Dani Shaw

@danishaw.me

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Founder + all things web @kaleidaweb.com. Cengage tech editor. T's Dings. Anti-racist. Queer. GenX. Mama. Birds. Photos. Ball. 🏀⚽🏳️‍🌈 she/they danishaw.me

Two cats curled up and sleeping in a round gray fluffy bed. One is gray with white paws and the other has tabby markings and is brown, yellow, gray with black stripes and white paws.
Vertical closeup shot of a Violet Sabrewing bird perched on a tree branch sticking it's tongue out. Male’s amazing purple plumage often looks blackish overall, but when it catches the light—wow! Very large, thick arched bill. Big, flashy white tail corners.
Profile of a bird on a tree branch/trunk with greenery growing on it. It's greenish overall with a rather stout pale pinkish bill, yellow flashes on wing and sides of tail. Female is much drabber, but shares male pattern; especially note the big, dull pinkish bill and yellow wing flash. A Eurasian native, now introduced to southeastern South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Black and yellow Crax rubra bird perched on a tree branch. Not likely to be confused if seen well. The male is black with a curly crest, a white belly, and a yellow knob on its bill (as shown); females come in three color morphs, barred, rufous and black.
Photo of a female banded-pitta on a tree with a green background, This colorful bird has a black head with a yellow/orange streak above the eye, an orange-red nape, a lemon-yellow, white throat, a chest barred with orange and black. Males show blue on the belly. The back is brown and the tail is blue (more prominent blues in males). Found around south-eastern Asia.
This Eastern adult hawk, perched on a tree in fall, has brilliant reddish-orange tail and pale underparts with dark marks across belly. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail. More beautiful photography from Lecia Michelle at leciamichellephotography.com.
Bird perched between two reeds with a light background. It has bright cinnamon-brown plumage, long tail, and yellowish bill; males have blue-gray head and broad black mustaches as shown. Found across areas of the U.K., Europe and Asia and remain year-round residents in their local range.
Yellow songbird sitting on a branch with a light brown background. Male is distinctive with a yellow face and breast offset by a black cap and small chin patch, as shown. Female streaky overall, often with yellowish tones; note especially the yellow wing and tail flashes of both sexes.
Beautiful emerald-green barbet perched on a branch. It has silvery cheeks, white forehead, and black chinstrap; namesake reddish tuft above the base of the bill is small and often difficult to see from a distance. Bulbous horn-colored bill has a large dark smudge down the center.
A cute song sparrow is perched on a twig chirping and singing with a blue sky backdrop. One of the most common and widespread sparrows in North America. Fairly large with a long, rounded tail. Overall coarsely patterned with gray and brown, usually with more reddish-brown wings and tail. Look especially for thick brown streaks on the underparts and a broad dark mustache stripe.
Photo of a bird in flight over water with it's wings open. Often referred to as the Antarctic fulmar, this largely gray bird features a white underbelly and distinctive patches on its wings. Note white flash in dark wing-tip, and at close range the pink bill with black tip and bluish tubenose.
From photographer Mark Scheflen: "Great Blue Turaco largest species of turaco, native to the tropical forests of Africa. Has striking blue and green plumage, a tall blue-black crest, and a large yellow and red bill." More from Mark at: markscheflen.com kiboko.org
Photo of a bird perched on the side of a tree trunk. Its plumage is predominantly a muted brown with intricate patterns that provide excellent camouflage among tree bark. The most notable feature is its striking moustache—a pair of dark streaks extending from its beak to its throat. This distinct trait gives it personality and helps in bird recognition during field studies. Body is dark brown with lighter streaks, providing camouflage. Tail is long and pointed, aiding in stability while climbing.
Profile of a Siberian Jay perched on an old stump. Dusky-brown and gray body with cinnamon on sides of tail, rump and on patches of the upper wing.
A pair of Serendib scops owls, an endemic and rare species, perched on a green branch. One is facing the camera and the other is looking over it's shoulder back at the camera. The head is uniformly rufous, while the indistinct facial disk is brownish-rufous. Eyes are orange-yellow and each surrounded by a black ring. Eyebrows are whitish. The cere is fleshy-pink and the relatively long bill is ivory-white. Upperparts are rufous brown, spotted blackish overall, with some paler areas around the blackish spots. Wings and tail feathers have rufous outer webs and mostly blackish inner webs. Flight and tail feathers have broad, evenly spaced rufous and blackish bars. Breast is pale rufous with uniformly distributed triangular blackish spots. The belly and undertail-coverts are paler than the breast, and are without spots. Legs are feathered pale rufous to about the middle of the tarsus, with the lower half and toes bare and pinkish white. Claws are ivory-white.
