Passport Photo for Birds

Include the Crest, Beak and Head Outline

Photograph your bird on a familiar, secure perch, with the camera near eye level. Leave extra room above a cockatiel’s crest and around a parrot’s beak. The whole head should remain inside the original even if the bird tilts it slightly. Keep the cage bars out of the view where possible.

Preserve Feather Detail and Colour

Use soft light that shows the feathers without glare on the beak. Take the picture during a pause rather than while the bird is preening. Check the original at a larger size: yellow, white and dark feathers should still have texture instead of blending into flat blocks of colour.

Our guide to taking photos with a smartphone explains the camera basics. Use the advice on lighting a passport-style photo to keep the face clear, and read about preparing a plain photo background when checking the outline. These general photography tips help you prepare a clear source image; human biometric posing rules do not apply to your pet.

Check Your Bird Portrait

We use your photo as a reference to generate a front-facing portrait and prepare its background. Compare the crest, beak shape, eye markings and feather colours with the original. Pay particular attention to the thin tips of the crest and the outline of the neck.

Select the country in the upload button to choose the photo dimensions. Check the preview at that size before ordering. This is a personal passport-style photo, not a travel document or biometric approval. If you plan to put it in a record or document, check the size and instructions provided by its issuer.

Digital Photos and Prints from …

Your digital photo costs … and includes a printable photo sheet. We use the same products and prices as our normal passport photos. Our comparison of digital and printed photos explains the two formats; see digital delivery and downloads for receiving your files. Compare the digital and printed photo packages for the available options; the displayed amount follows your selected currency.

For another animal, read our rabbits photo guide or turtles photo tips. You can find every animal in the pet passport photo overview.