Marie Read / Roseate spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja) adult in breeding plumage preening tail feathers, Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA, January.

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

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.

Ingo Arndt / Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) adult resting, close up portrait, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. January. Finalist in the Birds Category of the GDT Awards 2015.

Ingo Arndt / Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) preening, Prion Island, South Georgia Island, February

Ingo Arndt / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) plumage detail, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Antarctic Convergence.

Ingo Arndt / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) portrait and plumage detail, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean, Antarctic Convergence.

Paul D Stewart / Photographic reconstruction of Archaeopteryx by Paul D. Stewart. The fossils of this species was from 150 million years ago, and is thought of as a stage between feathered dinosaurs and modern birds.

Danny Green / Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) preening in late evening light, Heimaey, Westman Isles, Iceland, June

Bence Mate / Group of Little egrets (Egretta garzetta) displaying its ornamental feathers, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary. February.

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

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