This was a first sighting for me and the more I look at him, the more I think that this is one of the most beautiful birds that I have ever seen! I just love the subtle variations of tan on his head, neck, and breast; the different shades of blue on his wings, belly and tail; and the contrasting dark brown of the rest of his body! He has a brilliant orange band on his leg, but I removed it in PhotoShop, because I think it's distracting and doesn't look natural.

View On Black or even better Large On Black.

Tags:   Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster African Aviary San Diego Wild Animal Park HBW NaturesElegantShots AvianExcellence COTH SpecAnimal NaturesFinest SuperShot mywinners

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Next year, I'm not going to wait until the last minute before I do my taxes. Really!

View On Black | View Large On Black

Tags:   African Spoonbill Platalea alba African Aviary San Diego Wild Animal Park NaturesElegantShots SpecAnimal NaturesFinest AvianExcellence

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View On Black | View Large On Black

Tags:   White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps African Aviary San Diego Wild Animal Park

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First time that I've seen him on the ground and in good light.

View On Black | View Large On Black

Tags:   White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps African Aviary San Diego Wild Animal Park BirdPerfect AvianExcellence NaturesFinest mywinners

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Would you believe that they evolved long toes in order to compensate for only having one leg? I wonder why they're called Lapwings, since they don't have laps.

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Tags:   Northern Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris African Aviary San Diego Wild Animal Park NaturesElegantShots

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