called "okum boys") on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean.

Newly hatched blue tit chicks and adult in a nestbox

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in summer plumage near Vigur Island in Isafjardardjup Bay, Iceland

Adult female common merganser (Mergus merganser) in breeding plumage in Gambier Bay on Admiralty Island, Southeastern Alaska, USA. Pacific Ocean.

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in summer plumage near Vigur Island in Isafjardardjup Bay, Iceland

A curious adult pale-faced sheathbill (Chionis alba) landing on the bow of the National Geographic Endeavour near the Antarctic peninsula

Adult brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) in breeding plumage bathing in seawater on Bartolome Island in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. Pacific Ocean.

Adult long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) in breeding plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult black guillemot (Cepphus grylle) in summer plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway.

Curious adult pale-faced sheathbill(s) (Chionis alba) alight on Lindblad Expedition Zodiacs on Usefull Island near the Antarctic peninsula

Adult light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) on the wing in Drake Passage between the tip of South America and the Antarctic peninsula, southern ocean.

Adult male Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) taking flight in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA. Pacific Ocean. (RR)