View of a group of ostriches, in the gardens of the Palacio do Alvorada, in Brasilia, Brazil, 02 June 2020. The ostrich is the largest and heaviest bird in the world. When the chicks hatch they are between 25 and 30 cm tall, weighing about 900 grams. (Photo by Joedson Alves/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Villagers play traditional games as they take part in a Chyrachka rite during the Shrovetide celebration in the village of Tonezh, some 280 km of Minsk, on March 10, 2019. Chyrachka is a kind of birds that live in this area. (Photo by Sergei Gapon/AFP Photo)

Many people have seen feathers as decorative items before. Today, ostrich, peacock and bird of paradise feathers can be seen in haute couture and in the costumes of indigenous peoples. They can be colorful and spectacular in their own right, but how much more stunning might they be when used as canvases for artists, eager to demonstrate their talent for the unusual? Alaskan-born and -bred artist Julie Thompson is an astounding exponent of this incredible art form.

The Royal Flycatchers are birds in the genus Onychorhynchus in the Tityridae family. Depending on authority, it includes a single widespread, or four more localized species. The specific epithet of the type species, coronatus, and the common name of all the species in this genus, Royal Flycatcher, refer to the striking, colourful crest, which is seen displayed very rarely, except after mating, while preening, in courtship as well as being handled.

German photographer Tanja Brandt has created a series which captures the absolutely heart-breaking friendship between Ingo, her two-year-old German Shepherd, and a tiny owl called Napoleon. "Ingo is not always the calmest dog, however when he is around the birds, and particularly Napoleon, he is very soft and gentle", said the photographer. "He seems very at peace with them".

Meet Bob, an adorable Golden Retriever that lives in Brazil with his 9 best friends; 8 birds and one hamster to be exact. Bob likes to share pictures of him and his friends on Facebook and Instagram, where he has over 169,000 followers!

In one of the planet’s most desolate and harsh terrains, the Altai Mountains which run from Siberia in Russia down to Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, hunting with eagles is currently only practiced by a handful of Kyrgyz and Kazakhs. This form of falconry, the practice of hunting with the aid of birds of prey, can be traced back as far as 4,000 years in Central Asia. Here: after a successful hunt, a proud hunter rewards his eagle by feeding it the lungs of the prey, which is considered the most highly prized part of the animal. (Photo by Tariq Zaidi/The Washington Post)

These incredible pictures look like a bird's-eye view of a faraway alien planet – but they're actually hot springs. The amazing snaps are up-close shots of Iceland's hot springs, and the point-blank pictures produce a breathtaking array of colors and effects. Here: The amazing snaps are up-close shots of Icelandic hot springs. (Photo by Johann Vilhjalmsson/Caters News)