Bird of the Day, theme 'Ebony & Ivory'

natureJul 5, 202623211,336

Bird of the Day is running the theme Ebony&Ivory, asking for birds with black and white plumage, with an alternate theme AllWhite for all-white birds. Today's gallery features photography and nature shots focusing on terns and gulls, swans and egrets, and black-and-white waterbirds and shorebirds. Concrete examples include a Mute Swan portrait from Co. Galway, a Little Egret fishing in a tidal pool at dawn, and an Australian pelican posted for the Ebony&Ivory tag. Look for other specific entries such as a tufted duck, a downy woodpecker, a Black-banded Owl, and whooping cranes under the same hashtag #Ebony&Ivory or #AllWhite.

Zoë’s Studio

@zoesstudio.bsky.social

I completed this commission a while ago, & yesterday it was delivered to the client. This was a lovely brief to work on. If you’re in the UK and are interested in an #artcommission, please get in touch (website/Instagram links in bio) #art #nature #birdoftheday #watercolor #commission #birds

A watercolour painting of a range of birds sitting in foliage. This is an art commission.

50945d ago

cadair3

This is absolutely charming. You do beautiful work!

🏳️‍🌈🌎One planet, one people1

It’s beautiful! I bet they love it!

Rob Crank Photography

@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. Today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage, the Alt Theme is #AllWhite, birds with all White plumage. #birds #photography @rspb.bsky.social #birdphotography #ECK #CanonR5mkii #UKBirding #naturephotography #BirdLife #wildlife #UKWildlife

Lisa Little Tern was out for an early morning walk along the beach because her partner was watching the Bird Cup with his mates, she said all they kept saying was Messi this & Messi that' so when she was leaving she said to them 'well this place better not be Messi when i get back' and walked out laughing at them.

Captured at Long Nanny, Northumberland.

31745d ago

Alan H2

Great shots, alts and themes Rob. I’ll see what I have mate.

Mr Garden1

Great set of photos as usual Rob. 👏👏

Sharon R.1

Love this set Rob! Your alt descriptions were perfect as well, esp the Princess Pied Wagtail. Those darn paparazzi! 🤣

Sue Ibrahim1

Wonderful pictures of wonderful birds, Rob, and loving the stories. ☺️

jon5cents1

Great set and alt as always, Rob.

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

Poor Princess Pied Wagtail, that was a rather unflattering shot, Rob. Great set. 👌🏼

PJ 🇮🇪☘️

@knotweed-ireland.bsky.social

Happy Swanday 🦢 My BlueSky Friends... Mute Swan portrait... Co. Galway, Ireland #AllWhite #Swanday #Birds #BirdOfTheDay #Swan #MuteSwan #Stunday #Wildlife #Ireland #Nature #EastCoastKin #Photography #Swantastic #PhotoArt

33245d ago

Jodi1

Good day, PJ! I love the way you captured this one! Beak open, serrated edge clearly visible.

Matt Fitz1

And the same to you

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

Rob said that: The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage, the Alt Theme is #AllWhite, birds with White plumage. Do I go cute or do I go gull? Never thought I’d be asking myself this question. 😂 Common Gull #birds #photography #ECK

A Common Gull in clean breeding plumage glides effortlessly across a dark, stormy sky. Its wings are held high in a graceful upward sweep, revealing pale grey upperwings with black wingtips tipped in white. Soft sunlight illuminates the bird’s white head and underparts, while its yellow bill with a subtle dark marking and reddish-brown eye stand out in sharp detail. The uncluttered background and side-on composition emphasise the gull’s elegant flight and the contrast between its bright plumage and the brooding sky behind.

29945d ago

Diane Furlong2

Looks like a Cute Gull to me, Alan! 😉

Neil Cameron2

That is a beautiful shot and the gull even qualifies as beautiful, but no, not cute.

Lizzie Wallis2

Gorgeous shot.👏 They have such kindly faces, I think, cp to their evil chip-hawk Herring cousins.

Vicki1

Your photo really highlights the beauty of the bird.

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Hahaha sometimes we all have those questions 😅 Lovely gull and wonderful photo Alan 🤍✨️🤗

Bill Stedman1

Always go gull when Rob is picking! And you got a great one!

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸

@alinagrafik.eurosky.social

#BirdOfTheDay #Ebony&Ivory Australian pelican #ECK #AustralianPelican #Birds #Australia #Pelican

The pelican is mostly white with a black back and tail. White feathers in the wing overlap some of the black feathers creating a striking zig-zag pattern. The head is white with yellow eyes, and the pelican has its beak tucked into its wings/back. Sydney, Australia.

