By Francesca Lungarotti
One of the more powerful features of photography and visual illustration is the encyclopedic and documentary foundation that lies behind the images. Wildlife and natural history photography requires not only advanced technical skills with a camera, but also the human characteristics of patience and caution that support the difficult task of capturing wild animals photographically. Bird photographers, in particular, blend these professional and personal characteristics to capture species that are often very difficult to locate, approach and keep from flying away at the slightest sound or movement.
Portrait of a kingfisher perched on a tree trunk. Santa Cristina di Quinto. Treviso. Veneto. Italy. Credit: Walter Dall Armellina/ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Ibis. Lomellina. Lombardy. Italy. Credit: ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Australasian Gannet (morus serrator), pair in courtship bonding, North Island, New Zealand. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Golden eagle. Sicily. Credit: Alfio Giannotti/REDA/Universal Images Group 
A toco toucan stands on a tree nearby Iguazu waterfalls. Parana. Brazil. Credit: Marco Gaiotti/ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Eurasian blue tit. Antola Park. Ligury. Vobbia. Credit: ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Tawny owl in night flight with a mouse in its beak. Trentino Alto-Adige. Italy. Credit: ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Australasian Gannet (morus serrator), Cape Kidnappers, North Island, New Zealand. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Bearded Vulture. Stelvio National Park. Lombardy. Italy. Credit: ClickAlps/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Ara ararauna. Blue-and-yellow Macaw. Credit: Andrea Innocenti/REDA/Universal Images Group
UIG’s collection features images of birds, rare, common, thriving and endangered, from a range of professional wildlife photographers we are fortunate to represent. These professionals have contributed to a deep archive of thousands of bird species photographed in the wild in flight as well as close-up and sedentary.
Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis, landing on roosting pond, Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, USA. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Northern Giant Petrel off Kaikoura, New Zealand. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Flying black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus), Salamanca, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Credit: Mario Cea/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) with prey, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Credit: Mario Cea/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
Green-breasted Mango Hummingbird, Anthracocorax prevostii, Costa Rica. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Magnificent hummingbird (eugenes fulgens) in the highland forest in the Cerro de la Muerte mountains in Costa Rica. Credit: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
A couple of European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) in flight, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Credit: Mario Cea/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) flying at night and reflected on water, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Credit: Mario Cea/VWPics/Universal Images Group 
Barn Owl, Tyto alba, roosting on footpath signpost, North Norfolk, UK, winter. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group 
Red and Green Macaw, Ara chloroptera, Tambopata Amazon Rainforest, Peru. Credit: David Tipling/Universal Images Group
Birds, often displaying mesmerizing beauty and distinctive features, are irreplaceable treasures of our natural heritage. In a quest to strike a delicate balance between fascination and conservation, we celebrate these extraordinary beings through images our talented shooters have provided.
All images featured in this post and on Kaleidoscope are available for licensing. Please contact us at info@universalimagesgroup.com