Celebrating Birds, Together

The 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count saw hundreds of thousands of people turn their eyes and ears outside to watch and listen for birds—on every continent and virtually every country. Fortunately for us, many of those people brought cameras and shared their photography from all parts of the globe.

The results are simply amazing, as you’ll see in this gallery. Whether you browse through birds familiar to you or daydream about the birds of distant regions, we hope you’ll enjoy these photos of birds and birders—all taken during the 2024 GBBC.

To view all the photos submitted during the 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count (more than 125,000 in all), visit the GBBC photo submissions page at the Macaulay Library. And to dig into the full stats for all 7,800+ species and 290,000+ checklists recorded, view the 2024 GBBC Results page.

Africa

As of press time, birders in Africa had recorded nearly 1,600 species, including 200,000 Lesser Flamingos on one checklist from Tanzania. Browse full Africa results.

A yellow songbird perches on a shrub and sings.
Orange-throated Longclaw in South Africa by Andrew Black / Macaulay Library.
Woodland Kingfisher by Annette Teng / Macaulay Library.
A slender shorebird with black wings and long red legs dives toward the ground.
Black-winged Stilt in Egypt by Georgina Cole / Macaulay Library.
Black-white and grey bird with long black legs.
Blacksmith Lapwing in South Africa by Andrew Black / Macaulay Library.
buff colored bird with long neck stands in a sandy desert.
Karoo Bustard by Gideon Williams / Macaulay Library.
Woman stands with binoculars.
Photo by Talatu Tende in Nigeria / GBBC.
white bird standing in water
Black-winged Stilt by Zoë Lunau / Macaulay Library.
A gray headed bird sings from a branch.
Spectacled Warbler in Morocco by Abdessamad ENNOURY / Macaulay Library.
Talatu Tende in Nigeria / GBBC.
A bright white and turquoise bird with a pink chest patch, stands on a branch.
Southern Double-collared Sunbird in South Africa by Gloria Markiewicz / Macaulay Library.
Large white and black bird with a large bill, in the water.
Snowy Albatross in South Africa by Garret Skead / Macaulay Library.
a group of birdwatchers stands on a dirt road
Photo by Talatu Tende in Nigeria / GBBC.
Gray and brown pigeon with red eye patches and white spots.
Speckled Pigeon in South Africa by Otto Schmidt / Macaulay Library.
Monteiro’s Hornbill in Namibia by Daniel Winzeler / Macaulay Library.
A bright white and turquoise bird with a pink chest patch, gets nectar from a yellow petaled flower.
Southern Double-collared Sunbird in South Africa by Gloria Markiewicz / Macaulay Library.
Blue and orange bird with a big bill perches on a branch.
Half-collared Kingfisher in South Africa by Retief Williams / Macaulay Library.
A slender greenish bird with a long tail and pointed bill perches on a branch.
White-throated Bee-eater in Ghana by Gavin Ailes / Macaulay Library.
A small gray, brown and white bird with a reddish eye.
Cape Batis in South Africa by Gloria Markiewicz / Macaulay Library.
Black and white bird.
Pied Crow in Ghana by Gavin Ailes / Macaulay Library.

Asia

The largest continent spans the snowy reaches of Scandinavia to the steamy rainforests of Indonesia and the dry heat of the Middle East. Across this vast region, birders found more than 2,100 species and filed nearly 60,000 checklists. Fully 85% of those checklists came from India, adding more than 1,000 species and nearly 12,000 photos to the total. Browse full Asia results.