25245d ago

WhatABeautifulWorld2

What a gorgeous photo and bird!

ex-parrot1

Great shot. Very striking looking bird

Sparty®1

Beautiful capture, what a stunning bird too! 🙏🏼🤍

larrysart.bsky.social1

What a cool looking bird!

Kort Duce

@kortduce.bsky.social

A female yellow-headed blackbird catches a dragonfly to feed her fledglings at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #StunDay #BirdOfTheDay #ECK #bird #birds #birdphotography #BirdsSeenln2026 #wetland #wetlands #blackbird #blackbirds #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Photo by Kort Duce

A female yellow-headed blackbird catches a dragonfly to feed her fledglings at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado.

In this vertical color photograph, a female yellow-headed blackbird fills the frame as she faces the camera with her head turned slightly to her right, revealing the left side of her face. She holds a dragonfly in her beak with its head facing the camera and its four wings extending in different directions. The blackbird is perched on a rounded wooden fence rail. The background is softly blurred, with cattails in varying shades of green creating a natural backdrop.

A beautiful portrait of a mother yellow-headed blackbird providing for her young, illustrating the care and dedication essential to their survival in the wild.

27245d ago

papawrs.bsky.social3

Great picture. But so sorry to see a dragonfly go, they're our friends -- they are voracious mosquito eaters.

Aj d'Wit (Audrey)1

The continuous cycle of life. Nice photo. 👍🏼

linda2.bsky.social

@linda2.bsky.social

It has been a little while since posting to #BirdOfTheDay, so for today's theme of #Ebony&Ivory, a serious #tuftedduck. #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #nature #photography

A tufted duck with a serious expression making his exit from the lake.

17745d ago

norfolkm2

Im sorry but those are the eyes of Mordor. They transfix a being. Cracking capture.

clairecricket79.bsky.social2

I love tufted ducks! Photo courtesy of my husband.

Luis1

Oh ! so so so good! The eyes!!!!❤️

SeaLevelOslo

@sealeveloslo.bsky.social

Rob has chosen an excellent theme for #BirdOfTheDay, #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage. Fighting the urge to post more wagtail photos, I've decided to go with a simple shot of a tern. 😁 #birds #photography

16045d ago

Atlantic Birding

@atlanticbirding.bsky.social

🪶 Rob has chosen #Ebony&Ivory as today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme but I’m going with the alt. Of #AllWhite with this Little Egret fishing in a still tidal pool at dawn #birds #birdsofbluesky #birdphotography #ECK #irishbirding #naturephotography #Stunday #SuperSeabirdSunday #reflection

16245d ago

linda2.bsky.social1

A most wonderful set of images.

Neil Cameron1

Yep! That's kinda good. 🤪

Helen Woolston1

I love it! Especially the one where it looks like it’s peering at its own reflection.

Mark D Alexander

@mad7500.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay #Ebony&Ivory A Bermuda Longtail or White-Tailed Tropicbird, flying over Warwick Bay, South Shore, Bermuda 🇧🇲 📷🤍🪶💚☀️ Posted Before…😎 #Birds #Bermuda #Nature #Stunday #Photography #JustBreathe

A Bermuda Longtail bird in flight, against a blue sky background

14545d ago

AlinaHagen 🌊🎨📸3

This is really beautiful! I love the long tail against the blue sky. 💙🤍

PacBirds

@pacbirds.bsky.social

A snowy egret fishing in flight for the #AllWhite theme of #BirdOfTheDay picked by @robcrank68.bsky.social #birds #nature #photography #birdphotography #ECK #stunday

A snowy egret with all white plumage is flying low over a pond with its yellow feet dragging in the water. It just pulled its head out of the water in an unsuccessful attempt to grab a fish.

15145d ago

kbroquard.bsky.social1

Lovely Look at those wings!!

Declan Troy

@troydeclan.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage Black-banded Owl. Found in humid forests in South America. This one was on San Martin #Peru 🪶

13745d ago

Steve Ross

@maximumsteve.bsky.social

White crowned Sparrow. Cuteness factor off the charts. Peace! ✌️ #birds #birding #BirdOfTheDay #Ebony&Ivory #sparrow #peace #cuteness

16145d ago

Pirritin

@pirritin.bsky.social

A swan family swimming peacefully in the evening mist. Today's #BirdOfTheDay Theme is #Ebony&Ivory, birds that have Black & White plumage, the Alt Theme is #AllWhite, birds with all White plumage. #Swanday #Swans #Grief #joutsen #suru #Stunday #ECK