Bird of the Day, theme 'Emerald Backdrop'

natureJul 28, 202625711,099

Bird of the Day is a daily prompt asking for images that fit the theme #EmeraldBackdrop, meaning birds shown with a green background, with an alternate prompt of #WeatheringTheElements. Today's gallery features lots of tight wildlife portraits and field shots emphasizing lush, blurred, or textured green backdrops and a few weathered, misty or snowy scenes. Standout posts include an Anna's hummingbird set against a vivid green backdrop, a great blue heron flying across a pond blanketed with cottonwood seed, and a male Superb Fairywren pictured against a faceted, jewelled green background. Look for robins, finches, sandpipers, kingfishers, an immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird and other small songbirds framed by leaves, seaweed, or soft forest greens under the #EmeraldBackdrop tag.

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

For the Alt: #WeatheringTheElements I just have to go with a Robin. It’s a legal requirement here. 😂 Going out with Sam shortly but will be back to peek at the #BirdOfTheDay feed. #birds #Robin #ForJanet❤️ #ECK

A European robin stands upright on a soft blanket of fresh snow, facing the camera with an alert, inquisitive expression. Its vivid orange-red face and breast glow against the crisp white surroundings, while its olive-brown back and pale underparts provide a subtle contrast. Snow-covered branches blur into the background, creating a cool, wintry backdrop that makes the robin’s warm colours stand out dramatically. The shallow depth of field isolates the bird, drawing attention to its bright plumage, fine feather detail, and delicate legs planted firmly in the snow. The overall scene conveys the resilience and charm of one of winter’s most familiar garden birds.

89245d ago

Neil Cameron5

Oh sure! Posting ya Xmas cards now, eh?! Great shot, Alan. Hope you and Sam enjoy the walk, mate.

Mick Lister2

Gorgeous shot marra 👌. Did you take it yesterday 🤔. Before creating an international incident, I will first say I do know which country you live in, but I think it's appropriate here 😀 As Billy Connolly once said "There are two seasons in Scotland, June and Winter"😂

Graham Jones1

Ah, bless your cotton socks marra. Such a lovely little fella. (The bird, that is. You being much lankier but still very lovely. All the ladies say so. Your calves are the talk of The Step, I believe.😄)

Vicki1

The robin seems unperturbed. The orange coloring looks brilliant against the snowy surroundings. Well done!

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Haha know i understand your words dear Alan😅 what a gorgeous and cute Robin in the snow ❄️ Enjoy your walk with Sam 🤗😘

KayTF 🇯🇪1

Stunning. Thank you for reminding us that Christmas is coming!!! 😂😂😂

Helen Bennett 🌿

@helenbennett.bsky.social

Here's one of the adorable fledgling Robins, they really are endearing. Not sure if the background is emerald green for today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme #EmeraldBackdrop but it looks a bit emerald to me!💚 Wishing you the best of days 📷 🪶🌿 #Birds #Photography #UKWildlife #Nature #WildlifePhotography #ECK

29945d ago

Cenric2

Not sure I can do emerald but here's a Linnet at Malltraeth with a lovely green background! #CariadMawrOGymru! ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Tony Beales1

Lovely shot Helen! Very best wishes to you too!

Yvonne Redknap1

Beautiful shot, Helen. So cute!

HLK

@hlkfotos.com

Anna's hummingbird looking uncharacteristically drab against a vivid green backdrop. #BirdOfTheDay #EmeraldBackdrop 📷🌿🪶

A photo of a male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) perched on a thin bare branch looking into the camera. It is a tiny bird with a very long, thin black beak and iridescent red feathers on its throat and crown, along with grayish-green body plumage. It is set against an emerald green background of blurred foliage.

31045d ago

Neil Cameron1

Yep, stunning shot, Heather. As usual.

