Alex Hyde / Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius) male, close-up showing irridescent mandibles. Captive. Endemic to North America.

John Abbott / Rainbow scarab beetle (Phanaeus difformis) male, Texas, USA

Konrad Wothe / Magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) male perched in rainforest, Iron Range National Park, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia, November

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider {Salticidae} covered in iridescent scales photographed on white background, tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Russell Cooper / Male Pollen / Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) on flowering foodplant, Morden, South London, London, UK

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) in flight, feeding from flower

Stephen Dalton / Leaf beetle (Chrysolina sp) on leaf, UK

Stephen Dalton / Green violetear hummingbird (Colibri thalassinus) flying up from bathing in water, controlled conditions

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male dissapearing into nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at entrance to nest hole in tree, showing very long tail feathers, cloud forest El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male perched, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird {Colibri coruscans} flying to flower, controlled conditions, from South America

David Shale / Comb Jelly {Bollinopsis ssp} caught with 1m ring net between 0 and 150m, comb plates, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, North Atlantic Ocean

Mary McDonald / Broad-billed hummingbird {Cynanthus latirostris} hovering, SW Arizona, USA.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Booted Racket-tail hummingbird (Ocreatus underwoodii) male flying, feeding from flower, Mindo, Ecuador, Andes, South America, January

Rolf Nussbaumer / Empress Brilliant hummingbird (Heliodoxa imperatrix) male perched next to flower, Mindo, Ecuador, Andes, South America, January

Rolf Nussbaumer / Purple-bibbed Whitetip (Urosticte benjamini) male feeding from flower, Mindo, Ecuador, Andes, South America, January

Edwin Giesbers / Green crowned brilliant hummingbird (Heliodoxa jacula), Costa Rica

Rolf Nussbaumer / Coppery-headed Emerald, Elvira cupreiceps, male in flight feeding on Spiral Ginger (Costus Pulverulentus), Central Valley, Costa Rica, Central America, December 2006

Nick Garbutt / Morpho butterfly {Morpho achilles} Napo River, Amazon Basin, Ecuador

David Shale / Female Angler fish {Himantolophus sp} deep sea species

Juergen Freund / Big fin reef squid {Sepioteuthis lessonians} Indo Pacific

George Sanker / American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) displaying brightly coloured wings. Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, March.

Alex Hyde / Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius) female, showing irridescent mandibles. Captive, endemic to North America.

Doug Wechsler / Dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus) on Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) leaf, Pennsylvania, USA, June.

Mike Potts / White vented violetear (Colibri serrirostris) Santa Terresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mike Potts / Versicoloured emerald hummingbird (Amazilia versicolour) Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mike Potts / Male Wire-crested thorntail (Discosura popelairii) Wild Sumaco, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) Wild Sumaco, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Wire-crested thorntail (Discosura popelairii), Wild Sumaco, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Two male Wire-crested thorntails (Discosura popelairii) displaying, Wild Sumaco, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Male Chestnut breasted coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii) Guango, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Male Chestnut breasted coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii), Guango, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Andean emerald hummingbird (Amazilia franciae), Tandayapa, Ecuador.

Mike Potts / Male Allen's hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin), Los Angeles, California, September.

Alex Hyde / Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) female with huge abdomen swollen with eggs. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. April.

MYN / Seth Patterson / Anacua tortoise beetle (Coptocycla texana) Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA, September. meetyourneighbours.net project

Kim Taylor / Violet sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) male hovering, Costa Rica

Rolf Nussbaumer / Bronzed cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) two males perched together on branch, Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, South Texas, USA.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Bronzed cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) pair sitting on branch, Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, South Texas, USA.

