Backyard Birds- Part One: Birding & Photography Make A Great Team!

Photographing Birds Is A Fun Challenge!

If you have a bird feeder, then you have an ideal space for a photo shoot. Or, perhaps you see birds from your deck, in your yard, or at your favorite park. Our feathered friends make great photo subjects.

Mourning Dove With Wings Up August 22, 2024

An adult Mourning Dove lifts its wings while perched on a deck railing in sunlight August 22, 2024.

Here are some handy tips for backyard birding with your camera:

Morning is the best time to find birds most active.Keep your distance so you don’t interfere with any bird behavior. Let your zoom lens bring you closer to birds.Hide behind a tree, or in shadow, so you don’t disturb birds. Or take your photos from your window, porch, or deck. Stay still. The goal is to capture birds in their element. Your movement could startle them.Focus on their eyes. This gives you the best chance of keeping the whole bird in focus.

Sunlight, Camera, Action!

I’m lucky enough to enjoy more than 30 different birds around my feeders and in the yard. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, from the tiny Black-capped Chickadee to the impressive Red-shouldered Hawk. You never know who will fly by. So be ready with your camera to capture the action. You will need a fast shutter speed. So think 1,000 for 1/1,000th second. Follow my General Settings and Photo Tips at the end of this post. Then, you’ll be ready to photograph a photogenic bird, like this handsome male adult Eastern Bluebird.

Male Bluebird Perched On A Crook May 19, 2025

An adult male Eastern Bluebird perches on a crook, showing blue feathers May 19, 2025.

An adult male Northern Cardinal perches on a crook with a blurred trees behind December 9, 2024.

Look Beyond Your Feeders!

I like taking portraits of birds away from the feeder. These views enable you to fully appreciate them. In my case, that means photographing birds on the deck railing, table, birdbaths, or the crooks that hold my feeders. By the way, birdbaths aren’t just used by feathered friends. Squirrels, foxes, deer, and other animals stop by for a drink. Here’s an adult male Northern Cardinal, during a rare still moment. Birds don’t stay still for more than a millisecond. That’s why it’s important to use a fast shutter speed to catch them before they look or fly away. Birds are always looking around to maintain a 360 degree level of awareness. So if a bird looks away but doesn’t fly off, wait until the bird looks your away again before you take your next shot.

Helicopters With Beaks!

Fortunately, I get to appreciate 2 pairs of very territorial Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. To catch them in the hover, you need to amp up your shutter speed. Here, I shot at 1/1,600th second to freeze the bird in sharp focus, yet still show the fast-flapping wings as blurs.

Keep in mind when you ramp up your shutter speed, you will have to increase your ISO to let in enough light that your fast shutter speed isn’t allowing in. Photography is always a trade-off between settings to find the right solution. This photo was taken at ISO 800. The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s long tongue is sticking out as she prepares to feed.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird Hovering With Tongue Out August

An adult female Ruby-throated Hummingbird hovers beside a feeder with tongue sticking out to eat August 31, 2025.

Red-shouldered Hawk Perched On A Crook May 26, 2024

An adult female Red-shouldered Hawk perches on a crook while hunting May 26, 2024.

Visit By A Raptor!

Not every bird comes to the feeder areas to dine on seed. Red-shouldered Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks fly onto my deck to use it as a perch from which to hunt.

To this female adult Red-shouldered Hawk, my deck and yard are her territory. Whenever she lands on my deck, I try to take a portrait. See the Hawk At Home Blog posts for stories and photos of Red-shouldered Hawks. It might be rare for a raptor to visit your yard, so take advantage of the opportunity. I’m lucky enough to live in this Red-shouldered Hawk’s world, so every visit is a thrill!

Photographing In The Wild (Your Back Yard)!

You don’t need a passport to photograph backyard birds. Birds are all around us. I especially love photographing birds while I’m in the yard.

Be on the lookout for birds in trees, bushes, and on the ground. Here, an adult Northern Mockingbird landed atop a nearby pine tree. I was in the perfect spot to get this shot!

Photographing birds is great practice for shooting other types of action. With any wildlife, you must be patient, stay still, yet be prepared to shoot quickly when something happens before your eyes. Wherever you live, birds are bound to be nearby for you to enjoy with your camera.

Stay tuned for future Blog posts with more stories and photos about photographing backyard birds!

Northern Mockingbird Perched On A Pine Tree August 3, 2025

An adult Northern Mockingbird surveys the World from atop a Pine Tree branch in sunlight August 3, 2025.

General Settings

ISO 400 (if not sunny, push up to 500 or higher), Aperture f10, Shutter Speed 1/1,000th Second

Photo Tips

Use the Shutter Priority or Sports mode of your camera to set a shutter speed of at least 1/1,000th second to catch the action.

Reach out as far as you can with your lens. Use your zoom lens at the maximum magnification.

Let birds come to you. Don’t try to flush out birds by getting too close. Your zoom lens will take you closer than you need to physically be.

The more narrow an aperture you use, the more feather detail you will get. Try using f10.

There are plenty of times when birds and wildlife appear, but it’s not bright and sunny. In those times, rely on a higher ISO to let in more light— perhaps 640 or 800.

Review & Refine! Keep checking your shots to see if your settings are good enough. The more you’re willing to improve your settings, the better a photographer you will be!

Great Blue Heron Hunting In The Delaware River August 24, 2021

An adult Great Blue Heron wades in the Delaware River hunting for fish beside historic Fort Mifflin August 24, 2021.

Want To See More Birds? Check Out The Birds Gallery.

Red-tailed Hawk Perched On Tree Limb February 7, 1026

An adult Red-tailed Hawk scans the area while perched on a tree branch during a cold New Year's Day morning January 1, 2026.

Want To See Birds Of Prey? Check Out The Birds Of Prey Gallery.

Osprey Diving At High Speed Towards The Atlantic Ocean July 5, 2

An adult Ospreys dives towards the Atlantic Ocean at nearly 80 miles per hour to catch a Flounder in Avalon, New Jersey July 5, 2023.

Want To See Ospreys? Check Out The Ospreys Gallery.

An adult female Red-shouldered hawk stares while perched on a crook May 29, 2024.