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

'Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme: EmeraldBackdrop – Images where the background colour is green. Alt: #WeatheringTheElements' I'm going with a young sparrow sitting on a fence. 🪶 #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Germany #wildlife #photography #nature #thelittlethings #ECK

A young sparrow sits on a green fence, photographed from behind. It is looking to the left side. Some green leaves can be seen on the left side. The background is a natural green, blurred (Bokeh).

21045d ago

alisonwillis1.bsky.social1

Such a sweet capture 🥰

Lori Batchelor🇨🇦

@lorichirp.bsky.social

Per Alan H: Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme: #EmeraldBackdrop – Images where the background colour is green. Alt: #WeatheringTheElements – Birds photographed in rain, snow, mist, wind or dramatic weather conditions. #birds #photography #ECK Female Belted Kingfisher with a Parrot's Feather background

18945d ago

Alan H2

Fantastic shot Lori. Theme perfect as always. 👌🏼👌🏼

Vicki1

Artistic background and beautiful bird in the foreground. Super photo, Lori.

Dave Meredith

@davemeredith.bsky.social

Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EmeraldBackdrop. An immature Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the #BrucePeninsula, Ontario. Photographed with a 10 year old DSLR and a manual focus telephoto from the 1980s. Published in a birds calendar. #BruceCounty #ECK #birds #TenMinutesFromHome #ManualFocusLens

A green and cream coloured hummingbird in flight against an out of focus mottled green background.

17845d ago

Dave Meredith7

I forgot to add, an Emerald bird against an #EmeraldBackdrop to annoy @alan678.bsky.social 😂

Alan H1

Fantastic shot Dave. Wow!!! Too good. Theme champion, is what this one is.

Grumpy 💙 European 🪶1

Great capture 🤗 Surely hard to focus, fantastic job there! At least they stay on the spot a moment 😅

Barrie Cull1

Such a beautiful photo Dave 👏

Ian Crook1

Well done - we forget how easy we have it these days with auto focus lens and bodies programmed to pick out birds.

Dwight

@dwightreads.bsky.social

Per Alan @alan678.bsky.social, today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EmeraldBackdrop - Images where the background colour is green. Alt: #WeatheringTheElements #GreatBlueHeron #birds #wildlife #RockinTuesday #photography #TidesOutTuesday #ColorADay #BlueTue #nature #thelittlethings #ECK

A Great Blue Heron is standing on rocks along the shoreline and behind is the blue green water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Interesting information:
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is North America's largest heron, a tall, slate-blue bird with a white head, black eye stripe, and long legs and bill, commonly found near freshwater and saltwater habitats like marshes, rivers, and lakes. They are patient hunters, standing still in shallow water to ambush fish, amphibians, and insects, and are known for their slow, deliberate flight with their neck coiled in an "S" shape. These adaptable birds nest in colonies called rookeries, often in tall trees, and are recognizable by their distinctive croaking call.
Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds share. Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision.
Thanks to specially shaped neck vertebrae, Great Blue Herons can quickly strike prey at a distance.

16344d ago

Alan H1

What a great composition Dwight. So good. Theme perfect. 👌🏼

Janet 💙⭐️🌲📷1

Wonderful, Dwight! The color of the water is delicious!

Aleesia1

Fantastic capture, Dwight! Happy Tuesday! 💚

Kort Duce

@kortduce.bsky.social

A great blue heron flies across a pond blanketed with cottonwood seed at a nature area in Longmont, Colorado. #BirdOfTheDay #EmeraldBackdrop #bird #birdphotography #ECK #birds #BirdsSeenln2026 #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

15444d ago

Luke Dones1

That really is a great blue heron!

