WorldBirdPhotos web site is owned and maintained by Peter W. Hills an amateur photographer with a passion for building a collection of bird photographs worldwide that is free to any ornithologist or enthusiast.
This site is a personal non profit collection of bird photos commenced in 2003. Currently it lists 2645 species consisting of 9,250 images all recorded in the field. Photos currently taken in 49 countries include: North Africa and South of Sahara, Europe, Central Asia, Indian Sub Continent, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Malaysia, China, Southern and Central America, Galapagos, Mexico, Polynesia, Australasia as well as both the Arctic and Antarctic. I endeavour to photograph all birds spotted in a country irrespective if the same bird has been recorded in another country. Perhaps similar species will be split in the future?
Peter grew up in the former British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia now Zambia. His interest in birds was encouraged when his Primary School Headmaster showed him and his lifelong friend, David Bromfield, the book ‘Roberts Birds of Southern Africa’; Peter still has the 1958 edition. Dave is Peter’s “bird guru” and they continue to spend many happy days birding around Southern Africa. Peter started photography at the age of 10 with a Brownie; in 1963 his first 35mm camera was a Halina. He used to operate a locally made “PhotoFinish Camera at the local horse race circuit but stated he could develop a superior version and a year later created a high precision and easy to operate camera that was praised by all and he was compensated accordingly.
By 2002 bird photography became viable with the launch of the digital SLR camera. He has since standardised on Nikon. This web site was launched in 2015 and by 2023 has had almost 1.7 million hits.
Peter trained as an instrumentation engineer in the Zambian copper mining industry; later he developed a range of scientific and technical services. By 1984 he was head hunted to the UK when he subsequently worked around the world while undertaking an Honours degree and then MBA. Come 2004 Peter & Sandy relocated to Mumbai India to turn-around an ailing industrial electronics company. With the job done by late 2013 they returned to the UK and now follow the sun spending time in London and Cape Town but do birding wherever it takes them.
Peter’s photos have been published in bird books, company calendars and publicity material for Bombay Natural History Society etc. Other organisations using his photos include: The International Crane Foundation, Arkive of Bristol UK, Suara Enggang of the Malaysian Nature Society & Bird Conservation Council, Mr. Cuturilov Srdjan Ornithologist and Collector in Serbia, the Agricultural Agency USA Government, Wetlands International & BirdLife International, Cape Bird Club newsletters, Dr. Rob Little of Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa book ‘Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa‘. The 24April-25May 2017 BIG ISSUE of South Africa published Peter’s profile and 12 bird photos that were given freely to this charity. His photos feature in the Africa Bird Club Apps for Mauritius and Nigeria more under development. Also Birds of Zambia. The book Oceanic Birds of the World by Kirk Zufelt as well as Princeton guide to the Birds of East Africa – Adam Scott Kennedy, The Ecology & Environment Magazine of Israel. Published in 2020 by Princeton University Press To Read A Bird Understanding Bird Behaviour, by Dr. Wenfei Tong’s. The Natural History Museum of London has selected Peter’s rare photo of a Tailor Bird in Nest for their archive. The SAPPI Bird Book of 2024 (South Africa) used 69 images freely provided by Peter.
We support the following clubs and societies: Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), RSPB Royal Society of Protection of Birds UK, London Wetland Centre, African Bird Club, The Cape Bird Club & Bird Life South Africa and the International Crane Foundation USA.
Peter is also a vintage car enthusiast. In 1970 he started the restoration of a 1929 Morris Minor from the jungle in Zambia that took 22 years. A long story but in 2023 he returned the Morris to Africa, drove 1,509 miles around Zimbabwe and Zambia to the very spot he discovered the rusty wreck. His book “Tracing My African Routes” was published in December 2024 by Helion & Co of UK and available at Amazon etc. It is illustrated with 700 images covering the car’s amazing journey and history. Birding was also done during the safari. See image in Zambia and Zimbabwe birds main page.