The world is lush with unique animals and species. Birds, in particular, are one of the most diverse animals I’ve come across. I’ve only traveled to a few countries, but in each, there have been a range of unique species of birds.

With around 10,000 species worldwide, this photo essay could be one of the longest you’ve ever seen. I have yet to travel the entire world though, or even come close to capturing all of the species in the places I’ve been, but, loving animals as I do, I’ve gotten a good deal of species on camera.

This photo essay is open to all. Send your in your bird pictures to gabe@wetravelandblog.com for a chance to be featured in this photo essay*

Before you continue on to the pictures here are a few pretty interesting facts about birds:

– Imagine, with your eyes closed, a pea in your hand. Now change that pea to a bird egg, that’s the hummingbird’s, the smallest in the world. In comparison, the largest bird egg is the size of a cantaloupe and belongs to the ostrich.

– A group of larks is called an exaltation, a group of chickens is called a peep, a group of geese is called a gaggle, a group of ravens is called a murder, and a group of owls is called a parliament.

– Birds have hollow bones which helps them fly by keeping their weight to a minimum

– Crows have the largest brains, relative to body size, of any avian family.

Now onto the photos, enjoy!

Birds of the World

If you know any of the species in the pictures above feel free to let us know in the comments so that we can update them. Thanks!

*Please no watermarked images, you will be credited below the shot, as per your preference. We don’t use watermarks because we feel it takes away from the image, we ask that the images you submit follow the same guideline.