Aintright

@aintright.bsky.social

Terry the Treecreeper #BirdofTheDay #EmeraldBackdrop #NaturePhotography #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birdphotography #birdwatching #eastcoastkin

16745d ago

Tom1

“That little bug over there hasn’t yet noticed me. Next, I will ambush it and swallow it whole. Wish me luck!” 😊

Rosemarie1

Your photos are so amazing and inspiring! I absolutely love then❤️

Brian Smith

@briansmith-photos.eurosky.social

A second #EmeraldBackground, and seaweed this time, behind a Black Oystercatcher for #BirdoftheDay #Birds 🪶 #eck

A Black Oystercatcher, at low tide, on seaweed covered rocks outside the Loch Lomond Marina harbour wall.

14244d ago

Robyn1

Gorgeous! Love that lush background.

Bibi Spielberg1

Beautiful Photo. Thank You Brian.

Doug Engstrom1

That is such a wonderfully sharp shot. The greenery really hits the theme.

Graham Jones

@oldmanrambling.bsky.social

Alan kindly says it's a legal requirement today for the #BirdOfTheDay Alt theme of #WeatheringTheElements to post a #Robin. It's a hard call as I took this snowy picture of Roberto, my lovely wife's favourite bird, just days before she was taken from me in January. #ForJanet #ECK #Photography

An almost perfectly round Eurasian Robin stands on thin leg, looking for all the world as if he was posing for a Christmas card on a garden border that is frosted with a light sprinkling of snow. The bird is pictured facing the camera with an expectant look on its face. Food time. He knew I was the provider of goodies. The rusty red bib and face mask above a light grey tummy are typical of the bird as is its lack of fear in approaching humans. A month after my wife's death in mid January the little bird she had called Roberto also left and never returned.
Camera: iPhone 15 Pro.

13244d ago

Alan H1

Just such a cute capture Of Roberto Graham.

Laurette1

A beautiful photo showing such detail. You did your wife’s favourite bird Roberto proud. 🤎❤️

Travellin’ John1

And a very fine chap he is too👌😎💪✊

AnnaLois1

What a gorgeous feathered fellow 😊

Margot Foley1

lovely, Graham 💙 Sadly I forgot to add ForJanet to my Robin photo.

swandiveswim.bsky.social

@swandiveswim.bsky.social

#Birds #Sandpiper Alan H says today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #EmeraldBackdrop – Images where the background colour is green. From mid June, a Spotted Sandpiper on sentry duty.

A brown spotted bird facing right, perched on the tip of a dried stalk against a lime green background. The bird has a dark eyeline, orange bill, brown patterned back and white breast heavily speckled with dark brown spots.

14545d ago

HLK1

Wow, what a great shot! Fun perch for them (at least I am used to seeing them on the ground.)

Cri 🕊🐝🐜📝🎭⚽😷

@crawlieswithcri.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay - #EmeraldBackdrop – Images where the background colour is green. Searched for "fig" in my photo files - this was a good choice. So many birds with green backgrounds in that tree! White-crowned Sparrow was the clear winner today! #birds #becurious 🪶

13645d ago

Patrick4

Excellent! I’ve got probably four months before those cuties return and liven up the winter.

Marina Mueller 🇨🇦1

This is a stunning photo! 👏🏻

Gwen 🌈🌺🐦📚1

I've never spotted one here! They're so pretty!

Tony Beales

@tonybeales.bsky.social

A sparrowhawk from back in May with an #EmeraldBackdrop, Alan's theme for #BirdOfTheDay #UKwildlife #birds

14645d ago

Alan H1

Fantastic shot Tony. So good.

jriegs

@jriegs.bsky.social

#BirdOfTheDay theme is #EmeraldBackdrop showing a bird with a green background. A Red House Finch pauses for a photo while walking along a wooden fence. Blurred green trees provide for a nice textured background. #birds #nature #wildlife #ECK #naturephotography #finch #birdphotography

14144d ago

jriegs4

@lyphshro.bsky.social @lorichirp.bsky.social @pierpaolo.bsky.social Thank you kindly for the repost🕊️🙏

Bird of the Day, theme 'Emerald Backdrop'nature

Bird of the Day, theme 'Emerald Backdrop'

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