South Africa-Dusky Subird

 A Dusky Sunbird (Cinnyris fuscus) from the March 2013 set of South Africa's smallest sun-birds  all of which are International Airmail Small Letter rate. Notice on this stamp the tops of the lettering disappears beyond the perf. The set I received has similar printing.

Ecuador-Birds of the Galapagos

Issued in March 2012, here are 5 of the 8 stamps from a booklet, received in an exchange bird cover event, sent from Aeroporto 2, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
 Large Ground Finch  ( Geospiza magnirostris)
 Nazca Booby   (Sula grant)

Magnificent Frigatebird  (Fregata magnificens)

Galapagos Penguin   (Spheniscus mendiculus)
White-cheeked Pintail   (Anas bahamensi)

Australia-Water Birds

During the recent heat-wave in NSW my friend Karola took relief from the heat by soaking herself, together with some stamps, in the bath. The illustrated cover commemorates the occasion when the mercury reached 44 degrees. We can see Karola was dreaming of  beaches and water birds as she soaked with the stamps . The stamps say it all, Sea gulls, Jabiru, Frigate birds and Tropicbirds..  all found where there is water. Even the kangaroo is by the sea-side. Cancelled at Lightning Ridge NSW, one of the hottest places in the outback..

Australia & Christmas Island - Birds

Clever artistic Karola illustrated the cover with the same birds as on the stamps and cancelled it in the birds correct habitat..the desert region of Lightning Ridge, NSW where lots of opals are mined. Stamps are from the 1979 Australian Birds series and the Silver-eye is on a Christmas Island stamp.
Australian Zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis)
Crimson Finch    (Neochmia phaeton)
Flame Robin    (Petroica phoenicea)
1996 Christmas Island  White-eye    (Zosterops natalis) 

Mexico-Raptors

A bird stamp with four different raptors- Western Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus), Golden Eagle  (Aquila chrysaetos), Harpy Eagle ( Harpia harpyja) ,  Ornate Hawk-Eagle   (Spizaetus ornatus). From the Mexcio 2002 Conservation  8v stamp set which shows 22 species of birds. Wonderful cover postmarked with that special tridate  12-12-12, thanks to my dear friend Cecy.

USA- Tufted Puffin

Due to the size of their bills, puffins are also know as sea parrots. Featured on a new 2013 USA stamp from a painting by artist Robert Giusti  is this large Tufted Puffin seen here in breeding plumage with characteristic yellow feathers. These birds catch their food underwater to a depth of 70 meters. Flown in from Brookside NJ with the help from a 1988 Saw-Whet  owl.