The Eurasian Eagle-owl is one of the world’s largest owl species. Native to Europe and Asia, these impressive birds are recognized by their bright orange eyes, prominent feather tufts, and powerful build. Adults can stand nearly 30 inches tall and have wingspans exceeding six feet. Saw this one at Wing Haven in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Eurasian Eagle
Over the past 50 years, cheetahs have gone extinct in at least 13 countries, and they are most prevalent in Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa. This one was photographed just after eating in Ngorongoro Park in Tanzania
African Cheetah Portrait
It takes a pretty impressive bird to live up to the name “King,” and the King Vulture does not disappoint. The King Vulture is arguably one of the world’s most beautiful vultures. It has a white eye and a red eye ring, an orange-red beak, and a head and neck that are a rainbow of colors, including orange, pink, yellow, purple, grey, and black.
King Vulture
The Lanner Falcon is a powerful, swift, and well-equipped hunter. In addition to long, powerful talons, it has a special notch on its beak called a tomial tooth, like most other falcons. Lanner falcons can reach speeds of 90-100 mph in a dive, making them exceptionally quick hunters, though not as fast as peregrines.
Lanner Falcon
This Asiatic Lion in India seems to be looking straight at the photographer. Like other large cats, Asiatic lion cubs are born with blue or green eyes that eventually turn golden yellow in adulthood.
Eyes of a Lion
A newborn rhino looks like a tiny, wrinkled, gray-to-brown tank with a stubby bump instead of a long horn.
Rhino Closeup
Unique among Eulemur species, common brown males and females share the same coloring—grayish brown with a blackish face and orange-red eyes. Saw this one at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina.
Brown Lemur
The spectacled owl is a large tropical bird of prey native to the rainforests and lowlands of Central and South America, easily recognized by the striking white feather markings around its bright yellow eyes that resemble a pair of glasses.
Spectacled Owl
Photographed a Toco Toucan looking sideways at Sylvan Heights Bird Park, Scotland Neck, North Carolina
Toco Toucan Sideways
Almost all domestic and wild goat breeds have beards, though male goats (bucks) nearly always grow larger, thicker, and more prominent beards than females (does) because of higher testosterone levels.
Bearded Goat
The polar bear is a massive marine mammal and the world’s largest land carnivore, native to the Arctic.
Polar Bear
The Asiatic lion is a distinct lion subspecies found only in the wild in the Gir Forest National Park and surrounding areas of Gujarat, India.
An interesting, quizzical look when staring at the photographer.
Quizzical Lion
The hamadryas baboon was a sacred animal to the ancient Egyptians and appears in various roles in ancient Egyptian religion; hence its alternative name, the sacred baboon. Hamadryas baboons are large-bodied monkeys with strong builds and dog-like muzzles.
Photographed this one; seems angry at the North Carolina Zoo.
Hamadryas Baboon
Although it’s not an animal photo, a portrait of an orange iguana from the lizard family was photographed in Costa Rica. An “orange iguana” is almost always a common green iguana that has turned orange due to seasonal breeding hormones, specific color morph breeding, or natural aging.
Orange Iguana
The Indian Leopard has larger rosettes than other subspecies, with a paler coat in desert habitats, a greyer coat in colder climes, and a more ochre coat in rainforest habitats. Like other leopard subspecies, Indian Leopards are solitary predators that remain well camouflaged at night but come down from trees to hunt during the day.
Salivating Leopard
The short, thick-necked Western Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle, bobbing its head with each step, or rides on their backs to pick at ticks. Originally from Africa, it reached North America in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent.
Western Cattle Egret
Photographed from afar with a phone camera, this American Black Bear is sitting and looking at you at Grandfather Mountain Zoo in North Carolina
American Black Bear Sitting
Technically not an animal, this is a portrait of an iguana from the lizard family. This one was photographed in the Galápagos; it is a large, striking yellow-and-brown lizard endemic to the arid lowlands of the Galápagos archipelago.
Galapagos Land Iguana
Here is a portrait of a racing horse looking at you at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky
Racing Horse in a Barn
The Toco Toucan is the largest and most recognizable toucan species, famous for its massive, colorful orange-yellow bill. The toucan’s beak looks heavy but is actually light. It is hollow, made of the protein keratin with thin rods of bone for support, and is similar in consistency to a hard sponge.
Photographed this bird at Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina, which features an astonishing variety of birds from around the world.
Toco Toucan Sideways