Profile photo of a Dark-eyed Junco bird perched on a wooden log. This junco has a gray head, neck, and breast, gray back and wings, and a white belly. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight and while hopping on the ground. The bill is pale pinkish.
Large bird perched on a tree looking to the back. The sides of the face are pale blue to sky blue in color and have no feathers. The eyes are dark red. The undersurface of the neck and body is buff or orange. The wings are dark brown, grey, or black, except for the outer feathers, which are a lovely red to rusty-red color. The sides of the body under the wings are orange or a shade that is referred to as “rufous-chestnut.” The tips of the dark tail feathers are buff to yellow.
Beautiful Kingfisher bird, standing on a branch showing back profile. It's holding an insect of some sort in it's beak looking back at the camera. It boasts a striking blue back, wings, and tail, while its head, shoulders, flanks, and lower belly are a rich chestnut. The throat and breast are a contrasting white, and the large bill and legs are a vivid red.
Crow in a green field perched on a rock looking to the side at the camera. The Hooded Crow is a distinctive bird with a grey body, black head, wings, and tail. It has a sturdy build and a thick, slightly curved black bill.
Beautiful side shot of a wild turkey in a green field during the day. Huge, with naked head and long wide tail. A Wild Turkey can stand four feet tall, with a large, bulky body covered with bronzy, iridescent feathers. This tom (male) has a reddish blue head and a hair-like “beard” protruding from the breast. The smaller female is duller in coloration than the male. Upland game bird native to North America. More info on the Wampanoag Tribe: https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/
Bird facing the camera on a branch with it's wings open. It has a sharp and finely pointed bill and a relatively long tail. The head is light grey with a black "mask" through the eye. The back is chestnut brown. The sexes are very similar in appearance, but the male has a broader mask and a more rufous back.
Bird hanging from a bulbous nest. Males have a black head, multi-colored bare facial skin, and yellow underparts. Females have pale underparts with scaly markings. More info: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/10/biodiversity-conservation-world-bird-species-declining-arctic-seals-green-turtles-iucn-uae-aoe
Bird standing on one leg on the dirt ground with it's beak open. It has grey on the head and neck that extends to the bird's belly and chestnut underwing coverts, with a greenish blue bill and yellow-brown legs.
Profile of a blue bird perched on a branch. This male is stunningly gorgeous, mainly deep violet-blue with a black throat patch and wings, and bright yellow legs. Females are principally green, becoming streaked below with a buffy throat and cheeks.
Three birds perched together on a thin branch, direct gaze facing the camera. A compact bird with a short black tail, and stubby black and pale grey (not distinctly bluish) mandibles. It is black to brownish black on the head, chin, throat and center of the chest, with some purple-green iridescence on the face and sides of the breast. It has greyish brown upper parts and white underparts with irregular barring on the flanks and rump. A small green iridescent patch is present on the outer scapular feathers, besides, especially in the western race, the sides of the lower breast. Wing coverts and remiges are bordered in a paler or warmer tone. The sexes are similar. Immature birds are dun brown above with buff head and underpart plumage. They moult into full adult plumage by age six months, when the males also begin to sing and exhibit breeding behaviour.
Profile of a Batelur Eagle perched on a tree. Adults are mostly black with a bright red face and legs, as shown. Sexes differ, especially in flight, and can be told by the width of the black band on the back edge of the white underwing: narrow in females, broad in males. It flies low when foraging, with wings lifted above the body and rocking from left to right in an unstable-looking fashion. Found all over Africa, primarliy south of the Sahara Desert. Prefer open land.
Profile of a large bird at the shore, it is brown-black with a small patch of yellow-orange skin on the face. Immatures are browner overall, palest on the neck and breast. In the breeding season, adults develop a small double crest of stringy black or white feathers, as shown. Double-crested Cormorants in Alaska are larger with whiter, straighter crests than individuals in the rest of North America. Heading southeast through their range, they are smaller with less obvious, curly black head crests. The smallest individuals are in the Bahamas.
