Stop doing these things and immediately improve your bird photography

Bird photography is a rewarding yet challenging hobby that requires patience, skill, and a bit of strategy. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to come home disappointed when your photos don’t look as good as you’d hoped after a day out in the field photographing wildlife.

However, there are some easy tips that can make your bird photographs much better with very little effort. In this video, Trav, a bird photographer from British Columbia, Canada, shares his insights on the most common mistakes beginner bird photographers make—and how to overcome them.

Overcropping

One common mistake beginners make is overcropping their images. This happens when you crop the image heavily in post to make a distant bird appear larger. This often results in a loss of detail, grainy textures, and an overall poor-quality photo.

The simplest solution is to get closer to the bird, but this isn’t always practical (they do tend to fly off!). Another approach might be choosing locations where birds are more accustomed to people, such as local parks. If your budget allows, investing in a longer lens or a teleconverter can help you achieve closer shots without the need for extreme cropping.

Alternatively, you can learn more about bird behaviour to anticipate how they react. For example, some types of Hummingbirds often return to the same perch, giving you an opportunity to position yourself for the perfect shot.

Slow shutter speeds

Another issue is using shutter speeds which are too slow, which can make photos appear blurry. Birds are rarely completely still, and even subtle movements, like feathers ruffling in the wind, can compromise sharpness. To combat this, photographers should use a shutter speed faster than the focal length of their lens—such as 1/1600s for a 600mm lens.

Trav recommends not going below 1/1000s for bird photography and shooting even faster when possible. While many are hesitant to raise their ISO due to potential noise, it’s better to have a slightly grainy photo that is sharp than a blurry image. Prioritize capturing the bird’s motion clearly, even if it means adjusting other settings.

Busy backgrounds

A busy background can detract from a photo’s focus and confuse the viewer about the subject. Cluttered scenes with branches, leaves, or other elements competing for attention can ruin the composition. To avoid this, photographers can adjust their angle by moving slightly to the left, right, up, or down to find a cleaner backdrop.

For those looking to get creative, the surrounding elements can be used to frame the bird and tell a story, showing it within its natural environment. However, for a classic, polished look, aim for smooth, blurred backgrounds that highlight the bird as the primary subject. A long lens with a wide aperture helps smooth out and blur the background detail, although it can make the focus more challenging.

Shooting at the wrong time of day

Shooting in broad daylight is another common error, as the harsh midday sunlight often creates unflattering shadows, blown-out highlights, and issues like heat haze. Heat haze, caused by temperature differences between the ground and the air, can distort images, making them appear blurry even when the focus is correct.

The best way to avoid this is to shoot during golden hour—early morning or late afternoon—when the light is softer and more flattering. If you’re shooting during midday, look for shaded areas like forests, which provide diffused lighting. Broad daylight may still work for birds in flight, but it’s best avoided for most bird photography scenarios.

Using the wrong autofocus mode

Finally, make sure you’re using the correct autofocus mode, especially when photographing birds in flight. Single-point autofocus works well for perched birds, as it allows for precise focus on the subject. However, it’s less effective for fast-moving birds.

For birds in flight, using dynamic-area autofocus on a DSLR or wide-area autofocus with bird-eye detection on a mirrorless camera can significantly improve focus accuracy. Wide-area modes ensure the camera can lock onto the bird quickly, even as it moves unpredictably through the air. Knowing when to switch between these modes is essential for capturing sharp images in different situations.

Bird photography is as much about preparation and knowing your subject as it is about technique. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can significantly improve the quality of your photos and start bringing home images that you’re proud of.

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