With the best lenses for bird photography, you can get closer to birds and capture incredibly sharp, beautiful images. If you're looking to capture images of wild birds in flight, you need a lens that can keep up as well as a capable camera – indeed, your lens choice is arguably even more important than your camera choice. So, we're here to help.
In this list, we've included some of the best telephoto lenses available right now. Including a mixture of zooms and primes, these are the lenses that bring distant subjects closer, filling the frame with birds and animals and making the most of your camera's sensor to capture them in all their gorgeous detail.
Our list covers all the major mounts and systems, with options for mirrorless and DSLR shooters, so whatever your system, we should have you covered. And if you can't get enough birdwatching, check out our best bird feeder camera guide as well!
For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. As an enthusiast photographer, he has been shooting since the film days using a Nikon F5. Here, he brings his seasoned expertise to picking out the best lenses for bird photography, with the help of our chief lens tester Matthew Richards.
The quick list
Best multi-mount
Available for Sony FE and L-mount, this capable telezoom is one of our favourite-ever lenses for bird photography. Autofocus is fast and sharpness is excellent.
Best DSLR lens
For Canon or Nikon DSLRs, this Tamron lens offers compelling value for money – and is especially tempting now its Sigma-made rivals are discontinued.
Best Canon mirrorless
Making 800mm photography more affordable and accessible than ever before, this clever Canon prime for RF-mount gives you exceptional reach.
Best Canon EF
We like Canon's own EF 100-400mm zoom for birding on DSLRs – it offers superb image quality and effective stabilisation, with weather sealing on the outside.
Best Nikon F
Providing impressive zoom reach, this lens for Nikon DSLRs earns points for its constant maximum aperture and 4.5-stop stabilisation system.
Best Nikon Z
This powerful telephoto prime incorporates a Phase Fresnel optical element – the kind used to focus the beams of a lighthouse! It also boasts effective VR.
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Best Sony
Especially effective for tracking the unpredictable movements of birds in flight, Sony's FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens is a high-end winner for mirrorless.
Best Fujifilm lens
Paired with a high-speed X-mount mirrorless camera like the X-H2S, the Fujifilm XF100-400mm lens will deliver outstanding results for bird photography.
Best L-mount lens
If you're using Panasonic Lumix S or other L-mount mirrorless cameras, this excellent 'trinity' lens is a good choice for birding. It's heavy, but produces good results.
Best Micro Four Thirds
The 2x crop factor makes this lens an effective 600mm beast, bringing even the sharpest birds in nice and close. Having f/4 is great for shallow depth of field.
Best lenses for bird photography in 2024
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Multi mount
We've tested the best lenses for bird photography to bring you options for a range of prices, from budget telephoto lenses to professional lenses.
Our guide is split up mainly by camera manufacturer or lens mount - but we start off with the highly-popular third-party lens options which are available in a number of different mounts…
Sigma 150-600mm Sports
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Optical Stabilization: Features 4-stop optical stabilization, aiding sharpness at the telephoto end.
✅ Compatibility: Available for Sony E-mount and L-mount cameras (Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma).
❌ Autofocus Setup: Autofocus requires some initial setup.
❌ Autofocus Speed: Not as fast as rival lenses from Sony and Tamron.
It took a while, but Sigma's popular 150-600mm Sports lens finally got a mirrorless makeover. The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports isn't just a quick reskin of the DSLR version (below); it's actually been retooled from the ground up with mirrorless cameras in mind, and it's an impressive 760g lighter. It's heavily weatherproofed, with oil-repellent coatings on the elements, and it's got 4-stop optical stabilization to help keep things sharp at the telephoto end.
The autofocus takes a little setting up, and isn't quite as fast as that of rival lenses from Sony and Tamron, but this is still an impressive lens for birding. Sharpness is really impressive throughout the zoom range, so you can push it to 600mm with confidence that you're still going to get some great images. As well as being made for Sony E-mount cameras, it is also available for full-frame mirrorless cameras from Panasonic, Leica and Sigma that use the L-mount.
