Bird of the Day, theme 'Strikeapose'

natureAug 17, 202628416,489

Bird of the Day is a daily community event and today’s theme is Strikeapose, asking contributors to share birds caught in particularly photogenic poses. The gallery features posed shorebirds and raptors, playful backyard species, and closeup hummingbirds and songbirds, with an alternate prompt CirclesAndSpheres for shots that include circular elements. Standouts include a Great Blue Heron hamming it up for the camera, a great grey owl frozen in a defensive pose after a hawk dive, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird from a morning visit. Look for modeling snowy egrets, a road runner with vivid blue eye markings, and a mallard tucked among yellow pond lilies as visual hooks to explore.

swandiveswim.bsky.social

@swandiveswim.bsky.social

#Birds Alan H says the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #StrikeAPose — Birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose. Here is a Great Blue Heron hamming it up for the camera, what a show off.

A large, mostly grey bird perched on a log, facing forward into the sunlight. The background is calm water reflecting the green of the rushes behind it. The bird stands with its wings spread wide in a grand fashion.

143345d ago

Sailor Thadian13

Birds are the artists of the animal kingdom

Alan H4

Fantastic shot and composition s.

Maggie Malone4

Brown pelican Marco Island, Fl.

ghermy.bsky.social4

This guy on the lake today

Helen Bennett 🌿3

Wonderful capture.... that Heron is definitely striking a pose! 👏✨

Cooper’sMom3

Letting others in apt elevator know who rules the roost! (Open for full view)

PacBirds

@pacbirds.bsky.social

Greater white-fronted geese (aka white-fronted geese) for the #CirclesAndSpheres theme of #BirdOfTheDay picked by @alan678.bsky.social #birds #moon #nature #photography #ECK

Four geese flying away with the moon in the background.

95045d ago

Graham Jones1

Blimey. What a magnificent sight. 👌

Christine1

Wow! What a gorgeous photo!!!

Alan H1

Just absolutely perfect Pac. I was hoping to see this. Magical. Terrific photography. 👌🏼👌🏼

For GODSAKE just DIE! 🏳️‍🌈🇦🇺1

Nah, ducks on a rather nice wall.

Grae Hall1

"just keep flapping and we'll get to that big white ball in the sky up there eventually!" - lead greater white-fronted goose, probably

🏳️‍🌈🌎One planet, one people1

What a great shot 😀

julielfrost.bsky.social

@julielfrost.bsky.social

A young bald eagle for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme today, #StrikeAPose, birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose. #Birds #Eagles #Photography #Nature #WildlifePhotography

A young bald eagle leans forward from its perch just above a trout pond, looking for its next meal.

73645d ago

CSL4

So majestic. This guy sitting by his nest and n Craig, Alaska.

kittycollins.bsky.social2

Looks like the sub-adult stage?

Donna Feledichuk Photographer 🇨🇦

@dfphotography.bsky.social

If the #BirdofTheDay theme is #StrikeAPose I have to post this one - still my favourite great grey owl photo. A hawk had dove at it and it was taking a defensive pose. The lyrics to Madonna’s Vogue comes to my mind every time I see it! #greatgreyowl #owl #greatgrayowl #wildlife #wildlifephotography

60644d ago

jqzee.bsky.social1

Now that's an amazing shot. Beautiful bird.

Charlie Ludwig

@chuck4242.bsky.social

One more shot of the Ruby Throated Hummingbird from this morning. #Birds #Birding #Wildlife #Nature #Photography #Animals #Photos #Photo #ECK #Hummingbird #BirdOfTheDay #StrikeAPose

A Ruby Throated Hummingbird flies up to white flowers to sip at its nectar. Blurred garden colors are in the background.

42244d ago

Alan H

@alan678.bsky.social

For the Alt: #CirclesAndSpheres, taken this morning. The rain has been incessant here today. I totally understand that many of you have been experiencing severe heatwaves and that’s so awful. We, on the other hand, have had no summer. Repost=Step 💃🕺🍾🍻🍷🍸🥃 #BirdOfTheDay #photography #ForJanet #ECK

A European Robin with its bright orange-red breast prominently visible, perched on a wet metal pipe in the rain. Fine raindrops cling to its feathers and fall around it, while its soft brown plumage contrasts beautifully with the dark, blurred green background. The robin looks alertly to the right, its delicate feet gripping the rain-slick surface.

37445d ago

Aleesia4

The grass is always greener on the other side. Well at least it is on your side. 😂

Jason2

Infuriatingly fantastic photography Alan my friend…it’s just magic from you to be honest!! 🤩👌🏼 #ForJanet ❤️

Mick Lister2

Beautifully poignant shot mucker 👌. I hope the Robin didn't ask you to pipe down talking about your legendary legs 😁😂

Graham Jones1

You know I'm going to forgive you for mentioning the R word, don't you marra? That wee Robin is just so perfect. Come rain or shine.👌❤️

✮: 🎀 𝒥𝒶𝓃𝑒 🎀 :✮1

Lovely robin 😊 I would welcome your rain 🌧️! My garden has all but died, hosepipe ban here, all my shrubs are brown and crispy and the heat has been, well, hot! I am a cold weather person 😁

Sharon1

Lovely Alan. What is it sitting on.