Black stork wading in water looking down and hunting for a fish. The Black stork has long red legs, a long neck, and a long, straight, pointed red beak. The plumage is black with a purplish green sheen, except for the white lower breast, belly, armpits, axillaries, and undertail coverts. The breast feathers are long and shaggy, forming a ruff that is used in some courtship displays. The black stork has brown irises and bare red skin around its eyes. Found throughout the Palearctic, from Spain to China during the nesting season. In autumn, they migrate south to South Africa and India to overwinter.
Vertical shot of a Japanese white-eye bird perched on a tree branch with cherry blossoms. The warbling white-eye is olive green on its back, from anterior to posterior, and is pale green on its underside. Its feet, legs, and bill range from black to brown. It has a green forehead and a yellow throat. The white-eye has rounded wings and a long, slender bill – both of which indicate this bird to be very acrobatic. Its wings are dark brown but outlined in green. Native to Asia; introduced to the Hawaiian Islands where it is ubiquitous in wet and dry areas from sea-level to the mountains.
Herring Gull on a pile of seaweed on the beach. It has brown feathers and a dark bill.
Immature gull on the beach with the Provincetown Pilgrim Monument in the background. Adult has white spots in black wingtips, pale eyes, pink legs. Rather heavy bill is yellow with red spot. Head of adult is white in spring and summer, heavily streaked gray-brown in winter. This immature is all dark brown with blackish bill at first. Reaches adult plumage in fourth winter.
Three birds on tree with red berries. They have remarkably smooth and silky-looking brown plumage. Both sexes sport a small crest as well as a black mask across the eyes. A waxwing’s lower wings, back, and tail are mostly a cold gray, but the bright yellow band at the end of the tail is an excellent field mark. The name “waxwing” comes from the waxy red tips that form on the birds’ secondary wing feathers. It is a native of North and Central America, breeding in open wooded areas in southern Canada and wintering in the southern half of the United States, Central America, and the far northwest of South America.
Two lovebirds, standing on the log, face and breast profile. The one on the right has a bright red face and chest, and is more yellow. A tiny parrot with a short, pointed tail. The one on the left is mostly green and yellow, with blue rump. Bright reddish pink face fades into pink wash on chest. More info https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-lovebirds-from-their-lifelong-devotion-to-surprising-aggresion-180949742/
Male Hairy Woodpecker on a branch. They have black-and-white and boldly patterned plumage. The head has two white stripes and a patch of red on the back. The black wings are checkered with white. Their black backs have a big white patch that runs down the center.
Colorful Lilac-breasted roller bird perched on tree branch. A chunky, large-headed bird with a lilac breast, rusty cheeks, and spring-green crown.
Crested serpent eagle or Spilornis cheela in Ranthambore national park, Rajastan, India. These are dark brown stocky eagles, with rounded wings and a short tail. Their short black and white fan-shaped nuchal crest gives it a thick-necked appearance. The bare facial skin and feet are yellow. The underside is spotted with white and yellowish-brown. When perched the wing tips do not reach until the tail tip. In soaring flight, the broad and paddle-shaped wings are held in a shallow V. The tail and underside of the flight feathers are black with broad white bars. Young birds show a lot of white on the head. The tarsus is unfeathered and covered by hexagonal scales. The upper mandible does not have an overhanging festoon to the tip.
Great White Pelican standing on a branch in the water of the Danube Delta, Romania. It has it's wings open looking for fish. They are white in color with black and grey primary feathers. Their bodies are large with long, broad wings attached. They have a short tail, short, pinkish legs and webbed feet. There is a bare pink/yellow facial patch around their eyes. Their spectacular bills are azure blue on the top and yellow underneath where there is a large pouch. The bill has a central red stripe, and ends in a small, red hook.
A Spectacled Owl is perched on a tree branch with green leaves in the background. It is large and boldly patterned, and acquired its name from the broad, broken circles of white around its yellow eyes. It is a resident breeder in forests from southern Mexico and Trinidad, through Central America, south to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina.
Portrait photo of a little white Corella perched on a branch with a bright blue sky background. Primarily white with a small pink patch in front of the eye. Typically loud, with a slurred multi-note falsetto call. Native to Australia and southern New Guinea.
A ruby-throated hummingbird gathering nectar from flowers. They are bright emerald or golden-green on the back and crown, with gray-white underparts. This male has a brilliant iridescent red throat that looks dark when it’s not in good light. The only hummingbird east of the Great Plains in North America.
