For starters, they like to move around a lot. What's more, birds aren't always in the most convenient of locations—out on a lake, high up in a tree, across a field. But these factors are also what make getting that perfect image so satisfying. From basic techniques to advanced skills and ethical considerations, here’s how to get started photographing birds—or to up your game.
Whether you're getting started or looking to expand your approach, check out these tips and how-tos.
Follow these three simple tips to capture the best shot possible.
Great light and the right perspective can really turn your shot around.
Mastering basic DSLR techniques like f-stops and shutter speeds will make your images stand out.
End up with the best image possible—without compromising its integrity.
In low light conditions, you can get experimental with your methods to yield fascinating shots.
Do you want to capture a bird's every dip and call? Learn to break in the video mode on your digital camera.
Freeze water droplets in mid-air to create dramatic bird photography.
Even the best blind won’t help you capture certain shots—but that doesn’t mean you have to give up, writes photographer Mac Stone.
Disappear in plain sight with one of these four types of camouflaged hides.
Tara Tanaka, a videographer and judge for the new video category in this year's Audubon Photography Awards, shares her how-to guide for managing video files and key editing tips.
To capture clear sounds of birds that you are filming, follow these tips.
Change your viewpoint with technology that snaps the shutter for you.
The brilliant white plumage of some birds can also show exquisite detail. Here are two tricks for capturing both in an image.
Birds dive, swim, and wade—and so can you with the proper gear. The winner of the 2020 Audubon Photography Award explains how to expand your wildlife photography this summer.
These tips will get you and your subject in position for a great image.
Add a camera or a cellphone to a scope and discover a whole new way of documenting nature. Here are some tips to get started.
Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography
Their big, round eyes make them alluring subjects, but impairing an owl's vision, even briefly, might have negative consequences.
You're not going to get the shot you want without putting birds at risk.
Practices to protect sensitive birds and habitat should continue after photographers and birders click the shutter.
Half the joy in taking a bird photo is in the act of sharing it.
The impulse to shoot your subject at close range can be powerful, but there are several reasons why that's not best for the animal—or the image.
Nesting shorebirds like Piping Plovers and Least Terns are sensitive and skittish. Here’s how to take better photos while respecting their space.
Playing audio clips of songs and calls is a common tool for getting better shots, but it can also be detrimental to birds and their chicks.
Some people question the difference between the two. There is a distinction—and the lives of birds depend on it.
Go beyond taking photos of beautiful birds and their fascinating behaviors. Aim to inspire action.
Warblers aren't the most cooperative subjects, but they are one of the most beautiful and addictive. Follow this advice to best capture the elusive birds.
Migrant traps aren't just a boon to birds—they put photographers in a sweet spot too.
Hummingbirds are excellent subjects for simple or high-tech techniques. Follow these pro tips for capturing the speedy birds in flight and at rest.
Late spring and summer is the best time of year to capture the so-called “penguins of the north,” even if it takes a bit of travel.
The springtime dance battles of grouse and other species are irresistible camera fodder. Photographer Noppadol Paothong explains how to nail your shot without disturbing the delicate mating ritual.
Photographer Andrew Garn shares his tips for capturing these underrated urban stalwarts in all of their iridescent glory.
Lisa Franceski has spent eight years shadowing shorebird families at her local beach. Here, she offers her advice for catching intimate shots.
Understanding how birds behave at different tidal times is key to capturing a truly great image—or even seeing them at all.
As Arctic-breeding birds begin making their way south in late summer, some stopover sites provide better photo opportunities than others.
Dropping to shorebird height is key to capturing intimate, sharp photos. These tips and products will help you get down.
Nesting shorebirds like Piping Plovers and Least Terns are sensitive and skittish. Here’s how to take better photos while respecting their space.
The beach can be a photographer’s dream—or worst nightmare. Tame unruly sand and salt spray with these pro tips and key tools.
They're big, they're back, and the camera loves them.
Everyone wants that shot of a Baldie with eaglets. Here’s how to get one without disturbing the birds.
Goldens make for gorgeous subjects—if you follow these ethical guidelines.
Here's where you should go to capture spectacular shots of migrating raptors in fall and spring.
Not sure where to start? These quick tips will help you master the technique.
If you want to get close to birds of prey, your best bet may be a mobile blind.
With the proper preparation and plenty of patience, you can dramatically increase your chances of success.
Paul Bannick has spent a decade photographing owls for his latest book. Here’s why he loves them—and what he’s learned.
How to Take the Best Duck Photos
Want to get great duck shots? Be prepared to get mobile.
Capturing in-flight images of speeding ducks is challenging and rewarding. Follow these tips to land those shots.
Rafting ducks provide a great opportunity to capture compelling images and group dynamics. Here's how to seize the moment.
Want to get an entertaining shot? Try capturing these courtship displays.
How Noppadol Paothong captured the one-and-only prairie chicken “Sampson” up close.
After a friendly tip, a canceled flight, and a rented bike, Liron Gertsman snapped this intimate shot of the inquisitive bird
Kelley Luikey wants birders and shutterbugs to recognize that playing recorded songs can stress vulnerable birds.
For photographer Ann Pacheco, the potentially trip-ruining mishap ended up being a blessing in disguise.
Ashleigh Scully, 16, captured this shot of a curious young screech owl while doing her homework at the kitchen table. Here's how.
Here, Peter Mather shares the story behind this long-sought image of a Bald Eagle and two eaglets.
To capture this image of a concealed loon chick, teenager Carolina Fraser focused on a split-second moment.
Sebastian Velasquez ventured onto a smoky California beach to photograph birds foraging in a landscape choked by wildfire.
A photographer pursues common yard wildlife from a different perspective.
Hint: A lot of time, a little technology—and a plain old road cone.
Amid mounting global health concerns about PFAS, communities living along the waterway must grapple with how contamination is affecting life on the river. Yet as hard as it is to conduct health studies on humans, it’s even harder with wild animals.
A intrepid researcher faces steep odds as she attempts to study nutcrackers in the Cascade Mountains. But the birds—and the singular trees they help sustain—are too important for her not to persist.
Best-selling author and ecologist Carl Safina has made a career out of his deep explorations of the animal world. But his recent relationship with a rescued owl caused him to go even deeper.
Fifty years after its passage, the powerful policy has proven effective at preventing wildlife from going extinct. Only with innovation and advocacy can it continue to do so for decades to come.
Once widely persecuted, the majestic scavenger is making a remarkable rebound in Europe, but new threats could undermine a full recovery.
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