Skip to content
topics.

Bird of the Day, theme 'Eye Of The Wild'

natureJul 24, 202625013,809

Bird of the Day is a daily community prompt; today’s theme Eye Of The Wild asks for portraits where a piercing eye or eyes are the dominant feature. Submissions focus on raptors, owls, herons, corvids, shorebirds, and tropical species, plus at least one illustration emphasizing a golden hawk-eagle iris. Concrete examples include an American Kestrel staring down the photographer in Cotacachi, Ecuador, a great blue heron squawking at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado, and a common myna from French Polynesia whose eyes look like glitter. Several posts note an alternate prompt of Last Bird or Last Roll, encouraging people to submit the last photo on their camera roll as a variant entry.

PJ 🇮🇪☘️
@knotweed-ireland.bsky.social

Bird Of The Day (Eye Of The Wild). Chaffinch with an 'Over The Shoulder' look... Co. Galway, Ireland. #EyeOfTheWild #BirdOfTheDay #Chaffinch #Birds #Wildlife #Ireland #Nature #ECK #Photography #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #PhotographyIsArt

Chaffinch standing on the ground with an 'Over The Shoulder' look... Co. Galway, Ireland.
147545d ago
jazzrat2000 AKA Bonsai anonymous5

What a cool bird here's my try

LazyCuttlefish3

He looks like two different birds meshed together.

Barrie Cull3

That’s a terrific photo PJ 👏

Dennis3

One of the things I enjoy on this site is that we get daily shots of some fantastic birds from all over the world. This is a beautiful photo

sanjiv sona2

That stunning over-the-shoulder glance captures the pure, wild magic of the Irish countryside in such an enchanting way! 🌿✨ Every gorgeous feather tells a breathtaking story of nature's finest artistry painted across County Galway. 🦅📸

iavalentine.bsky.social2

He's behind me, isn't he ? Beautiful detail.

Nature, Preserved
@simonecannon.bsky.social

An American Kestrel staring me down, Cotacachi, Ecuador #BirdoftheDay #EyeOfTheWild #Flyday #FeatheredFriday

132545d ago
ozzieski.bsky.social1

So pretty. Already for Halloween I see😊

oldladylife.bsky.social1

It’s got its eye on you!

jazzrat2000 AKA Bonsai anonymous1

What a beautiful bird. Here's my copy

Richard Parry1

Great picture. Thanks for posting.

Jodie1

Just have to say what a beautiful bird.

Alan H
@alan678.bsky.social

Good morning birders. Happy Friday. Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #EyeOfTheWild – piercing eye or eyes as the dominant feature of the portrait. #LastBird – The last bird/ birds on your camera roll, no cheating. 😁 #birds #photography #ECK

Close-up portrait of a pheasant’s head peering through tall meadow grasses. The bird’s finely patterned buff, cream, and chestnut plumage is sharply detailed, with delicate scalloped feathers across the neck and face. Its large, pale yellow eye stands out against a reddish patch of bare skin around the eye, while the sturdy grey bill is shown in crisp profile. Softly blurred green grasses frame the bird in the foreground and background, creating a natural, intimate feel and drawing attention to the intricate feather textures and alert expression.
45545d ago
Emyr Wyn Jones48

Responding to @alan678.bsky.social's #BirdOfTheDay Alt challenge of: #LastBird – The last bird/birds on your camera roll, no cheating. 😁 A surprised looking Reed Warbler - taken last week. #birds #BirdPhotography @rspb.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @mybirdcards.com @bbappnews.bsky.social

Atlantic Birding2

Lovely shot Alan; really sharp. The detail and texture is gorgeous

Graham Jones1

Not so much piercing as slightly puzzled by life, I think, Alan. Bit like me, marra. Have a top Friday.

A-Girl-Called-Ronnie 🇳🇱1

Great shot, Alan. The eye is great and that plumage is just gorgeous. Very pretty bird 😍. Have a lovely Friday.

Sharon1

Good morning Alan 👀 😂

Eric Anderson1

What a striking image, Alan!

Kort Duce
@kortduce.bsky.social

A great blue heron squawks quietly at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #FlyDay #BirdOfTheDay #EyeOfTheWild #bird #birdphotography #ECK #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky #BirdsSeenln2026 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

Photo by Kort Duce A great blue heron squawks quietly at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical color photograph, a great blue heron fills the frame from its chest upward. Its neck is gracefully curled, and its head is turned slightly to its right, revealing the left side of its face with its beak wide open as it vocalizes. Soft early morning light illuminates the bird, highlighting the intricate details of its feathers and facial features. The background is composed of calm pond water reflecting the blue sky above, with dark reflections of nearby coniferous trees adding contrast and depth. A beautiful moment captures a wild-eyed great blue heron expressing itself in its natural wetland habitat, an ecosystem so vital to its survival.
43245d ago
Bajarka2

Your photos are absolutely stunning! I am blown away by the technical perfection and the pure beauty of your work.

linda2.bsky.social1

Kort, what are you trying to do to our senses? Truly marvellous!

GEWB1

Grrreat shot and even better processing!

willfulchipmunk.bsky.social1

Great shot! It looks like it has Pterodactyl ancestry, doesn't it..

0r1kk5n.bsky.social1

I thought I was gonna get eaten.

