Capturing birds in flight is one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of wildlife photography. The exhilaration of freezing a moment as a bird zips through the air is quite wild. In this guide, I’ll share my insights and tips to help you master this art.
Why Trust Me
As a biologist and avid birdwatcher, I’ve spent countless hours observing and photographing birds in their natural habitats. My work in nature restoration and my master’s thesis on coastal bird habitats have given me a lot of opportunities to hone my skills in bird photography – in every situation – and especially capturing birds in flight.
Over the years, I’ve learned through trial and error what techniques and settings work best, and I’m excited to share this knowledge with you. I’ve constructed this article as an approachable step-by-step guide that you can read in whatever pace and order you like.
Step 1: Choose the Right Equipment
The first step is ensuring you have the appropriate gear.
Camera Body
A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a fast autofocus system is ideal. I use a Lumix G9M2 camera at 60 fps continuous shooting speed to increase my chances of capturing the perfect moment. Check out my recent article on the best cameras for bird photography.
Lens Selection
A telephoto lens is essential. Lenses ranging from 300 mm to 600 mm allow you to fill the frame with the bird without getting too close. I’ve found that a 100-400 mm zoom lens offers a good balance between reach and flexibility. Check out my recent article on the best lenses for bird photography for more information.
Memory Cards
High-speed memory cards prevent buffering during continuous shooting. SD card ratings can be a jungle to get into when you’re starting out. I recommend not skimping out and buying a cheap SD card, because you will really feel it, especially when shooting in burst mode, as you often will when photographing birds.
Look for cards that has the marking “V60” or “V90” to be sure that they can handle the transfer speed of shooting in burst mode. And always, ALWAYS carry an extra card! You never know when it might fail, or you might have forgotten it in the card reader at home.
Step 2: Prepare Your Camera Settings
Proper camera settings are the cornerstone of successful bird-in-flight photography. Adjusting your camera to accommodate the speed and unpredictability of birds ensures you capture sharp, well-exposed images. Here’s an quick look at how to optimize your settings for the best results.
Shutter Speed
Birds move quickly, so a fast shutter speed is essential to freeze motion. I typically set my shutter speed to at least 1/2000th of a second.
Aperture
A wider aperture (lower f-number) helps isolate the bird from the background and allows more light into the camera. I often shoot between f/5.6 and f/8 to maintain a good depth of field while ensuring the subject is sharp.
ISO Settings
To achieve fast shutter speeds and appropriate aperture, you may need to increase your ISO, especially in low-light conditions. I adjust my ISO to the lowest possible setting that allows for correct exposure, often ranging from ISO 400 to ISO 1600. This will ensure your picture won’t be too grainy.
Focus Mode
Continuous autofocus (AI Servo for Canon, AF-C for Nikon/Sony) tracks the moving bird. I also use back-button focusing to have more control over focus without affecting the shutter release. I only even attempt manual focus when photographing resting birds like eagles or owls on a branch. Even finches, tits, sparrows or other small birds seemingly sitting still will always jump around.
Metering Mode
Spot or center-weighted metering helps expose the bird correctly, especially against bright skies. I adjust exposure compensation as needed if the bird appears too dark or too bright.
Shooting Mode
Burst or continuous shooting mode increases the chances of capturing the perfect wing position or expression. It’s almost impossible to get the perfect shot without using one of these two modes of shooting.
Step 3: Familiarize Yourself With Your Gear
An essential aspect of successful bird-in-flight photography is becoming very intimately familiar with your camera equipment. Birds are unpredictable and won’t wait while you adjust your settings, so it’s crucial to modify your camera controls instinctively and swiftly.
Spend time learning your camera’s menu system and button layout until changing settings becomes second nature. Practice adjusting shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and focus modes without taking your eye away from the viewfinder; this skill allows you to continue tracking the bird while making necessary adjustments.
To achieve this level of proficiency, I’ve, apart from spending a lot of time in the field, actually set up scenarios for myself trying to capture different things outside my window. Passing cars, people walking, airplanes, birds. Basically everything. It might seem odd to do, but it’s such an important skill to master.
These exercises help you hone your ability to track moving objects and adjust settings on the fly. They also provide an opportunity to refine your panning technique, which is absolutely essential for keeping fast-moving birds sharp in your frame.
Additionally, familiarize yourself with how changing light conditions affect your settings. For example, as a subject moves from a brightly lit area like a clear blue sky or a cloud to a shaded one like in a forest and in between reeds, you’ll need to quickly adjust your exposure to maintain proper illumination.
By dedicating time to practice and building muscle memory, you reduce the cognitive load and risk of failure during actual shooting sessions. This preparation means that when you’re out in the field, you can focus entirely on observing the birds and capturing the perfect shot without fumbling with your equipment.