See our full Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports review
Tamron 150-600mm G2
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Autofocus: Faster and more accurate ring-type autofocus system.
✅ Fluorine Coating: Fluorine coating on the front element helps repel dirt and moisture.
❌ Short-End Sharpness: Less impressive sharpness towards the short end of the zoom range.
❌ Optional Firmware Tool: Requires Tamron’s optional TAP-in Console for firmware updates, adding to the overall cost.
The Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 is about the same size and weight as Sigma’s competing Contemporary lens, but adds a more comprehensive set of weather seals, similar to those of Sigma’s more exotic Sports edition while splitting the difference in terms of price. Upgrades over the original Tamron lens include a revamped 4.5-stop optical stabilizer with three switchable options for static, panning and exposure-only modes, the last of which leaves the viewfinder image unadulterated, and makes it easier to track erratic movement.
The uprated ring-type autofocus system is faster and more accurate, and a fluorine coating is added to the front element. Sharpness is very good at or near 600mm but less impressive towards the short end of the zoom range. For full compatibility with Canon EOS R and Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras, V2 or later firmware can be applied via Tamron’s optional USB-linked TAP-in Console.
See our full Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 review
Sigma 100-400mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Advanced Controls: Includes switchable dual-mode autofocus options (with priority to autofocus or manual override), static/panning stabilization modes, and dual custom setups.
✅ Versatility: Can be used with the camera body mounted on a tripod or monopod for added stability.
❌ No Tripod Mounting Ring: Lacks an optional tripod mounting ring, which would improve balance, especially in portrait orientation.
The Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary is half the weight of the larger 150-600mm Contemporary lens and just a third of the weight of the Sports edition. It’s more comfortable for long periods of handheld shooting and you can also use it with the camera body mounted on a tripod or monopod. The flip side is that no optional tripod mounting ring is available, which would have enabled a better balance, especially in portrait orientation shooting.
Sophisticated controls include switchable dual-mode autofocus options with priority given to autofocus or manual override, static/panning stabilization modes and dual custom setups. In addition to using the twist-action control ring, you can alter the zoom setting in a push-pull fashion. A specially shaped lens hood with a thumb and finger groove helps with this.
Read the full Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C review
Canon
Here, we've picked out our favourite birding lenses for Canon systems, including RF-mount mirrorless cameras and good old EF-mount DSLRs. EF lenses can be mounted to RF mirrorless cameras, provided you have the EF-EOS R adapter.
RF 800mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Phenomenal Reach: Provides excellent reach with an 800mm focal length, ideal for wildlife and sports photography.
✅ Compact and Lightweight: Smaller and lighter than competing DSLR lenses, weighing only 1,260g, making it suitable for long periods of handheld shooting.
❌ Fixed Aperture: The f/11 fixed aperture may be considered too narrow by some, limiting low-light performance and depth of field control.
❌ Lack of Aperture Adjustment: The inability to alter the aperture might be disappointing for photographers who prefer more control over exposure settings.
This Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM super-telephoto lens for Canon EOS R-series full-frame mirrorless cameras gives phenomenal reach but is much smaller and more lightweight than competing lenses for DSLRs.
This lens has a fixed aperture of f/11, and many birders might consider that rather too narrow, while others might be unimpressed that you can’t alter the aperture. However, the modest f/11 rating enables a relatively compact and lightweight build with smaller-diameter lens elements
At 1,260g, it’s perfectly viable for long periods of handheld shooting, aided by a highly effective optical image stabilizer. It also has a retractable mechanism to cut down on stowage size, making it ideal for use anywhere and everywhere from local sporting events to wildlife shoots in far-flung corners of the world.
See our full Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM review
EF 100-400mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Improved Zoom Mechanism: Replaces the original trombone-style push-pull zoom with a more conventional twist-action zoom ring.
✅ Refined Optics: Features a refined optical path with fluorite and Super UD elements, along with advanced Air Sphere coating for improved image quality
❌ High Cost: Considered expensive for a 100-400mm lens, which may deter some buyers.
❌ Limited Telephoto Reach: Lacks the extended telephoto reach offered by more recent 150-600mm lenses from independent brands.
