Atlantic puffins are declining due to increased predation by gulls and skuas, the introduction of rats, cats, dogs and foxes onto some islands used for nesting, contamination by toxic residues, drowning in fishing nets, declining food stocks, and climate change. (Anthony Roberts)

Pied Bushchat photographed on the Indus River (Pakistan). They are distributed throughout Asia. (Ghulam Rasool)

Whitebacked mousebirds are distributed in the W and central regions of southern Africa. They are frugivores that subsist on fruits, berries, leaves, seeds and nectar, and need to bask in the sun to ferment food in their bellies. (Anja Denker)

A male southern double-collared sunbird shining in the sunlight. These gems are endemic to the southern parts of South Africa, preferring forest, fynbos and karoo shrublands. (Basil Boer)

African jacana eggs in a remote floodplain of he Okavango Delta (Botswana). These decorated eggs are taken care of by the male jacanas. (Kirsten Wimberger)

Southern masked-weaver photographed hanging from a nest. These weavers are gregarious and sedentary, preferring open savana throughout southern Africa. (Anja Denker)

The brightly colored woodland kingfisher is often seen with a background of lush, evergreen foliage in the forest canopy. Their calls are the theme song for the summer months in the African bush. (Nobby Clarke)

The New Holland honeyeater was among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia. (Jarl Line / www.jarlline.com.au)

Portrait of a Marabou Stork. The most beautiful ugly birds on earth. These amazing storks truly understand the African bush and thrive within protected areas. (Martin Heigan)

European Bee-eaters breed in southern Europe and parts of north Africa and western Asia, migrating to tropical Africa, India and Sri Lanka for winter. (Lennart Hessel)

King Parrots are endemic to eastern Australia, preferring humid and heavily-forested upland temperate rainforest. They feed on fruits, seeds or small insects. (Jarl Line)

Bearded helmetcrests are found in Colombia and Venezuela. Photographed here in Los Nevados (Colombia) (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Spotted thickknees are largely nocturnal uttering the mournful ti-ti-ti-teeeteeeteee that fades towards the end. They can gather in flocks of up 60 birds during the non-breeding season. (Anton van Niekerk)

Grey heron taking off a dead tree in the water... The simplicity of free life. (Anthony Roberts)

Kelp geese are found in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. Photographed here on Carcass Island in the Falklands. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Goliath herons are the biggest in the world and are a breathtaking sight on safari. (Daniel Collier)

Whiskered terns breed on inland deltas and marshes in southern African and elsewhere in their range. (Andre Marais)

Giant kingfishers can be found fishing in remote swamps, rivers, lakes, streams, rock pools, and surf throughout sub-Saharan Africa. (Daniel Collier)

Chukar partridges are the national bird of Pakistan. Due to their pugnacious behaviour during the breeding season they are sometimes kept as fighting birds. (Ghulam Rasool)

Fire-eyed diucon are found in central and S Chile, and SW Argentina. Photographed here in Tierra del Fuego National Park (Argentina), (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Brimstone canaries are striking seed-eaters found in S and central Africa. (Basil Boer)

Bar-headed geese breed in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes in central Asia, wintering as far south as peninsular India. (Ghulam Rasool)

Rufous-capped antshrikes are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, preferring moist montane forests and high-altitude shrublands. Here photographed en route to Intervales, Brazil. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)

Ural owls have an extended distribution area in Europe and Asia, from Japan and Korea all the way to Scandinavia. (Antero Topp)

Acorn woodpeckers create "acorn trees" by drilling holes in dead trees, dead branches, telephone poles, wooden buildings and much else. The woodpeckers then collect acorns and match them to holes of appropriate size. As the acorns dry out they shrink, and need to be moved to smaller and smaller holes. This keeps these industrious woodpeckers constantly busy. (Statia Dougherty)