Depending on your camera model, you might be able to set up certain presets that can help you. You could for example have a “fast bird – clear day” preset, prioritizing fast shutter speed, medium ISO and medium aperture. Or a “sitting bird – cloudy day” preset, with slower shutter speed, lower ISO and aperture.
Step 4: Understand Bird Behavior
Knowing how birds behave can help you anticipate their movements.
Study Your Subjects
Knowing what kinds of birds you might see on your trip will help you a lot. You know what settings you’re going to need; you know where to look for the birds, and you can learn their flight patterns, takeoff behaviors, and feeding habits. For example, birds often take off into the wind, so positioning yourself accordingly can improve your chances.
Every march I go on an eagle spotting trip to southern Sweden with some friends. We go on a day with perfect eagle conditions (sunny and windy) and will try to position ourselves in areas where we know they might hunt, so we can capture them in flight and when they’re resting.
Timing is Everything
Early morning and late afternoon are peak times for bird activity and offer the best lighting conditions. I prefer mornings when birds are most active, and the light is soft and warm.
It’s also a great excuse to get up early and enjoy the fresh outdoors. If you pair it with a couple of good friends, some coffee and cake, you’re going to have a great time, whether you get the perfect shot or not.
Step 5: Choose the Right Location
Start by researching local areas known for high bird activity. Nature reserves, wetlands, coastal regions, and open fields are excellent places to find birds in flight. I often use resources like birdwatching groups, online forums, and apps like eBird to discover hotspots where birds are frequently sighted. These tools can provide real-time updates on bird movements and popular locations in your area.
Consider the Species You Want to Photograph
Different habitats attract different bird species. If you’re targeting specific birds, choose locations where they are commonly found.
- Open Spaces: Areas near water bodies, fields, or coastlines provide unobstructed views of birds in flight. I often visit wetlands and coastal areas where seabirds are abundant.
- Water Bodies: Lakes, rivers, and coastal areas are ideal for photographing waterfowl, wading birds, and seabirds.
- Open Fields and Meadows: Raptors like hawks and eagles often hunt over open land. These areas provide unobstructed views of birds soaring or diving. When photographing hawks and eagles, choosing a day with some wind is also favourable.
- Forests and Woodlands: For songbirds and woodpeckers, wooded areas are your best bet by far. While it can be challenging due to tree cover, birds often fly between gaps, offering opportunities for in-flight shots.
Scout the Location in Advance
Visiting the location beforehand allows you to familiarize yourself with the terrain and identify the best vantage points. Look for:
- Clear Sightlines: Find spots with an unobstructed view of the sky and surrounding area. Hills, cliffs, or elevated platforms can provide excellent perspectives.
- Bird Flight Paths: Observe where birds are most active. Areas near nesting sites, feeding grounds, or water sources often have higher activity.
- Sun Position: Note where the sun rises and sets to plan for optimal lighting conditions during your shoot – this plays a huge role in how your photos turn out in the end.
- Migration Seasons: During migration periods, bird populations swell, and you may encounter species not usually present in your area. I’ve found spring and autumn to be particularly fruitful times for capturing diverse species. Though I live in Denmark, this will be common for most of the world, including large parts of the US.
- Feeding Times: Birds are most active when feeding, often in the early morning and late afternoon. Arriving at these times increases the likelihood of capturing dynamic behavior.
Local Events and Guided Tours
Joining birdwatching groups or guided tours can provide valuable insights. Experienced guides can point out areas of high activity and help you spot species you might miss on your own.
Step 6: Master Your Technique
Mastering the right techniques is essential to capturing sharp, dynamic images of birds in flight. This involves honing your physical movements, understanding your camera’s capabilities, and practicing specific photographic methods. Here’s an expanded look at how to elevate your bird-in-flight photography skills.
Panning
Panning is a absolutely critical technique for tracking moving subjects while keeping them sharp against a blurred background, which conveys motion and speed.
How to practice panning:
- Stance and Posture: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly ahead for stability. Keep your knees slightly bent to absorb movement. This stance allows for smooth rotation from the hips. A good way to go about this mentally is thinking that you are a bipod rotating around your hips.
- Grip and Hold: Hold your camera firmly but relaxed. Support the lens with your non-dominant hand underneath, and grip the camera body with your dominant. Tuck your elbows close to your body to reduce shake.
- Smooth Rotation: Rotate your torso smoothly as you follow the bird’s movement. Avoid jerky motions, which can cause motion blur. The key is to move in a fluid motion that matches the bird’s speed.
- Lead and Follow Through: Begin tracking the bird before pressing the shutter and continue the motion even after taking the shot. This follow-through helps maintain a steady motion and increases the chances of capturing sharp images.
