Bird photography? Don't forget the common species.

Sunday 2 November 2025, 16:32 by Nando Harmsen | 2,308 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Photographing animals and birds is always fun. No photo or situation is ever the same. Capturing unusual species is especially rewarding. But don't forget the common species.

It's well known that I enjoy photographing landscapes. But I also love capturing animals and birds (also animals, yes...) in pictures. In the landscape, but also with the animal as the main subject.

An animal in the landscape, my favourite way to photograph animals.
It's challenging to find new species and capture them. Hundreds of photographers travel hundreds of kilometres when an unusual species is spotted. This happens a lot, especially with birds.

The short-toed snake eagle. A special species. It's fantastic to capture this. The whole of the Benelux travels there for it.
Although building up a collection of species looks great in your portfolio, we sometimes forget about the normal everyday species. Even though they can be very photogenic too. It's the same as with landscapes. What is close by is too ordinary to be interesting.

I'm not saying you shouldn't search for unusual species. Do so if you feel like it. But take another look at the everyday birds. The sparrow, the crow, a jackdaw, a mallard, a tit, or a goose.

Don't photograph it this way. Make something special of it. Be creative and try things you wouldn't normally do so quickly. This is a dunnock, for anyone who wants to know.
The great thing about the common species you see all around you is the possibilities they offer. You have more opportunity to seek out beautiful light without moving heaven and earth. Or to show the animal at its best in its surroundings.

The following series of photos of 'uninteresting' everyday birds might serve as inspiration. Have a look at them and enjoy them (I hope). Pick up your telephoto lens and start photographing.

Great tit

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