Andres M. Dominguez / Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) perched on branch amongst Hawthorn (Crataegus sp) berries. Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Cadiz, Spain. February.

Marie Read / Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) male perched amid snow-covered branches, New York, USA, February.

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

Markus Varesvuo / Pine Grosbeak male (Pinicola enucleator)and traffic light Oulu, Finland, December

Ingo Arndt / Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) subadult birds practising building 'play nest', Singapore.

Ingo Arndt / Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) male flying to nest entrance, Singapore

Ben Hall / Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) pair, one perched on branch and one hovering in snowfall, Derbyshire, February.

Tim Zurowski / Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), British Columbia, Canada

Tim Zurowski / Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), British Columbia, Canada

Hougaard Malan / Quiver tree with sociable weaver (Philetairus socius) nest in morning light. Quiver Tree Forest, Keetmanshoop, Namibia. March 2011.

Bence Mate / Greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) and House sparrows (Passer domesticus) blurred long exposure photograph, Hungary, February.

Sven Zacek,Sven Zacek / European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) in flight. Southern Estonia, December.