Category: Bird

2025, Bird, Ethiopia Selection

Blue Sparkle of the Male Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) – Ethiopia

Éclat

Éclat bleu du mâle cordonbleu – Cordonbleu à joues rouges (Uraeginthus bengalus) – Ethiopie

 

Perched in the midst of a thorny bush, this male Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) displays his striking plumage: a bright turquoise breast and belly, highlighted by the characteristic red patch on the cheek. In females, the colors are more subdued, with less blue and no red on the face. This contrast makes it easy to distinguish between the sexes. Widespread across the savannas and shrublands of sub-Saharan Africa, this delicate little bird enlivens the Ethiopian landscape with its vivid colors and quick, lively movements, often seen in pairs or small groups.

2023, Algeria Selection, Bird, Sahara

Messenger of the Sands – Pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) – Algeria

Messenger

Messenger of the Sands – Pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) – Algeria

 

Silent and weightless, the Pale crag martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) sweeps through the heated air like a brown arrow. It traces arabesques above the dunes, a faithful companion to wind and light. Its fleeting silhouette seems to float between earth and sky, a reminder that even in the heart of a barren expanse, life finds its place and dances with grace.

2023, Bird, Spain Selection

Pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – Spain

Pair

Pair of White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) – Spain

 

A small bird of fast-flowing rivers, the white-throated dipper fascinates with its aquatic lifestyle. Able to walk underwater against the current, it hunts aquatic insects, larvae, and small crustaceans along the stream bed. In this discreet dweller of cool waters, the bond between mates is strengthened through food exchanges: the male sometimes feeds the female — a gesture that seals their union before nesting begins.