Northern Goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis)

   Issued  May 8, 2015 as a joint issue with Thailand to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations This is a prepaid cover which has been up-rated with matching stamps for international posting.
 The Northern Goshawk is a medium size raptor which inhabits the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere.
                                       

Hong Kong-Barn Swallow & Northern Shoveller, Little Egret, Common Tern

Thematic collectors love postal stationary and today an aerogram arrived from Hong Kong with a delightful image of a Barn Swallow  (Hirundo Rustica) in flight. In the background you can see a Northern Shoveller ( Anas clypeata), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) and a Common tern ( Stera hirundo).
Posted from Hong Kong on June 1, the aerogram took 10 days to arrive.

Morocco- Northern Bald Ibis

From a special friend who sent this cover while on holidays in Marrakech, North Africa. I know the postmark isn't very clear but the registration label is so I'm adding it here as its from an unusual destination.
From a 2012 4v set of fauna, which included a bird stamp of the Northern Bald Ibis -(Geronticus eremita)

USA- Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinals  (Cardinalis cardinalis )with their bright red plumage are good subjects for bird stamps. First seen on a USA Wildlife Conservation stamp in 1972 and ten years later in 1982 on state stamps for West Virginia and Kentucky (and other states) The postcard of Audubon's fine painting depicts the birds on one of their food trees. Thanks again to Natalie for taking so much care in sending this card.  Postmarked in Mountain Lakes with the new thin single ring postmark which replaces the  red ink double ring . I'm sorry to see the red postmark disappear, it was always so different to most you get around the world. Please take note of the 2002,  60 cent stamp ..its smaller than the older stamps, which I find  unusual as generally stamps are getting bigger not smaller:)

Germany- Northern Goshawk

It's not easy to get birds on postal history  so it was a very  pleasant surprise to receive this cover in the mail last week from a friend in the UK. Cancelled in Ansbach, West Germany, you see a Northern Goshawk from the 4v set of Birds of Prey, on a semi-postal  stamp of 20pf+ 10pf in aid of Youth Welfare.