Sue Flood / Stripe tailed hummingbird (Eupherusa eximia) perched, Monteverde Reserve, Costa Rica, January

Sandesh Kadur / Malabar whistling thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii) perched on rock, known for its human-like whistle, this bird inhabits wooded ravines in the Western Ghats, India

John Abbott / Rainbow scarab beetles (Phanaeus difformis) male (on left) and female, Texas, USA

Konrad Wothe / Shining / Metallic starling (Aplonis metallica) pair at nest in breeding colony, Daintree National Park, North Queensland, Australia, October

Konrad Wothe / Shining / Metallic starling (Aplonis metallica) in Spurwood tree (Dysoxylum pettigrewianum) in rainforest, Daintree National Park, North Queensland, Australia, October

Michele Westmorland / Portrait of Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea), St Vincent, West-Indies, Caribbean, May.

Andrew Parkinson / Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) profile of drake in his breeding plumage, Derbyshire, UK, February.

Ernie Janes / Green bottle flies (Eudasyphora cyanella) feeding on cow dung, Norfolk, UK, August

Robert Thompson / Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) on a purple flower. Peljesac peninsula near Orebic, Croatia, June.

Nature Production / Shieldbug (Calliphara nobilis / exellens) Japan

Juergen Freund / Bobtail squid (Euprymna sp.). These squid have a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Juergen Freund / Bobtail squid (Euprymna sp.). These squid have a symbiotic relationship with bioluminescent bacteria. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) adult in breeding plumage, Shetland islands, Scotland, UK, June

Florian Möllers / Flower chafer beetle (Taurhina stanleyissp. stanleyi) on rainforest tree. Budongo Forest Reserve, Masindi, Uganda, Africa.

Rod Williams / Male Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impeyanus) captive, from the Himalayas

Rod Williams / Male Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impeyanus) captive, from the Himalayas

Pete Oxford / Golden-headed quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) peched in cloudforest, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / Rufous-tailed jacamar (Galbula ruficauda) pair on forest floor, Rupununi, Guyana

Andrew Parkinson / Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) calling from a lichen covered rock.Monach Islands, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, August (non-ex)

Mary McDonald / Ruppell's Long-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis purpuropterus) standing on ground, Upper Mara, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Andrew Walmsley / Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) singing, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, November

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider {Salticidae} covered in iridescent scales photographed on white background, tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Alex Hyde / Jumping spider {Salticidae} covered in iridescent scales photographed on white background, tropical rainforest, Masoala Peninsula National Park, north east Madagascar.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large Horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) close-up of reflective eyes. Italy, Europe.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large Horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) close-up of reflective eyes. Italy, Europe.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Large Horsefly (Tabanus bovinus) close-up of reflective eyes. Italy, Europe.

Mary McDonald / Green-crowned Brillant (Heliodoxa jacula) male perched on tree limb, Bosque de Paz, Costa Rica, Central America.

GEORGETTE DOUWMA / Close up of eye on male Peacock feather.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) male in flight feeding on Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae)male perched on branch. Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) male in flight feeding on Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae)feeding on flowering Texas thistle (Cirsium texanum) Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Blue-throated Hummingbird (Lampornis clemenciae) male feeding on flowering Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) Chisos Basin, Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert, West Texas, USA

Stephen Dalton / Skeleton butterfly (Pteronymia sp) at rest, Venezuela, South America

Tim Laman / Two Nicobar pigeons (Caloenas nicobarica) native to islands of SE Asia and New Guinea region, captive

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) bathing, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) hovering at flower, feeding, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) hovering at flower, feeding, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Sparkling violetear hummingbird (Colibri coruscans) perched on twig, wings spread, controlled conditions

Stephen Dalton / Leaf beetle (Chrysolina sp) on leaf, UK

Richard Du Toit / Superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus) stretching wings, Ol Pejeta conservancy, Kenya

Robin Chittenden / Blue-chinned Sapphire (Chlorestes notatus) adult male perched, Trinidad, November

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) female at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) female at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) female at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) female at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) female perched in tree, feathers appearing blue not green because of nature of light, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male tail feathers protruding from nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at entrance to nest hole in tree, showing very long tail feathers, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male perched in tree, feathers appearing blue not green due to nature of light, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) male landing at entrance to nest hole in tree, El Triunfo biosphere reserve, Sierra Madre del Sur, Chiapas, Mexico