Charlie Hamilton James / Kingfisher (Alcedo atthias) adult male diving into water, Halcyon River, Gloucestershire, England.

Guy Edwardes / Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), portrait. Lake Kerkini, Sintik, Greece. January.

Jack Dykinga / Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) running to feed brood with Lizard prey in beak. Catalina State Park, Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA. June.

George Sanker / Great egret (Ardea alba) with prey in beak, in evening light. Myakka River State Park, Florida, USA, March. Sequence 2/2.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chick looking upwards to parents beak. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August. Winner of the Portfolio category of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards 2019.

Oscar Dewhurst / Great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) with recently caught fish prey in beak. Suffolk, UK. November.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) hunting for food amongst moss with loch and Celtic rainforest in back ground, Scotland, UK, October..

Steven David Miller / Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) juvenile with beak open to catch a leaf, Cleland Wildlife Park, South Australia, March. Captive.

Marie Read / Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris), male flying in to feed from cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) New York, USA. August.

Marie Read / American avocet (Recurvirostra americana), adult in breeding plumage foraging by sweeping its bill from side to side through shallow water, Orange County, California, USA, April.

Marie Read / California quail (Callipepla californica), male emerging from behind snowbank in winter, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Marie Read / Canada geese (Branta canadensis) two during territorial fight in early spring, Ithaca. New York, USA

Marie Read / Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) holding an acorn in its bill whilst perched on tree stump, with autumn foliage, New York, USA, October.

Marie Read / Black skimmers (Rynchops niger), three in non-breeding plumage on beach, Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. January. Digitally altered to remove distractions.

Marie Read / Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) in breeding plumage, head and shoulders showing plumes on crown and neck, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, New York, USA, May.

Marie Read / American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) adult feeding chick, Long Island, New York, USA. June.

John Chan / Male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) cleaning its beak on a twig, Southern California, USA, January.

George Sanker / Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) standing on rock. Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. September.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) male feeding chick aged a few days. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August. Sequence 1/2.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) male feeding chick aged a few days. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chick begging for food, on parent's feet. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) egg hatching on father's feet. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chick aged six to eight weeks stretching whilst on brooding parent's feet. Adult looking down at chick. Atka Bay, Antarctica. September.

Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), two chicks aged six to eight weeks brooding on parents' feet, one vocalising. Atka Bay, Antarctica. September.

Sven Zacek / Ural owl (Strix uralensis) female on nest, male landing with twig in beak. Tartumaa, Southern Estonia. April.

Sven Zacek / Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) excavating nest hole. Valgamaa, Southern Estonia. April.

Sven Zacek / Ural owl (Strix uralensis) female flying with prey in beak. Flying back to nest in evening light. Tartumaa, Southern Estonia. May.

Sven Zacek / Great bittern (Botaurus stellaris) with fish in beak, caught in stream. Laanemaa, Western Estonia. March.

Paul Hobson / Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) perched on branch with beak open. Laguna del Lagarto, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Paul Hobson / Wood warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) singing whilst perched on branch, silhouetted at dawn. Sheffield, England, UK. May.

Paul Hobson / Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) preening, close up. Hungary. May.

Kerstin Hinze / Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) feeding from a spruce cone, Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany, October.

Tui De Roy / Red-footed booby (Sula sula), pair nest building in tree. Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island, Galapagos.

Konrad Wothe / Sword-billed hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera) hovering in flight, North-Ecuador.

Guy Edwardes / Little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) vocalising whilst perched on branch, Khwai, Botswana.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) sleeping in the breeding colony, brooding egg, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, June, Finalist in the Portfolio Category of the Terr...

Cyril Ruoso / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) feeding underwater, Burgundy, France, November.

Fred Olivier / Group of Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) displaying on a beach, Gypsy Cove, Stanley, Falkland Islands.

Konrad Wothe / Long-tailed hermit (Phaethornis superciliosus) nectaring from a flower, Panguana Reserve, Huanuca Region, Peru.

Tui De Roy / Waved albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) pair in courtship display, Galapagos, Ecuador. Critically Endangered species.

Ingo Arndt / Male Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornatus) constructing bower roof. Arfak Mountains, West Papua, Indonesia.

Ingo Arndt / Glaucous winged gull (Larus glaucescens) calling, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USA, August

Ingo Arndt / Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) leaving water after successfully catching a fish, Hessen, Germany, sequence 9/9

Glenn Bartley/ BIA / Saffron Toucanet (Baillonius bailloni), Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil

Ann & Steve Toon / Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) with sandeel. Inner Farne, Northumberland, UK. July.

Markus Varesvuo / Snowy owl (Bubo scandiaca) female face close up, Canada February

Markus Varesvuo / Black stork (Ciconia nigra) catching a fish, Hungary May

Ernie Janes / RF- Lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) calling from shoreline, beaks open, England, UK, May. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) flapping with sand eels in beak, in evening light, Fair Isle, Shetland, Scotland, UK, June.