Michael R Photography 🌿

@msriffle.bsky.social

OK, yeah, I post a lot of snowy egret images. I can't help it, they're my favorites. Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #StrikeAPose. Sometimes it feels like they are modeling for me. If they're close enough, I tell them how beautiful they are. #photography #wildlife #ECK #birds

31845d ago

gin19021

Looking like that~how could you not post them? Gorgeous!

timtoo.bsky.social1

Tell the history story too.

Melinda B Hipple, author&artist1

Nothing wrong with a little "healthy" obsession. Definitely a beauty.

Laurette1

They are beautiful as is your photo. 🤍

Jan1

Judging from the amazing pictures it is sure that your subjects 'hear' you.

Gray1

Gorgeous, Michael. 😻 But, you’re giving them a complex.

Rina

@rina2012.bsky.social

"Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme. #StrikeAPose, Alt: #CirclesAndSpheres" Yellow spheres on a green pond: a mallard is enjoying the peace and quiet amongst the water lilies. #birds #birding #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Austria #wildlife #photography #naturephotography #thelittlethings #ECK #MallardMonday

29545d ago

Alan H1

Ah this is just so so theme perfect Rina. Absolutely adore this composition. ❤️❤️😘

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

Lovely photo dear Rina 💛😘

Mike Melton

@mikemelton.bsky.social

A Brown-headed Nuthatch for #birdoftheday #strikeapose North Carolina #birds #nature

Small brown-and-gray bird clinging to the side of a tree trunk against a soft green background.

31244d ago

Get To Know Nature3

What a great little bird!

Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦2

So cute! A species we don't see up here.

Helen Bennett 🌿1

Beautiful image, Mike... Nuthatches are great birds, and this one really pops against the lovely pale background! 👌

Illustrator Interrupted1

Stunning photo, and love the bark texture and colours too. I’m getting, “who you looking at?” vibes from the bird.

babs drinks tea1

🎵spider-bird, spider-bird, doin' things that a spider-bird does🎶

Tim Osborne Photography 🍁

@timosborne.ca

Saw that today's #BirdOfTheDay theme was #StrikeAPose and immediately thought of this image of a female Red-Winged Blackbird I took a few years ago. #birds

A red-winged blackbird stands on a cattail with one wing stretched high into the air giving off a bit of a Saturday Night Fever vibe.

29144d ago

HoofbeatsEqualZebra2

Thank goodness I read your alt before posting the pic I almost posted. 🕺

Amy Gann

@amygann.bsky.social

Roadrunner is ready for its closeup with is blue eye shadow and long lashes. For the #birdoftheday theme of #strikeapose. And #blueskymonday #birds #roadrunner #protectnature #EastCoastKin

A roadrunner close up. Its long eyelashes that help it deal with a dusty environment are clearly visible

21245d ago

Alan H1

Stunning shot Amy. Love love love it. 🥰

Marjo Slingerland-Boks1

That is a beauty with its blue eyes shadow Amy 💙

blauet.bsky.social1

I just love this bird. It is so cool!

catslovedogs1

😍 Oh, it's a beauty! The faces of Nature are beautiful.

jon5cents

@jon5cents.bsky.social

🪶 For Alan's The #BirdOfTheDay theme today, #StrikeAPose, birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose, I have to get a #hummingbird from #costarica. White-necked Jacobin showing off. #birds #photography

23345d ago

Goodport (GP)2

The texture on those feathers!

Cindy P.1

💕 beautiful!! The female Ruby-throated hummingbird 👇

Glen Barrantes1

Beautiful! One of my favorite hummingbirds we have here in Costa Rica.

Jean Kelsey1

Fabulous shot! What a beautiful bird!

HLK1

Wow! Incredible photo of an incredible bird. Those colors!

Rob Crank Photography

@robcrank68.bsky.social

Good morning folks. @alan678.bsky.social has chosen #StrikeAPose, Birds caught in a particularly photogenic pose. And the Alt theme of #CirdlesAndSpheres, any bird captured with a circular or sphere shape in the photo for today's #BirdOfTheDay. #birds #ECK #CanonR5mkii #ukbirding #photography

Larry Little Egret was doing the 'Shake Off' pose because he knew the paparazzi were watching him, but sadly for Larry he didn't know they were also watching when he had his toilet break.
But when the paparazzi told him about it he knew which photo they would be posting in the Daily Bird Newspaper, and he wasn't best pleased with them so he had his shake then disappeared to the other side of the water out of their reach.

Captured at Tophill Low Nature Reserve.

19345d ago

Mr Garden3

Beautiful set of photos Rob. 👌👌

Graham Jones2

Cracking captures Rob … especially Kenny Kingfisher. I'm sure that even Lord Legsy will have to admit that the little fellow is striking the perfect pose. 😂