Canon’s original EF 100-400mm zoom was something of a classic, but wasn’t to everybody’s taste, especially in regard to its trombone-style push-pull zoom mechanism. The second edition of the lens has a more typical twist-action zoom ring and a host of upgrades. These include a refined optical path with fluorite and Super UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) elements and high-tech Air Sphere coating.
There’s a more effective, triple-mode image stabilizer and the Mark II also gains weather-seals and fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. It’s a very good lens but rather expensive for a 100-400mm, and lacks the outright telephoto reach of more recent 150-600mm independent designs.
See our full Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM review
RF 100-500mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Effective Stabilization: When paired with the EOS R5 or R6, the lens delivers up to 6 stops of image stabilization (5 stops on the EOS R or RP), enhancing low-light and handheld performance.
✅ High-Quality Build: Features Canon's renowned L-series build quality, ensuring durability and reliability.
❌ Modest Maximum Aperture: The maximum aperture of f/7.1 at the long end may be considered too narrow, especially in low-light situations.
❌ Slower Autofocus on Older Models: Autofocus could be quicker on older EOS R and RP models compared to the newer R5 and R6.
As we've touched on, Canon's EF 100-400mm zoom has been an incredibly popular lens for Canon DSLR shooters, so it's no surprize to see something arrive for the brand's EOS R range of full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Canon felt that it would be hard to improve on the image quality of the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM so opted to extend the focal range even further with the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM. Extending the focal length gives it even more reach, though the trade-off is a pretty modest maximum aperture of f/7.1 at the long end.
That said, pair it with the EOS R5 or R6 and the combined image stabilisation delivers up to 6 stops compensation (5 stops on the EOS R or RP). Focusing is very swift on Canon's two new mirrorless cameras, but could be quicker on the R and RP. Combined with Canon's legendary L-series build quality and stunning optical performance, it's up there with the very best Canon zoom lenses we've tested.
See our Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM review
RF 600mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Great for Bird Photography: The combination of reach, portability, and image quality makes it an excellent choice for bird photographers.
✅ Lightweight: Weighs only 930g, making it ideal for handheld shooting and long periods of use without fatigue.
❌ Different Experience: Offers a different experience compared to typical prime telephoto lenses, which may not appeal to all photographers.
❌ Fixed f/11 Aperture: The narrow fixed f/11 aperture might limit its versatility in low-light conditions and restrict depth of field control.
The Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM (and the Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM) is designed for EOS R-series mirrorless cameras and offers a very different experience to a typical prime telephoto lens. Sporting a clever retractable design, this lens collapses down to 200mm.
Using DO (Diffractive Optics) and a relatively narrow f/11 fixed aperture rating, it's also pretty light at 930g. A fixed f/11 aperture isn't quite as limiting as it might first appear as thanks to the Dual Pixel AF sensor-based autofocus systems of EOS R-series cameras. Image quality is impressive, while the size of the lens makes it excellent for handheld shooting and, overall, it’s a great choice for bird photography.
See our full Canon RF 600mm f/11 IS STM review
Nikon
When picking the best Nikon lenses, we've picked out our favourite Z-mount mirrorless lenses, as well as older F-mount DSLR lenses. Once again, remember that F-mount lenses can easily be adapted to fit Nikon mirrorless cameras.
AF-S 200-500mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Constant Aperture: Features a constant f/5.6 aperture throughout the zoom range, providing consistent exposure and depth of field control.
✅ Great Value: Offers excellent value for an own-brand Nikon lens, especially with its constant aperture and advanced features.
❌ Limited Compatibility with Older Nikon Bodies: On older Nikon DSLRs, you can only shoot at the widest aperture, limiting versatility.
❌Slightly Shorter Reach: Comes up slightly short in maximum reach compared to Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms, though the difference is minor in practical use.
Compared with Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Nikon DSLR cameras, this own-brand competitor comes up slightly short in maximum reach. Even so, the difference isn’t particularly noticeable in practical terms and the Nikon lens has the advantage of a constant-aperture design, so f/5.6 remains available throughout the zoom range, rather than dropping to f/6.3 at the long end.
