Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Socotra's biodiversity on land is undisputed and world famous, but it is equally diverse on the coast and in the sea. I am focusing on the terrestrial realm…


Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

With the same color combination as the thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris), the orange-bellied euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster) might be difficult to…


Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

Orange-bellied Euphonia (Euphonia xanthogaster)

With the same color combination as the thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) it might be difficult to separate it from the orange-bellied euphonia…


Spot-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia imitans)

Spot-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia imitans)

A female foraging for fruits. Its plumage ensures it blends perfectly with the foliage, and is best seen if you offer fruits or have a preferred fruiting tree…


Olive-backed euphonia (Euphonia gouldi)

Olive-backed euphonia (Euphonia gouldi)

A small bird blending perfectly with the foliage of the canopy where it forages for fruits. The best way to get up close is to offer a selection of fruits in…


Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis)

Dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis) is a beautiful high-elevation dweller, seen here around the Tungnath temple during the full moon of April…


Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

Little egret (Egretta garzetta)

This is the second of just 3 bird species I encountered at this lagoon in the Shuab valley on the west coast of Socotra. Here a little egret (Egretta garzetta)…


Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)

The oxbow lake at Amazon Research and Conservation Center, deep in the Peruvian Amazon, was almost still as I watched this capped heron (Pilherodius pileatus)…


Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)

It's the end of the dry season in the Pantanal, and the torrential downpour of last night is now flowing towards the permanent rivers and lakes. In this photo…


Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Striated heron (Butorides striata) is a very skittish species, perhaps one of the most nervous of all. When I drive up any river these are the birds that first…