Rufous-collared Kingfisher in Thailand by mark cavallo / Macaulay Library.
A green bird with a brilliant blue face and red crown.
Blue-throated Barbet in India by Munshi Abul Barakat / Macaulay Library.
Anish Bera in West Bengal, India / GBBC.
Crimson Sunbird in Singapore by Yifei Zheng / Macaulay Library.
Peregrine Falcon in Maharashtra India by Shamik Sathe / Macaulay Library.
Black-naped Oriole in Thailand by Michael Sanders/ Macaulay Library.
Spanish Sparrow in Israel by Hugo Schweke / Macaulay Library.
Orange-headed Thrush by Vikram S / Macaulay Library.
Photo by VS Srividhya in India / GBBC.
A small yellow and black songbird with a tall, pointed crest.
Himalayan Black-lored Tit in India by Ed Stubbs / Macaulay Library.
Mrs. Goulds Sunbird (Scarlet-breasted) by Wichyanan-Limparungpatthanakij / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Sachin Prajapati at Gujarat University in India / GBBC.
Bull-headed Shrike in Japan, Yasuhiro Indo / Macaulay Library.
A tiny, vividly blue kingfisher perches in a dark forest.
Blue-eared Kingfisher in India by H. Nambiar / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Pipope Panitchpakdi in Thailand / GBBC.
Bright green bird with a brown and white striped head and large, chunky, orange bill and black whiskers, stands on a branch.
White-cheeked Barbet in India by Vikram S / Macaulay Library.
two people look for birds in an open sunny landscape
Photo by Irvin Calicut in Kuwait / GBBC.
Rose-ringed Parakeet in India by Ravi Jesudas / Macaulay Library.
A group of birdwatchers looks through binoculars on a misty day.
Photo from India by Himani Singh / GBBC.
Yellow-eyed Babbler in India by Albin Jacob / Macaulay Library.
Oriental Pratincole in Singapore by Yifei Zheng / Macaulay Library.
Yellow-wattled Lapwing in India by Sourav Mandal / Macaulay Library.
Eurasian Bullfinch in Russia by Ruslan Akhmedov / Macaulay Library.
White-naped Woodpeckers in India by Shashank Mb / Macaulay Library.
Russet-orange bird with a paler underside and charcoal-grey, crested head stands on a branch.
Indian Paradise-Flycatcher in India by Abhijit Mishra / Macaulay Library.
Vinous-throated Parrotbill in China by Terry Townshend / Macaulay Library.
Siberian Stonechat in India by Parmil Kumar / Macaulay Library.
Asian Emerald Dove in Taiwan by 岳廷 蔡 / Macaulay Library.

Australia and Oceania

Birders in Australasia recorded more than 700 species on nearly 5,000 checklists over the four days of the count. The species total includes 102 species that were observed on only one checklist each—showing how it always pays to go out birding—you never know when you’ll find that one unique bird nobody else found. Browse full Australasia results.

a colorful green, gray, and orange dove sits in leafy foliage.
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove in Australia by Steve Popple / Macaulay Library.
Two blue, green, yellow, and orange parrots face each other in a tree.
Rainbow Lorikeets in Australia by Sheila Rowlands / Macaulay Library.
Closeup of a kookaburra, a kind of kingfisher with a very large, wide bill.
Laughing Kookaburra in Australia by Alfons Lawen / Macaulay Library.
A small bird with a brilliant blue face and crown opens its bill to sing.
Superb Fairywren in Australia by Dennis Devers / Macaulay Library.
A large white parrot sits on a large branch.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in Australia by Alfons Lawen / Macaulay Library.
A tall brown shorebird with a short, heavy bill walks toward the camera.
Beach Thick-knee in Australia by Andy Gee / Macaulay Library.
a brown bird clings to a tree trunk and spreads its wings and tail, showing a bright stripe on the wings.
White-throated Treecreeper in Australia by Alfons Lawen / Macaulay Library.
North Island Saddleback in New Zealand by Adam Nagy / Macaulay Library,
A group of birdwatchers in an open field.
Photo from Hawaii by Michael Carion / GBBC.
a bright red bird with black wings and a long, curved beak feeds on yellow flowers.
Iiwi in Hawaii by Rebecca Bicker / Macaulay Library.
two black-and-white cormorants face each other with their beaks open.
Pied Cormorants in Australia by Andy Gee / Macaulay Library.
A small gray seabird flies over blue water.
White-faced Storm-Petrel by Ian Melbourne / Macaulay Library.
A parrot with a yellow face and red chest stands in short grass.
Superb Parrot in Australia by Julie Clark / Macaulay Library.
A gray bird with a sharp yellow beak stands on a branch.
Noisy Miner in Australia by Heather Williams / Macaulay Library.
A small reddish-brown falcon sits with its back to the camera.
Nankeen Kestrel in Australia by Sandra Ozols / Macaulay Library.
A slender black-and-white shorebird with very long legs walks along a shoreline.
Pied Stilt in Australia by Noam Markus / Macaulay Library.
A small shorebird with a short bill stands on a sand dune.
Red-capped Plover in Australia by Noam Markus / Macaulay Library.
A small brown bird with a long tail calls with its beak open.
Australian Rufous Fantail in Australia by Alfons Lawen / Macaulay Library.
A gray and black rail with a brown head and neck stands in short grass.
Lewin’s Rail in Australia by JJ Harrison / Macaulay Library.
A small parrot with red on its head picks at white flowers in a eucalypus tree.
Musk Lorikeet in Australia by John Van Doorn / Macaulay Library.
Closeup of the head of an owl-like bird with big yellow eyes and a broad bill
Tawny Frogmouth in Australia by Alfons Lawen / Macaulay Library.
A brown seabird sits on calm blue water.
Pomarine Jaeger in Australia by Meysam Makvandi / Macaulay Library.
A dark-gray and white pigeon stands on a thick branch.
Wonga Pigeon in Australia by Steve Popple / Macaulay Library.
A bulky brown bird with a long, curved bill perches on a thick vine.
Paradise Riflebird in Australia by James Bennett / Macaulay Library.
A small, heavy-bodied green songbird with a thick yellow bill.
Spotted Catbird in Australia by John Lowry / Macaulay Library.

Antarctica

It takes commitment to get to Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands—and during this year’s GBBC some 45 birders were up to the challenge. They checked in with 36 total species, including six species of penguins capped off by 10,000 King Penguins seen on fabled South Georgia Island. Browse full Antarctica/South Polar results.

Adelie Penguin un Antarctica by steve b / Macaulay Library,
A penguin on a rocky beach throws its head back to call.
Gentoo Penguin by Steve b / Macaulay Library.
Cape Petrel by Steve b / Macaulay Library.
Adelie Penguin by Steve b / Macaulay Library.
Antarctic Terns by Steve b / Macaulay Library.
Adelie Penguins by Steve b / Macaulay Library.

Europe

Europe’s dedicated birders entered more than 16,000 checklists and reported nearly 450 species—including a massive flock of 4 million Bramblings in Germany and 1,800 exotic Rose-ringed Parakeets in London. Browse full Europe results.

A small blue and yellow bird with a white face perches on a branch.
Eurasian Blue Tit in Germany by Lutz Duerselen / Macaulay Library.
Closeup of a calling songbird with a bright orange breast.
European Robin in Germany by Andreas Stadler / Macaulay Library.
A camouflaged brown and buff bird crouches in a marsh with water reflecting its body.
Jack Snipe in Czech Republich by Vojta Fejkl / Macaulay Library.
closeup of a small brown and white bird against a blurry brown background
Zitting Cisticola in Spain by Juan Sebastian Barrero / Macaulay Library.
A small black-and-white goose sits on calm water.
Barnacle Goose in France by Alexis Lours / Macaulay Library.
A black bird with a bald head and long, curved pink bill stands in a meadow.
Northern Bald Ibis in Spain by Fernando Portillo de Cea / Macaulay Library.
a brown duck sits on calm water with a small wave in the foreground
Steller’s Eider in Poland by Lukasz Haluch / Macaulay Library.
close-up portrait of a gray and black crow
Hooded Crow in Germany by Andreas Stadler / Macaulay Library.
Long-tailed Tit by Martin Křížek / Macaulay Library.
a streaky brown and gray bird with a sharp bill stands on a mossy rock
Alpine Accentor in Spain by José A. Campos / Macaulay Library.
A gray and brown thrush with a spotted breast perches in a berry bush.
Fieldfare in Germany by Andreas Stadler / Macaulay Library.
a purple-blue bird with a red forehead flies across a marsh
Western Swamphen in Portugal by Rui Pereira / Macaulay Library.

South America

South America is home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet—making for some of the most fortunate birders in the world. Over the GBBC they reported more than 2,600 species on almost 10,000 checklists—including a staggering 210 species of hummingbirds! Browse full South America results.

gray/brown bird with a russet colored abdomen and black face marking.
Olive-crowned Crescentchest in Argentina by Aldo Grangetto / Macaulay Library.
a dark blue hummingbird with a reddish tail
Black-throated Mango in Colombia by Dan Vickers / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Andrea Hinek in Colombia / GBBC.
A small brown raptor stands on low vegetation.
Chimango Caracara in Chile by Pablo Andrés Cáceres Contreras / Macaulay Library.
Snowy Plover by Pablo Andrés Cáceres Contreras / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Libicni Rivero Ortiz in Venezuela / GBBC.
A round-bodied, streaky brown bird with a thick bill sits on a branch in a rainforest.
Black-streaked Puffbird in Colombia by Michael Pasaje Bolanos / Macaulay Library.
Carlos Alberto Justiniano Parada in Bolivia / GBBC.
a black-and-white striped bird with a long tail sits on bare ground.
Fasciated Wren in Peru by Joshua Vandermeulen / Macaulay Library.
Robert Díaz in Leticia, Colombia / GBBC.
a small yellow and gray bird with a black head sits on leafy vegetation
Common Tody-Flycatcher in Brazil by Fernando Calmon / Macaulay Library.
a glittering green and chestnut bird with a long sharp bill and long tail sits on a branch
Rufous-tailed Jacamar in Colombia by Nestor Monsalve / Macaulay Library.

