Sometimes you are lucky to get really close enough to a bird to take a photo of just it’s head or upper body, like the Pileated Woodpecker shown above. Depending on the lens you are using, this can be one foot away or 30 feet away. I have taken songbird photos with a 50mm lens from a couple of feet away using a wireless remote camera firing setup. I have also photographed birds 20 to 30 feet away using a 500mm lens and completely filled the frame with only the head and neck of large birds like a Great Blue Heron.
At times, a photo looks better with the area surrounding the bird included if it is interesting and adds to the picture, like a bird catching a fish or eating berries in a bush. When possible, I try to fill the frame with as much of the bird as I can, to show the detail and beauty of it’s feathers, markings, and colors.

I photographed this House Wren with the camera set on a tripod about 2 feet from the birdhouse it was nesting in. After observing it land on top of the house each time it flew in I set the camera up and set the focus on manual then fired the camera by wireless remote while standing 30 feet away.

I had photographed this Tri-colored Heron from a distance a few times and he came in so close this one time, so instead of changing from my 500mm lens to a wider angle I took a few shots framing just the top part of it’s body.

This close-up photo of the Forster’s Tern shows it’s orange bill with a black tip which is only orange during the breeding season from March to August. The rest of the year it has a completely black bill.

The orange bill is unique to the Mute Swan. The Trumpeter’s is all black and Tundra Swans have all black with a slight streak of yellow. Mute Swans are not mute, but have a variety of calls.

The smaller Snowy Egret (compared to the Great Egret) has a black bill with yellow lores while the Great Egret has an all yellow bill. The one above is in breeding plumage.

Sandhill Cranes stand three to five feet tall with a five to six foot wingspan. Besides their size their most distinguishing feature is the red crown.

I believe the only reason I got this close to this Red-tailed Hawk is because it is a juvenile. I managed to stand in full view of it about 30 feet away and photographed it with a 300mm lens.


The Brown Pelican looks like a big awkward bird at times but can be quite handsome close-up. These two photos are adults with white, black and yellow markings while the juveniles are all brown.

Notice how the orange eyes show up well in a close-up view.

Early morning light on this swan.

Another photo taken with wireless remote, a House Sparrow feeds it’s young.

Close-up photo of this Northern Harrier shows it’s face feathers that help it detect the sound of it’s prey. They also have a disk shaped face to gather sounds.

Great Egret with it’s all yellow bill.

The iridescence on the Grackle shows well in this close-up.

Pieces of grass on it’s bill can be seen in this close photo which would go unnoticed in a full view.

Seen in it’s winter plumage.


Side lighting really brings out detail on the close-up of a crow.

Distinct markings on the Blue Jay’s head.
Caught this Great Blue Heron as it looks into the low evening sun.

Most people consider Vultures as ugly, disgusting birds. I think this close-up photo shows a handsome bird. They have a reason for the bald head, when they put their head into the body cavity of the carrion they feed on, it helps keep their head clean.

This close-up of an Anhinga shows the brilliant color of it’s eye which is seldom seen in most photos. Also know as the “Snake Bird” since they sit so low in the water with only their long neck above the surface looking like a snake from a distance. They are often seen perched with their wings spread drying off. The reason they sit low in the water and must dry their wings in order to fly is that they have no oil glands to keep their feathers water resistant like most ducks and water birds.