<p>Whooper swan. Hokkaido, Japan</p>

Whooper swan. Hokkaido, Japan

Photograph by Stefano Unterthiner

Our Favorite Pictures of Birds Around the Globe

From vibrant feathers to vast wingspans, see striking photos that show the beauty of birds.

“The future of birds, and us, are intertwined more than we know. We soar, or plummet, together.”—National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore

In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, National Geographic is launching the “Year of the Bird”, a 12-month storytelling project which will shed light on the vital role birds play in the future of our planet, and what we can do to protect them.

Here we share but a small sampling of the 10,000 or so species of birds alive in the world today.

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