Nature Picture Library 2021 March 2021

- Latest Highlights > 2021 > March 2021 (209) More files...

This month's highlights ranges widely across the world. From Africa we have Suzi Eszterhas's very engaging leopard family images, Will Burrard-Lucas's rare black panthers and Ben Cranke's dramatic eagle/stork confrontation. From Asia we've added more great content from Wild Wonders of China, including many Taiwanese endemic species. From Europe we have lovely starling murmurations, birds in the snow and mammal portaits. From South America the world's highest waterfall and largest flying bird. From Australia, urban wildlife and a variety of reptiles and frogs. And as ever there has been a fantastic influx of strong marine material, including Andy Murch's unrivalled coverage on many of the world's sharks and rays.

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Leopard (Panthera pardus) mother carrying cub, age 10 days, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) mother carrying cub, age 10 days, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age six weeks, playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age six weeks, playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) mother and cub age four months , Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) mother and cub age four months , Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age six weeks, playing with mother's tail, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age six weeks, playing with mother's tail, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age five weeks, jumping on mother, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cub age five weeks, jumping on mother, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age four months playing, Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age five weeks, , Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana - Suzi Eszterhas

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Suzi Eszterhas / Leopard (Panthera pardus) cubs age five weeks, , Jao Reserve, Okavango, Botswana

Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. All other uses require clearance. - Will Burrard-Lucas

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Will Burrard-Lucas / Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. All other uses require clearance.

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Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February. - David Pattyn

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David Pattyn / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February.

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David Pattyn / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February.

Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flocks gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February 2020. - David Pattyn

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David Pattyn / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flocks gathering above trees before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February 2020.

Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock pursued by Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February 2020. - David Pattyn

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David Pattyn / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock pursued by Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February 2020.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) in snowy garden, Wales, UK, January. - Andy Rouse

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Andy Rouse / European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) in snowy garden, Wales, UK, January.

Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) in winter garden, Wales, UK, January - Andy Rouse

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Andy Rouse / Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) in winter garden, Wales, UK, January

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) in frosty garden, Wales, UK, January. - Andy Rouse

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Andy Rouse / European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) in frosty garden, Wales, UK, January.

Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in snowy garden, Wales, UK, January - Andy Rouse

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Andy Rouse / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in snowy garden, Wales, UK, January

Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), two males perched on branch. Vaagaa, Norway. January. - Erlend Haarberg

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Erlend Haarberg / Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), two males perched on branch. Vaagaa, Norway. January.

Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in water. Pasvik, Norway. May. - Erlend Haarberg

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Erlend Haarberg / Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in water. Pasvik, Norway. May.

Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway, May. - Erlend Haarberg

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Erlend Haarberg / Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus), two males fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway, May.

Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), two fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway. May. - Erlend Haarberg

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Erlend Haarberg / Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), two fighting in snow. Pasvik, Norway. May.

Taiwan yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps) pair perched amongst pink blossom, Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan. Endemic species - Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China

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Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Taiwan yuhina (Yuhina brunneiceps) pair perched amongst pink blossom, Alishan National Scenic Area, Taiwan. Endemic species

Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) juvenile, landing, Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan - Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China

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Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) juvenile, landing, Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Taiwan Blue Magpie, (Urocissa caerulea) endemic species, Taipei city park, Taiwan - Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China

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Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Taiwan Blue Magpie, (Urocissa caerulea) endemic species, Taipei city park, Taiwan

Swinhoes pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) male, endemic species, Yunlinshan, Taiwan - Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China

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Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Swinhoes pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) male, endemic species, Yunlinshan, Taiwan

A white cat peeks out a blue door. Chefchaouen, Morocco. - Karine Aigner

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Karine Aigner / A white cat peeks out a blue door. Chefchaouen, Morocco.

Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus). Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. June. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus). Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. June.

Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), close up of jaw and teeth. Bay of Fundy, Canada. August. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), close up of jaw and teeth. Bay of Fundy, Canada. August.

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) below surface. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) below surface. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.

Happy Eddie (Haploblepharus edwardsii) egg case / mermaid's purse. False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. June. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Happy Eddie (Haploblepharus edwardsii) egg case / mermaid's purse. False Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. June.

Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum) in reef. Simon's Town, Western Cape, South Africa. June. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum) in reef. Simon's Town, Western Cape, South Africa. June.

Leopard houndshark (Triakis semifasciata) group swimming amongst rays of light. San Diego, California, USA. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Leopard houndshark (Triakis semifasciata) group swimming amongst rays of light. San Diego, California, USA.

Red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) with Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group and smaller fish in background. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. September. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Red stingray (Hemitrygon akajei) with Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group and smaller fish in background. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. September.

Redspotted catshark (Schroederichthys chilensis) on sea floor amongst Sea urchins (Echinoidea). Las Tacas, Chile. November. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Redspotted catshark (Schroederichthys chilensis) on sea floor amongst Sea urchins (Echinoidea). Las Tacas, Chile. November.

Pacific starry skate (Beringraja stellulata) on sea floor. Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. August. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Pacific starry skate (Beringraja stellulata) on sea floor. Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. August.

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) surfacing with open mouth. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) surfacing with open mouth. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.

Longtail stingray (Hypanus longus) on reef, Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) group in background. Socorro Island, Mexico. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Longtail stingray (Hypanus longus) on reef, Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) group in background. Socorro Island, Mexico.

Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena). Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) portrait. Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. June. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) portrait. Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa. June.

Banded wobbegong shark (Orectolobus halei) resting on reef, Bullseye fish (Pempherididae) shoal in background. South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Banded wobbegong shark (Orectolobus halei) resting on reef, Bullseye fish (Pempherididae) shoal in background. South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia.

Atlantic sixgill shark (Hexanchus vitulus) swimming with open mouth. Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Atlantic sixgill shark (Hexanchus vitulus) swimming with open mouth. Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group feeding. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. October. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Banded houndshark (Triakis scyllium) group feeding. Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. October.

Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) mouth wide open, feeding in shallow water, surrounded by fish. South Bimini Island, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) mouth wide open, feeding in shallow water, surrounded by fish. South Bimini Island, Bahamas.

Leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) cruising along the edge of an underwater drop off, Philippines. - David Fleetham

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David Fleetham / Leopard shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) cruising along the edge of an underwater drop off, Philippines.

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Andy Murch / Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) surfacing with open mouth. Tiger Beach, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas.

Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) swimming below surface at sunset. South Bimini Island, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) swimming below surface at sunset. South Bimini Island, Bahamas.

Little gulper shark (Centrophorus uyato). Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas. - Andy Murch

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Andy Murch / Little gulper shark (Centrophorus uyato). Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas.