Photographer Tim Flach
MAJESTIC and intricate, these stunning images showcasing the diversity of birdlife are taken from , a photography book by Tim Flach.
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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.
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.
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.
The distinctive 鈥渕oustache鈥� 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.
Birds will be published by Abrams on 11 November.
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