Fancy features include a dual-mode, 4.5-stop VR (Vibration System) system and an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm for adjusting the aperture. As in the Sigma and Tamron lenses, this enables more consistency in rapid-fire exposures but, with older Nikon bodies, you’ll only be able to shoot at the widest aperture. Autofocus is fast and image quality is impressive in all respects, making this lens great value for an own-brand Nikon.
Read our full Nikon AF-S 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR review
AF-S 600mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Professional Grade: Aimed at professionals, offering top-tier build quality and performance for those who require the best.
✅ Exceptional Optical Quality: Delivers first-rate image quality, as expected from a high-end Nikon prime lens, making it ideal for professional sports and wildlife photography.
❌ High Price: With a price tag approaching five figures, it's a significant investment, making it accessible primarily to professionals who can justify the cost.
❌ Heavy Weight: Despite the weight reduction, it still weighs 3,810g, which can be cumbersome, requiring a sturdy monopod for extended use.
The Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR is one of the company's longest focal length lenses available, and with a price taag that's nudging five figures, it's squarely aimed at the professional sports and wildlife photographer. This latest generation optic is significantly lighter than its predecessor thanks to the Flourite lens elements used. This has seen a weight saving of some 25%, though it still tips the scales at an arm-wobbling 3,810g.
This is a lens you'll want to partner with a sturdy monopod for long periods of shooting. Optical quality is first-rate as you'd expect for a high-end Nikon prime, while the autofocus performance doesn't disappoint either. A stunning lens if you can justify the price - see our full Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR review.
Z 800mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Reliable for Wildlife Photography: Designed to capture definitive moments in wildlife photography with great reliability.
✅ More Affordable: While not cheap, it is less than half the price of the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S, making it a more accessible option for serious photographers.
❌ Modest Aperture: The f/6.3 aperture, while helping to reduce weight, is relatively modest, which might limit low-light performance and depth of field control.
❌ High Price: Despite being more affordable than some alternatives, it still represents a significant investment.
This lens gives you telephoto superpowers in a relatively lightweight package. The downsized build has been achieved by a modest f/6.3 aperture rating and a Phase Fresnel optical element, a technology that’s commonly used to focus the beam in a lighthouse. The addition of highly effective optical VR that works in tandem with IBIS in Z system full-frame cameras should ensure exceptionally sharp avian images.
A useful range of handling extras ensure top-quality results time after time, with excellent consistency even in handheld shooting. When you need to nail the definitive moment in wildlife photography, this is a lens you can surely count on. It's not cheap, but less than half the price of the Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S.
See our full Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S review
Sony
Sony's E-mount mirrorless system offers a number of fast-focusing, fast-shooting cameras – perfect for birding! Here are, for our money, the best lenses to use with them.
FE 200-600mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Super-Fast Autofocus: Features DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) autofocus, which is exceptionally fast and precise, with customizable focus-hold buttons around the barrel.
✅ Excellent Image Quality: Delivers sharpness, contrast, and consistency throughout the entire zoom range.
❌ Imposing Size and Weight: While typical for its class, the lens can feel a bit imposing on lighter Sony Alpha mirrorless bodies, which might affect handling.
This recent addition to Sony’s E-mount line-up has the same 600mm maximum focal length as Sigma and Tamron 150-600mm zooms for Canon and Nikon SLRs. The Sony’s size and weight are fairly typical but feel a little more imposing on comparatively lightweight Sony Alpha mirrorless bodies.
The maximum ‘effective’ focal length stretches from 600mm to around 900mm when shooting on an APS-C camera. Triple-mode image stabilization is switchable for static and panning shots, with an additional option for applying stabilization only during exposures. This makes it easier to track the erratic movement of birds in flight. DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic Motor) autofocus is super-fast and comes complete with customizable focus-hold buttons mounted around the barrel.
The optical image stabilizer is effective on its own and even better when coupled with in-body stabilization, featured in later Sony Alpha A7 and A9 mirrorless cameras. Sharpness, contrast and other image attributes are excellent and very consistent throughout the entire zoom range.
