Birds Perched, Birds Flying, Birds Aground

This beautiful French sheet shows the Little Bustard, the Bluethroat, the Osprey and the Atlantic Puffin in their natural surroundings. 100 years of the Ligue for the Protection of Birds (2012). Artist: le Guillouzic.

Crowned cranes, Camp de Waza, designed and engraved by Claude Durrens, and issued by Cameroun on April 9, 1971 as one of three stamps in a tourism set, Scott No. 521.

- nethryk

In the USA, January 5 is National Bird Day.

Splendid Glossy Starlings (Lamprocolius splendidus), airmail stamp designed by Jacques Gauthier, engraved by Pierre Forget, and issued by Niger in 1968-69, Scott No. C87, plus an image of a 1906 illustration of this species by Danish naturalist and artist Henrik Grönvold (1858–1940).

- nethryk

Taiwan blue magpies (Urocissa caerulea), printed by photogravure, and issued by China (People's Republic) on February 1, 2002, Scott No. 3177, plus a photo.

- nethryk

Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) drake (in semi-false colors), designed by Á. Ólafsson, printed by photogravure, and issued by Iceland on June 14, 1977 to publicize the European Wetlands Campaign, Scott No. 500, Facit No. 561, plus a photo of the real thing.

- nethryk

Here are images of the four engraved stamps in a set depicting indigenous birds, designed by S. Rodboon, and issued by Laos on February 10, 1966, Scott Nos. 122-25.

- nethryk

Engraved by Jacques Combet:

Slaty-headed parakeet (Psittacula himalayana)


White-crested laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus)


Engraved by Jean Pheulpin:

Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis)


Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Here are images of the four engraved airmail stamps in a set depicting indigenous birds, designed by Pierre Gandon, and issued by Mali on February 15, 1965, Scott Nos. C25-C28.

- nethryk

Guinea turacos (Tauraco persa), engraved by Jacques Combet.


Abyssinian ground hornbills (Bucorvus abyssinicus), engraved by Claude Hertenberger.


Egyptian vultures (Neophron percnopterus), engraved by Jean Pheulpin.


Goliath herons (Ardea goliath), engraved by Robert Cami.

arrived today... the owl may not already be here. Sender of the postcard they are on said this stamp series will be ending soon on HK.

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouses (Pterocles exustus), designed and engraved by Jacques Gauthier (1931- ), and issued by Niger on November 18, 1967, Scott No. 189, plus a photo.

- nethryk

Singapore 2015 Black and yellow broadbill.

Here is an image of a stamp designed after a child's drawing of a bird, printed by lithography, and issued by Yugoslavia on October 5, 1970 to publicize Children's Week, Scott No. 1033.

- nethryk

Here is an image of an airmail stamp depicting a bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae, designed by French artist Pierre Opic (1933- ), printed by photogravure on granite paper (Courvoisier, S.A.), and issued by Senegal on July 13, 1966, Scott No. C57, plus a photo.

- nethryk

Great egret (Ardea alba, aka Egretta alba) in flight, an airmail stamp designed by French artist Pierrette Lambert (1928- ), printed by photogravure, and issued by Chad on September 28, 1971, Scott No. C84, plus a YouTube link to a superb video of a great egret taking off and in flight at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary in California.

- nethryk

Hi, Nethryk, That sure is a lovely egret in flight - I've always wondered how they manage to fly that close to the water without touching it (the tips of the wings seem to be only an inch above the surface). The contours of the waters in the Hungarian souvenir sheet are those of Europe, a nice idea for a conservation issue.

Kris Rascher - I'm glad you also liked the great egret YouTube video clip; to me it seemed to nicely complement the Chad airmail stamp.

Here are images of the three semi-postal (charity) stamps in a set depicting indigenous birds, designed by various Spanish artists, printed by photogravure, and issued for use in Spanish Sahara on November 23, 1958 for Stamp Day, Scott Nos. B50-B52.

- nethryk

Greater hoopoe-lark (Alaemon alaudipes), designed by Manuel Sánchez Algora (1928- ).


Greater hoopoe-larks, designed by Teodoro Miciano Becerra (1903-1974).


Fulvous Babbler (Turdoides fulva), designed by Carlos Ruiz de Galarreta.