Photographer Tim Flach
MAJESTIC and intricate, these stunning images showcasing the diversity of birdlife are taken from Birds, a photography book by Tim Flach.
A toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) displays its distinctive bright bill in the above image. The largest and best-known of the toucans, this species is found in tropical forests, savannahs and shrubland in parts of South America. Its large-but-light bill, which can reach up to 19 centimetres in length, is adapted for grabbing a variety of food, including fruit and insects.
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Tim Flach
The main photo is of a group of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), collectively known as a flamboyance. The uniquely shaped bills of these filter-feeders allow them to eat while their heads are upside down under the water.
Tim Flach
The below image shows the elaborate plumage of a male Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), a native of east Asia and Russia that has also been introduced to the UK.
Tim Flach
The distinctive “moustache” of an Inca tern (Larosterna inca), below, highlights the variety of displays birds use to attract mates. For Inca terns, long moustaches are believed to indicate better health and a strong immune system. Eat your heart out, Hercule Poirot.
Tim Flach
Birds will be published by Abrams on 11 November.
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