See our full Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS review
Tamron 100-500mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Effective Focal Length: Offers a maximum focal length of 500mm, which extends to 750mm on APS-C bodies, providing substantial reach for wildlife and sports photography.
✅ Three-Mode Stabilization: Includes a three-mode stabilization system, with Mode 3 specifically designed to stabilize only during exposures, which is useful for tracking moving subjects.
❌ Narrower Aperture: The f/5-6.7 aperture range is relatively narrow, which can limit performance in low-light conditions and affect depth of field.
❌Unbalanced on APS-C Bodies: While it works with APS-C cameras, the lens can produce an unbalanced setup due to its length and weight, potentially affecting handling.
The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is a lens designed exclusively for Sony E-mount; it's made for full-frame bodies, but will work with APS-C, delivering an effective focal length of 225-750mm (though it will produce a pretty unbalanced setup). Going up to 500mm, while not the longest lens on this list or even in the Sony section, is pretty handy, and it's helped by the Tamron lens's real ace in the hole: it's super-fast autofocus system. The linear stepping motor is blisteringly speedy and practically silent – in other words, exactly what you want for birding.
The narrower aperture range of f/5-6.7 is going to restrict you a little in terms of how much light you need, which is simply something to be aware of and factor in. Still, weighing just 1,725g without the tripod collar, the Tamron 150-500mm is perfectly useable hand-held. Its three-mode stabilisation system helps out here too – birders will probably get the most use out of Mode 3, which only applies the stabilisation effect during actual exposures, making it easier to track erratically moving subjects.
See our full Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD review
Sony FE 100-400mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Compact for Its Class: Despite its focal length, it's surprisingly not much larger than the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, and it’s slightly less heavy, offering good portability.
✅ Up-Market Build: Features a high-quality build and handling characteristics similar to the 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master, with an added variable torque adjustment for the zoom ring.
❌ Less Reach: Offers less reach compared to some other lenses in the same category, which might be a limitation for users needing more extended focal lengths.
❌High Cost: While priced similarly to the 70-200mm f/2.8, it still represents a significant investment.
The Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS is not a small lens, but surprisingly, it’s barely any bigger than the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8, slightly less heavy and no more expensive. It has less reach than some lenses in this guide, but on A6000 series cameras, it would give an effective maximum focal length of 600mm. Up-market build and handling characteristics are very similar to those of the 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master lens, but this one adds a variable torque adjustment for the zoom ring. Again, the Optical SteadyShot is very effective and the autofocus system is super-fast, this time based on a combination of double linear motor and DDSSM (Direct Drive SSM) systems.
See our full Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master OSS review
Fujifilm
Fujifilm has added some compelling telephoto zooms to its X-mount line-up, making the mirrorless X series a more viable choice than it used to be when it comes to bird photography. Here are our top picks.
XF100-400mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Effective Stabilization: Equipped with a high-performance 5-stop optical image stabilizer to reduce camera shake and improve sharpness.
✅ Designed for APS-C: Built specifically for APS-C format cameras, optimizing performance for this sensor size.
❌ Sharpness at Long End: Outright sharpness tends to drop off a bit at the long end of the zoom range, which might impact image quality for some users.
❌Weight: Despite being an APS-C lens, it is relatively weighty for a 100-400mm zoom, which may affect portability and handling.
Impeccably turned out, the XF100-400mm looks and feels a high-quality item... Looks aren’t deceiving either, as the internals include a super-fast autofocus system based on dual linear stepping motors, and a high-performance 5-stop optical stabilizer. The optical path is top drawer too, featuring no less than five ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements plus a Super ED element.
A full set of weather seals is incorporated, and a fluorine coating on the front element helps to repel moisture and fingerprints. Built from the ground up as an APS-C format lens, it only needs to produce a relatively small image circle, compared with a full-frame compatible lens, but is still pretty weighty for a 100-400mm zoom. Overall performance and image quality are excellent, although outright sharpness drops off a bit at the long end of the zoom range.
For more details read our Fujifilm XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR review
XF150-600mm
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Teleconverter Compatibility: Supports Fujifilm’s 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, further exten