A Pygmy Falcon has an eye out for his next meal. Just eight inches long, he is Africa’s smallest raptor, but he is just as fierce as his larger cousins. #tanzania #birds_matter #birds

A flamboyance of Greater Flamingos get in a bit of grooming before a busy day of feeding begins. The morning light reveals and reflects their color in a way that makes it clear why flamingo flocks were given such a marvelous name. Flamboyance, indeed! #tanzania #birds_matter #birds

A Greater Kestrel flies in with purpose - a romantic rendezvous with his mate. They won’t bother building their own nest but will use some other bird’s abandoned stick nest. Mother Nature recycles, too! #tanzania #birds_matter #birds

The Vitillene Weaver is a master nest-builder, constructing up to 25 of these amazing structures each season. His prospective mate will inspect the work, and if it doesn’t meet her standards she may well rip it apart. No wonder he works so hard to get all the details right. #birds_matter #Tanzania

The bright red plumage of the tiny Southern Red Bishop punctuates the tall reeds of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area - but only during breeding season. The rest of the year he is plain and nondescript. He takes advantage of his glory days to mate with many females. #birds_matter #birds

Is it even permitted to leave Africa without having seen the Lilac-breasted Roller? Probably not. This eight-hued bird, called Kambu in Swahili, is marvelous. Best of all, the two sexes are nearly identical, each equally beautiful. #birds_matter #birds

Seeing a Kori Bustard in full courtship display was a highlight of my visit to Tanzania. Here are a couple of angles, plus a view of him when he’s not feeling the love. Serengeti National Park, 4.13.26 #Tanzania #birds_matter #birds

A Yellow-billed Oxpecker enjoys a dietary deviation. Typically these birds eat 100 or so engorged ticks they find on the backs of zebra, giraffes, buffalo and other animals. A few bees make for a nice change. #birds_matter #birds

This European Roller is finishing up a winter stay in Africa. He’ll be heading out on his 6,000 mile journey to breeding grounds in Europe and Asia very soon. #birds_matter #birds

A Black-chested Snake Eagle takes to wing on a misty morning in the Ngornogoro Wildlife Area. And yes, she does eat snakes, sometimes even consuming them whole while in flight. Impressive! #birds_matter

The tiny Straw-tailed Whydah performs an amazing courtship dance, but a nearby female was unimpressed. Better luck next time! #birds_matter #birds

A Marsh Owl on the hunt in the Ngorongoro Wildlife Area in Tanzania. #birds_matter #birds

Cordon Bleu isn’t just a chicken dish! It’s also a bird - the Blue-capped Cordon Bleu. Here she takes a rest from her busy nest building activity to permit a portrait. #Tanzania #birds_matter #birds

A White-faced Ibis shows off his breeding plumage and a punky top-do. He is looking rather full of himself! #birds_matter #birds

A Snowy Egret tries a different way of gathering nice, clean construction material - just pluck it off the water’s surface as it floats along. #birds_matter #birds

It’s construction season! A Western Cattle Egret carries a fine piece of building material back to its nest in progress. His mate will inspect, accept and carry out the actual installation. #birds_matter #birds

The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a handsome dude who loves the ladies. He will mate with up to eight and maybe help a little with feeding the young. If he can keep track of them. Whaddaguy. #birds_matter #birds

We knew those little Anna’s Hummingbirds could be valiantly protective but I like the way this moment of action tells that story. The hummer in warrior mode! #birds_matter #birds

An Anna’s Hummingbird flares his gorget, intimidating rivals and attracting the ladies. He doesn’t stick around to help with incubating eggs or raising young, but when a dude looks this fabulous, what female can resist? #birds_matter #birds

The American Bittern can be hard to spot. It likes its privacy. It captures its meals, not by actively hunting, but by remaining still and unnoticed. Only its occasional loud distinctive cry - “unk-a-chunk!” - gives away its presence. #birds_matter #birds

An Anna’s Hummingbird revels in the profusion of hot lips salvia in full bloom. Hummingbird paradise! #birds_matter #birds

Thank you! A lucky encounter!

The Rufous Hummingbird is tiny, fast and fierce. And in my part of California we only get to see them for short periods each year during migration. I hung out in a likely garden for a few hours and got lucky with good looks at both the male and female. Happy day! #birds

Gorgeous image!

The dating game continues with Clark’s Grebes. A bit of nuzzling, an interview with a prospect and a get lost message to a loser. Or maybe that’s a romantic chase? All will become clear as things get more serious. #birds_matter #birds

First date? It certainly looks that way. Western Grebes are known for their dramatic courtship display, when pairs rush across the water in pairs. On this day they were still just getting acquainted. #birds_matter #birds

The White-faced Ibis is monogamous. Still, when breeding season comes it looks good for its one true love. The white feathers on its face emerge and in the right light it is a kaleidoscope of color. So romantic! #birds_matter #birds

An Orange-crowned Warbler forages among the weeds. I’ve photographed this species a few times but have yet to see one with its eponymous crown raised. #birds_matter #birds

A Red-shouldered Hawk launches a drive for prey. Not successful this time - somewhere a mouse is feeling lucky. #birds_matter #birds

A Greater Yellowlegs snags a snack. It’s always entertaining to watch these busy birds at work! #birds_matter #birds