Camera settings for panning:
- Shutter Speed: While a fast shutter speed freezes all motion, using a slightly slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/60th to 1/250th of a second) during panning can create motion blur in the background while keeping the bird sharp. This is of course all a preference, but I really like the way photos turn out this way.
- Image Stabilization: If your lens has a panning mode (often labeled Mode 2), enable it. This setting stabilizes vertical movement while allowing horizontal panning.
Practice Opportunities: Start practicing panning with predictable subjects like passing cars, cyclists, or pets. This practice builds muscle memory and improves your ability to track moving subjects smoothly. You might even be able to do it from the comfortability of your house or apartment!
Focus Point Selection: Maintain Accurate Focus
Single Point Autofocus:
- Precision: Using a single focus point gives you precise control over where the camera focuses. Place the focus point on the bird’s eye or head for optimal sharpness.
- Challenge: It requires skill to keep the focus point on a small, moving subject, but it yields the best results for focus accuracy once you learn it properly.
Dynamic or Expanded Focus Area:
- Assistance: Modes like Dynamic Area AF (Nikon) or AF Point Expansion (Canon) use surrounding focus points to assist if the subject moves off the selected point.
- Best for: Slightly larger birds or when it’s difficult to keep a single point on the subject due to unpredictable movements.
Zone and Tracking Autofocus Modes:
- Zone AF: Divides the frame into zones, allowing you to select an area where the camera will focus. Useful when the bird moves within a certain part of the frame.
- 3D Tracking (Nikon) / AI Servo AF (Canon): These modes track moving subjects across the frame, adjusting focus continuously.
Composition and Framing
- Dynamic Placement: Position the bird off-center to create a more engaging composition. Use your camera’s grid display to help with alignment.
- Lead Room: Leave space in the frame in the direction the bird is flying. This compositional technique implies motion and gives the subject room to “move into” within the image.
- Contrast: Aim for a background that contrasts with the bird to make it stand out. A bird against a clear blue sky or a distant, blurred landscape can be very effective. It can be difficult to get a nice photo of a brown bird flying with a treeline as a background.
Conclusion
Photographing birds in flight is a challenging yet immensely rewarding pursuit that combines technical skill with an appreciation for the beauty of nature. It can turn you leisurely birding trip into a competition with yourself to get the best photo.
By understanding the behavior of birds and their environment, choosing the right camera and quality lens, and mastering essential settings and techniques, you can capture amazing photos that you will treasure for a long time, and might impress your friends.
Remember that patience and practice are your greatest allies; not every attempt will result in a perfect shot, but each experience offers valuable lessons that contribute to your growth as a photographer. I have deleted THOUSANDS of photos (burst mode really makes your SD card work).
As you start taking photos of birds, don’t be discouraged by the initial hurdles – and they will be many. Start by familiarizing yourself with local bird species and spend time observing them to predict their movements better. This is really one of the greatest advices I can give you. If you know how the birds will move and react to their environment, capturing them in a photo becomes so much easier.
Embrace the early mornings and late afternoons, when the light is magical, and bird activity is at its peak. Utilize the steps that I’ve tried to outline in this guide to prepare yourself before heading out, so you’re ready to seize any opportunity that arises.
Ethics play a crucial role in wildlife photography. Always prioritize the well-being of the birds over getting the perfect shot. Luckily, tele lenses enable you to maintain a respectful distance, avoiding to disturb their natural behaviors.
You need to be especially aware of your surroundings during breeding seasons and take note of the bird sounds in your surroundings. If you hear birds starting to try to scare you off by vocalizing, it’s better if you leave the area as to not disturb their breeding – they’re super vulnerable in this period.
Another key thing is to not underestimate the power of community in enhancing your learning experience. Engage with fellow photographers, join local birdwatching groups, or participate in online forums to share your work and receive feedback – it might be very overwhelming, but I’ve never seen people in these groups discourage newbies – quite the contrary! These interactions can provide new insights, inspiration, and support as you refine your craft.
Lastly, learn to enjoy the process. The thrill of capturing a bird in flight is incomparable, but the moments leading up to that click – the quiet anticipation, the connection with nature, the serenity of the outdoors – are equally fulfilling.
Even if you come home with 1500 bad pictures, it shouldn’t discourage you from going again – not to sound like a cliché but wildlife photography is not – at least for me – about the photos, but the experiences.
Keep exploring, stay curious, and let your passion for both photography and birds guide you. With dedication and enthusiasm, you’ll not only improve your technical skills but also deepen your appreciation for the avian world soaring above us.
Happy shooting, and may your lens always find the wings you’re looking for!