North America

Birders in Canada, the United States, and Mexico recorded some 1,660 species on 200,000 checklists during the GBBC. In Central America, birders tallied 1,000 species on nearly 6,000 checklists as of press time. Just the tanagers alone were enough to create a rainbow, with their names featuring colors like scarlet, crimson, flame, red, rose, tawny, rufous, bay, yellow, lemon, green, emerald, azure, blue, and gray, (plus blue-gray). Browse full North America results and Central America results.

A small owl looks intently at the camera against a dim, purplish background.
Eastern Screech-Owl in Michigan by Isaac Polanski / Macaulay Library.
A small, plump songbird walks head-first down a tree trunk.
Red-breasted Nuthatch in Alberta, Canada, by Wayne Oakes / Macaulay Library.
A group of birdwatchers faces the camera.
Photo from Texas by Vidhya Sundar / GBBC.
A green hummingbird sits at the end of a tiny twig.
Broad-billed Hummingbird in California by Henry Witsken / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Alicia Highland in Ohio, United States / GBBC.
Sharp-shinned Hawk in Colorado by David Wade / Macaulay Library.
Three people look through binoculars in three different directions
Photo from California by Leslie Hart / GBBC.
Northern Pygmy-Owl in Montana by Jeffery Olsson / Macaulay Library.
A group of birdwatchers stands at the edge of a lake.
Photo from Mexico by April Gaydos Presa Allende / GBBC.
American Goldfinch in Michigan by Mark Sak / Macaulay Library.
NYC Birding by Anna Raff / GBBC.
Lapland Longspur in Michigan by Ben Lucking / Macaulay Library.
Photo by Cynthia Staszak in Illinois, United States / GBBC.
Photo by Paula Brown in Ottawa, Canada / GBBC.
Photo by Silvia Padilla in Guatemala / GBBC.
Photo by Sophie Skipper in Alabama, United States / GBBC.
White-eared Hummingbird in Guatemala by Chuck Babbitt / Macaulay Library.
John Scully in New York at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, United States / GBBC.
Black-crowned Night Heron in Quebec, Canada, by Pierre Bergeron / Macaulay Library.
Cinnamon Teal in California by Thomas Olson / Macaulay Library.
Paula Brown in Ontario, Canada / GBBC.
Great Horned Owl in Texas by KMJ Bird / Macaulay Library.
“Finn” helping, by Carl Bunting/ GBBC.
A woman and a child stand near the edge of a lake.
Photo from Tennessee by Gale Turco / GBBC.
Photo by S. Fiedler / GBBC.
A sparrow kicks up some snow from its perch.
Dark-eyed Junco in Missouri by Alex Marine / Macaulay Library.
An elderly person rests on a walker and looks outside through windows.
Photo from Tennessee by Vicki Lucas / GBBC.
A large black and orange songbird sits fluffed up against the cold.
Varied Thrush in Saskatchewan, Canada, by Annie McLeod
Two people birdwatching on a snow-covered trail through evergreen woods.
Photo from Ontario, Canada, by Aaron Hywarren / GBBC.
A Blue Jay frozen in flight with wings and tail spread wide.
Blue Jay in Pennsylvania by David Tornetta / Macaulay Library.
A person looks through binoculars at snow-covered prairie.
Photo from Montana by Lou Ann Harris / GBBC.
A woman wearing sunglasses and holding a camera.
Photo from Texas by Michelle Cano / GBBC.
A bluebird with an orange breast sits against a soft purple-blue sky.
Western Bluebird in New Mexico by Bob Walker / Macaulay Library.
Four people look into the trees through cameras with long telephoto lenses.
Photo from Panama by Rosabel Miró / GBBC.
Golden-crowned Kinglet by Todd Fibus / Macaulay Library.
Three birdwatchers look through binoculars in a city park.
Photo from New York City by Jodi Colón / GBBC.
Wood Duck in Utah by Frank Klotz / Macaulay Library.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their inspiring images with us. There’s still time to add your photos!