Male bearded reedling, Norfolk, England 30 Sept 2026

Balanced on a slender stalk in Norfolk, England, the male bearded reedling in today"s image stands out with a pale blue-grey head, a bright orange bill and the black facial markings that give the species its name. Despite its striking appearance, this small bird spends much of its life hidden among the dense wetland vegetation of marshes, lakeshores and reed beds.

© Andrew Sproule/Shutterstock

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