Female mute swan, Cygnus olor, and her cygnet in Southrop in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK

Blue-footed Booby bird on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador sheltering young birds

Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in breeding plumage in captivity, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

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

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

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

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

A Wandering Albatross; Diomedea exulans, the bird with the largest wing span on the planet, at around 11 feet 6 inches, nesting on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A Wandering Albatross; Diomedea exulans, the bird with the largest wing span on the planet, at around 11 feet 6 inches, nesting on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

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

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

King Penguins on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

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

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A King Penguin sleeping in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken, calling to its mate.

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

King Penguins head out to sea on a fishing trip past ice at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

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

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

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

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

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

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) males displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

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

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

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 (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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Newly hatched blue tit chicks and adult in a nestbox

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

Blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) close-up in the Galapagos Island Group, Ecuador. The Galapagos are a nesting and breeding area for blue-footed boobies.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adult Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Lake Myvatn, Iceland

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

Newly hatched blue tit chicks and adult in a nestbox

Adult male western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) in breeding plumage on Isla San Esteban in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Breeding adult male and female harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Red Bluff Bay on Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska

Breeding adult male and female harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Red Bluff Bay on Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska

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

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

Male Eider (Somateria mollissima) in breeding plummage. Iceland

Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Adult female eider duck (Somateria mollissima) in breeding plumage in the Svalbard Archipelago in the Barents Sea, Norway. Note the fishing hook in this animals beak.

Adult male and female common mergansers (Mergus merganser) in breeding plumage in Gambier Bay on Admiralty Island, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Adult harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Lake Myvatn, Iceland

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)

Breeding adult male harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) taking flight in Red Bluff Bay on Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska

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

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

Adult male long-tailed meadowlark (Sturnella loyca) in breeding plumage on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

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

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

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 Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Lake Myvatn, Iceland

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) parent and chick at breeding colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Adult male western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) in breeding plumage on Isla San Esteban in the middle Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), Mexico.

Guano-covered chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick at breeding colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula

Breeding adult male and female harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) taking flight in Takatz Bay on Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska

A Black Headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) in breeding plumage, Moray Firth, Scotland.

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

Adult male bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) in breeding plumage on the wing over the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

Puffins on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom, Europe