Male bearded reedling, Norfolk, England (© Andrew Sproule/Shutterstock)

Balanced on a slender stalk in Norfolk, England, the male bearded reedling in today's image stands out with a pale blue-gray head, a bright orange bill, and the black facial markings that give the species its name. Despite its striking appearance, this small bird spends much of its life hidden among the dense wetland vegetation of marshes, lakeshores, and reed beds.