Danny Green / Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) wing stretching with sand eels in beak, Flannan Isles, Scotland, UK, July

Danny Green / Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) pair bill rubbing part of courtship ritual, Skomer Island, Wales, UK, May

Bence Mate / Close up of Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) preening, Danube Delta, Romania

Bence Mate / White tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) with fish in beak , Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. January.

Bence Mate / White tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) juvenile feeding on fish, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. February.

Bence Mate / White tailed sea eagle (Halieetus albicilla) head portrait beak open calling, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary, January.

Pal Hermansen / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) portrait, Iceland, June.

Bence Mate / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) low angle perspective of open bills whilst feeding, Lake Kerkini, Greece, February.

Bence Mate / Great flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) with beak covered in mud after feeding, Pont De Gau Park, Rhone River, France.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) close up with large fish in beak, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. February.

Bence Mate / Spoonbilll (Platalea leucorodia) portrait, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. February.

Bence Mate / Orange chinned parakeets (Brotogeris jugularis) two looking at each other, Santa Rita, Costa Rica.

Bence Mate / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) low angle perspective of open bills whilst feeding, Lake Kerkini, Greece, February.

Bence Mate / Great egrets (Ardea alba) sky pointing, sizing each other up before fighting, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. January.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) close up with fish in beak, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary, February.

Bence Mate / Great egret (Ardea alba) with green colouring near beak during breeding season, Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, April.

Bence Mate / Great egrets (Ardea alba) in breeding colours one with dark beak, facing each other with beaks raised towards the sky, Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, February.

Bence Mate / Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) with large carp fish in beak, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary. February.

Bence Mate / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) low angle perspective of open bills whilst feeding, Lake Kerkini, Greece, February.

Bence Mate / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) low angle perspective of open bills whilst feeding, Lake Kerkini, Greece, February.

Bence Mate / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) low angle perspective of open bills whilst feeding, Lake Kerkini, Greece, February. Highly commended in World of Birds category in the Cadiz Photo Nature Competi...

Michel Poinsignon / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) catching fish in lake, Pusztaszer, Hungary, April

Michel Poinsignon / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) catching fish in lake, Pusztaszer, Hungary, April

Michel Poinsignon / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) catching fish in lake, Pusztaszer, Hungary, April

Wim van den Heever / Bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata) portrait of female, Pantanal, Brazil.

Wim van den Heever / Little bee eaters (Merops pusillus) two, with one landing on branch with a fly in its beak. Okavango Delta, Botswana

Markus Varesvuo / Female Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) with newly hatched chick on nest, Kuhmo, Finland, June.

Markus Varesvuo / Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) plucking Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Kuusamo, Finland, April.

Franco Banfi / Beak and tentacles of Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) at night off Loreto, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Wim van den Heever / Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) portrait, Pantanal Brazil.

Gerrit Vyn / Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) in breeding plumage. St. Paul Island, Alaska. July.

Gerrit Vyn / Subadult male Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) in alternate (breeding) plumage. Hidalgo County, Texas. March.

Sven Zacek / Ural owl (Strix uralensis) chick trying to climb an aspen tree with its beak, talons and wings, Southern Estonia. June.

Sven Zacek / Ural owl (Strix uralensis) chick trying to climb an aspen tree with its beak, talons and wings, Southern Estonia. June.

Claudio Contreras / Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) adult feeding chick, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, June. Winner of the CONABIO Nature Photography Competition 2015.

Bence Mate / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and Great egret (Ardea alba) fighting over fish, Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, December. Winner of the Portfolio category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards competi...

Bence Mate / Great egret (Ardea alba) hunting fish, Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, February. Winner of the Portfolio category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards competition 2015.

Bence Mate / Two Great egrets (Ardea alba) face to face against white sky, Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary. Winner of the Portfolio category of the Terre Sauvage Nature Images Awards competition 2015.

Suzi Eszterhas / Hyacinth macaw (Anadorhynchus hyacinthinus) eating palm nut. Pantanal, Brazil.

Dave Watts / Northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) feeding, Morocco, Critically endangered species.

Marie Read / Horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) close-up portrait, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska, USA, July.

Marie Read / Tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), close-up portrait, St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, Alaska, USA, July.

Cyril Ruoso / Atlantic puffin (Larus tridactyla) seen from burrow, Iceland, July.

Angelo Gandolfi / Gannets (Morus bassanus) courtship behavior on nest on abandoned boat, La Spezia Gulf, Italy. Mediterranean Sea. July.

Andy Rouse / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) courtship weed dance, Cardiff, UK, March.

Andy Rouse / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) courtship dance at dawn, Cardiff, UK, March.

Anup Shah / Marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) feeding on catfish in waterhole, wide angle view. Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.