Amid the tangled branches and twigs of a winter bare tree and against the dull blue-grey of an overcast sky, the bright yellow chest with thick black V shaped necklace of a western meadowlark stands out boldly in the dim sunlight. Its dark black eye looks out over a long narrow beak.

Sunlight shines brightly on a male belted kingfisher, his bright white chest and neck band standing out from his dark blue-grey body and V shaped stripe across his throat. He is perched amid bare dull red branches with a few wilted leaves that have survived the winter winds. His gleaming black eye is focused down along his long sharp black beak towards the water below.

An elegant great blue heron stands on long thin legs in the chill water of a rock lined canal, the bare branches of low hanging trees and brush around it. The sunlight has broken through the thin clouds, shining brightly on the long sharp yellow beak, bright yellow eye, dark blue-gray stripe over the head, and light grey body. The lacy white feathers across its long neck and chest and long dark feather off the back of the head stand out from the smooth feathers of its body.

A smooth white great egret stands on the edge of a dirt road behind a thin bare brush. The long sharp orange beak and bright yellow eye stand out from the white body, with long thin black legs supporting the bird. It's long neck is tucked down, creating a loose S shape.

Amid the tangled branches and twigs of a winter bare tree and against the dull blue-grey of an overcast sky, the bright yellow chest with thick black V shaped necklace of a western meadowlark stands out boldly in the dim sunlight. Its dark black eye looks out over a long narrow beak.

Sunlight shines brightly on a male belted kingfisher, his bright white chest and neck band standing out from his dark blue-grey body and V shaped stripe across his throat. He is perched amid bare dull red branches with a few wilted leaves that have survived the winter winds. His gleaming black eye is focused down along his long sharp black beak towards the water below.

An elegant great blue heron stands on long thin legs in the chill water of a rock lined canal, the bare branches of low hanging trees and brush around it. The sunlight has broken through the thin clouds, shining brightly on the long sharp yellow beak, bright yellow eye, dark blue-gray stripe over the head, and light grey body. The lacy white feathers across its long neck and chest and long dark feather off the back of the head stand out from the smooth feathers of its body.

A smooth white great egret stands on the edge of a dirt road behind a thin bare brush. The long sharp orange beak and bright yellow eye stand out from the white body, with long thin black legs supporting the bird. It's long neck is tucked down, creating a loose S shape.