🇨🇦SKEETERS🏳️‍🌈1

That's what I call a great picture! 😁👍

Robyn
@handcranked.bsky.social

Sparkle eye The common myna was probably the most common bird I saw in French Polynesia. Their beautiful eyes look like there's glitter in them. #BirdOfTheDay #EyeOfTheWild for @alan678.bsky.social #FlyDay #scape #EastCoastKin #ECK #birds #PhotographersUnited #OM-3 #photography #ArtYear

A common myna standing on a cement walkway. Its body is facing the camera, while its head is facing left and up a bit. It has a black head and neck, brown wings and breast, and a white belly. The beak and legs are bright yellow, and there's a bare yellow patch surrounding its eye. The eye is a striking gray that looks like it has glitter in it.
32845d ago
James Petruzzi2

That's a very young one, the bill hasn't finished growing and still has the yellow around the eye. Cutie! (We have them here in Maui as well)

Margot Foley2

Great shot, Robyn. I saw them in Hawaii and they are such cool birds. 💙

Alan H1

Such a beautiful and theme perfect capture Robyn. 😍😍

Jean Kelsey1

That is a cool bird! I’ve never seen one before! Thanks for sharing it!

Rina
@rina2012.bsky.social

'Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #EyeOfTheWild the alt is #LastBird' Who’s watching whom? 🤔 Somehow, I felt like this jackdaw was watching me 👀 #birds #birding #wildlife #photography #nature #thelittlethings #ECK #Scape

A close-up photograph of a jackdaw looks directly into the camera with its head tilted to one side. The bird has a compact body, a light grey nape and strikingly light grey eyes. The bird is perched on a metallic, horizontal ledge in the lower part of the frame. The background is barely visible, blurred in light shades of grey and blue.
25745d ago
Alan H1

What on earth did you say Rina. 😅 Such a clean capture, pin sharp. Your bird photography is getting to such a high level. 😍😍

alisonwillis1.bsky.social1

A lot going on behind those eyes! Love the expression.

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

He is seeing you Rina what a beauty and wonderful photo ✨️❤️

Dicky G1

They are super intelligent and inquisitive!

AnnaLois1

It's SO beautiful 😍. Drawn to birds like this Rina. Amazing capture!

Dr Clare Turner1

That tilt of its head makes me think it's saying, "fine, you can take another photo, but make it quick."

Michael R Photography 🌿
@msriffle.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EyeOfTheWild. I photographed this black crowned night heron for a good 15 minutes before it finally flew off. It was 20 feet away and didn't seem to mind. #photography #wildlife #ECK #birds #Birdsky #birders #NikonZ8 #conservation #nature #eyes

22845d ago
edg59.bsky.social1

you may be interested to read of one which has featured in the UK press... www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Full frame
@shutterspeed.bsky.social

My submission for #birdoftheday, #eyesofthewild

18444d ago
Ann Burke1

what kind of bird is that?

jon5cents
@jon5cents.bsky.social

🪶 Alan @alan678.bsky.social says today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EyeOfTheWild – piercing eye or eyes as the dominant feature of the portrait. This red-headed barbet seemed quite accusatory. #birds #photography #costarica

A bird on a bare branch with moss hanging from it. The bird is mostly green with some yellow and black on the lower side of the wing, a red head and throat, and a white band on the back of the neck, separating the red from the green. It has a light-colored beak. Its body is in profile facing to our right, but its head is turned toward the camera, giving quite a stern look.
17345d ago
Lecia Michelle
@leciamichelle.bsky.social

The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EyeOfTheWild. This red-tailed hawk's gaze is terrifying. And it wasn't even looking at me. #birds #photography #birdsofbluesky

Portrait of a red-tailed hawk in profile perched in a tree. Bird's beak is open, and its feathers are brown, orange and white. Leaves in the background.
16644d ago
JBC
@johnbcaddell.bsky.social

a #raptor for #FlyDay with an #EyeInTheWild #BirdOfTheDay #ECK

it's either the glaring stare or the staring glare of a Harris's Hawk
15445d ago
DWebster🇺🇦🇨🇴🇨🇺🇲🇽🇨🇦🌎🦜
@dwebstersf.bsky.social

A vigilant Yellow-eyed Junco shares the borderlands from southern Arizona to deep into Mexico. Indigenous locals in Mexico called them 'caster of fire' or 'lightning bird', and that they collected light during the day and released it at night. #Birdoftheday #EyeOfTheWild #birds #aves #sparrows

16045d ago
Chris Snook
@chrissnook.bsky.social

Short Eared Owl #BirdOfTheDay #EyeOfTheWild 🪶 #birds

15645d ago
swandiveswim.bsky.social
@swandiveswim.bsky.social

#Birds Alan H says today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is: #EyeOfTheWild – piercing eye or eyes as the dominant feature of the portrait. The Killdeer, when it's not flopping around pretending to be injured, with that orange rimmed eye always grabs my attention.

A mostly brown bird with its back to the camera & head turned to the left, standing on mud in the sunshine. The bird has a black stripe starting on the forehead & intersecting with a large orange rimmed eye. White on the face and neck followed by another black band.
15645d ago
Alan H1

So so beautiful s. Fab shot.

iolanthe1

Oh excellent choice. I didn't think of Killdeer, but they do have amazing eyes.

Fraggs Photography 📸🦊🦉🦋🦔 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
@fraggenstein.bsky.social

Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EyeOfTheWild – piercing eye or eyes as the dominant feature of the portrait set by @alan678.bsky.social - up close with a feeding female Sparrowhawk - photo captured in the garden South Wales 🪶🦉 #birdingWales #ukbirding #birdphotography #ECK #naturephotography

13845d ago
Ian Andrews1

If the subject is piercing eyes, personally, I think nothing will beat a sprawk, although technically it might be the brow that does it?

Alan H1

Fantastic shot Fraggs. So perfect. 👌🏼

Related

Border wall plans threaten Arizona desert spring, groups warnnatureBird of the Day, theme 'Eye Of The Wild'nature