Profile of a great barbet on a branch. It has vibrant green plumage, blue head, yellow bill, and red vent under it's tail. It is a resident breeder in the lower-to-middle altitudes of the Himalayas, ranging across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Beautiful shot of a Common Nightingale bird on the branch of a tree. Is 5.9 to 6.5 inches long. Plain brown with a reddish tail. The underside is white. Spends summer in Europe and winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
Greater rhea walking through savanna from side view in Pantanal, Brazil. Wild bird with long legs and neck standing in green leaves. Flightless and appears tailless. Mostly gray-brown overall with very long legs and neck and a proportionally small head. Males have a dark brown crown and blackish lower neck and upperparts. Females, as shown in the photo, have lighter plumage.
bright red cardinal perched on a branch surrounded by green leaves in the early fall. he's molting so he has lost his tuft feathers at the top of his head.
Profile shot of a whimbrel in the sand. Larger than most shorebirds, with downcurved bill. Standing about 16 to 20 inches tall, its wingspan reaches up to 30 inches. The bird features a distinctive mottled brown plumage, with lighter streaks on its head and back. Its prominent eye stripe and unique call set it apart in coastal areas.
Hermit thrush perched on a wooden fence in winter. It has a rich brown upper body and smudged spots on the breast, with a reddish tail. Lurks in the understories of far northern forests in summer and is a frequent winter companion across much of southern North America.
Profile photo of a Kori Bustard in the Serengeti Safari, Tanzania, Africa. Their upper plumage is buff and gray, finely barred with black, which allows them to blend in with their environment. The underparts may be pale buff, white or solid black. They have only three front toes, which are short, broad and well adapted for running. The male bird has a wingspan of 230 to 275 cm. The female, considerably smaller, spans 80 cm across its wings on average. Weighs up to 18 kgs.
a photo of a blurry chickadee with its wings open in flight holding a peanut in its beak
Andy Summers, however, was critical of Sting's overacting in the video. I never much liked the idea for "Wrapped Around Your Finger." No, I was kind of pissed off about that one. I've never been much of a fan of that song, actually. Sting got to shoot his part last in that video and made a meal of knocking all the candles out. Fuck him. — Andy Summers, I Want My MTV
Photo of a wren with it's legs split hanging onto two reeds. It is a small, plump, round-bodied wren with a short tail that it often holds up almost vertically above its back. It has a thin bill and short wings. The Marsh Wren is whitish below and rusty brown above, with black-and-white streaks down its back and a white eyebrow.
Closeup shot of two common myna birds perched on a concrete surface facing opposite directions. It is overall green-glossed black plumage, purple-tinged on the head and neck. Its large, white wing patches are obvious in flight, but mostly covered when the bird is sitting, as shown in the photo. The bill and strong legs are bright yellow, and there are yellow wattles on the nape and under the eye. Resident in hill regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Photo of an Osprey in flight with a fish over water. Very large. In flight, the long wings are held above horizontal, with a distinct bend at wrist. Soaring at a distance, suggests a large gull more than a hawk. Sharp pattern below (with black wrist patches), dark back, black face stripe.
My mom’s album “Pearl” by Janis Joplin on a shelf in my office.
A profile photo of a jay on a tree branch looking to the right side. Their head is charcoal black and the body is all blue (lightest, almost sparkling, on the wings). White markings above the eye are fairly inconspicuous. They are large songbirds with large heads, chunky bodies, rounded wings, and a long, full tail. The bill is long, straight, and powerful, with a slight hook. Found in western North America.
Profile of a bird perched on a branch, this male Brambling has a black head in summer, and an orange breast with white belly. In flight it shows a white rump. This bird is widespread, in the breeding season, throughout the forests of northern Europe and east across the Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, northern India, northern Pakistan, China, and Japan.
Seabird in flight over water. It has a black mask, largely gray above and white below, with a diagnostic dark breast band and heavy dark bill. It has a dark grey head with prominent white feathers on the cheeks and throat. There is a white speckling on forehead along with a prominent dark eye patch. Its underside is mostly white, which turned dark grey at underwings.
Blood Orange - "Essex Honey"
A bird is perched on a basket made of grass hanging on a tree. Breeding males (as seen in the photo) have yellow forehead and crown, a dark throat that contrasts with yellow underparts. Nonbreeding males and females are similar except they have buffy colors where breeding males are yellow; also note the dark streaks on the back and the broad buffy eyebrow on females. They have a stout conical bill and a short square tail. Found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Bird running on the beach with a wave crashing behind it. When standing, known by bulky body; long, straight, heavy bill; thick gray legs. This bird is mottled and barred in breeding plumage, and is plain grayish in winter plumage.