BIF shutter speeds are often discussed amongst bird photographers. While there certainly are variations in approach, there are also some general guidelines that many photographers follow.

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A number of factors are involved when choosing BIF shutter speeds. These include the size of the subject bird-in-flight and the related motion speed of their wings, the distance from the bird, and the creative intent of the photographer.

Generally speaking, slower BIF shutter speeds can be used when photographing larger birds like eagles, pelicans, geese, swans, Great Blue Herons, and other similarly sized birds. Somewhat slower shutter speeds can also be used when birds are more distant.

For larger birds-in-flight many photographers use shutter speeds that vary from 1/1000 to about 1/1600. As long as the bird’s flight incorporates fairly slow wing movements these BIF shutter speeds tend to work well.

A shutter speed of 1/1600 can be acceptable for mid-sized birds like gulls, ducks and ospreys, depending on the flight behaviour being exhibited.

There may be occasions when a photographer is anticipating some fast-breaking action like the swan aggression captured in the above image. In these situations a slightly faster shutter speed of 1/2000 or 1/2500 is sometimes used with larger subject birds.

Slower BIF shutter speeds can be used when panning with a bird that is gliding, like the pelican in the above image. The basic approach is to use a shutter speed that is fast enough to freeze the motion of the subject bird-in-flight.

Smaller, fast-moving birds typically require the use of faster BIF shutter speeds to help freeze motion. The hummingbird in the above image was captured at 1/5000.

A shutter speed of 1/8000 was used for the hummingbird image above.

The hummingbird photograph above was shot using a shutter speed of 1/3200.

And, the hummingbird image above was captured at a shutter speed of only 1/1600. How can the same type of small subject bird with incredibly fast wing movements be successfully photographed with shutter speeds ranging from 1/1600 all the way up to 1/8000?

The wing position of the subject bird can make a difference. When a bird’s wings are fully extended either up or down during its wing beat, they are in their most static in-flight position.

At these times somewhat slower shutter speeds can be successfully used. Obviously faster shutter speeds provide the best opportunity for success when photographing any bird-in-flight.

When shooting in good light I don’t hesitate to use a faster shutter speed, especially if I’m anticipating some aggressive interactions between smaller birds.

A photographer’s creative intent also comes into play when choosing BIF shutter speeds. Some photographers don’t want any wing blur at all with their images… so they choose faster shutter speeds. Other folks, like me, don’t mind if the wing tips show some motion blur… so somewhat slower shutter speeds are sometimes utilized.

I don’t think there is any right or wrong when it comes to wing blur… it really comes down to personal preference and a photographer’s creative objective.

When choosing between ISO and shutter speed for birds-in-flight the best decision is usually shutter speed. Many photographic software products have very good noise reduction functions that help to extend shooting parameters.

Depending on a photographer’s image use, even higher ISO photographs captured with smaller sensor cameras can still be useable. There’s no point using a slower shutter speed that results in a blurry image… just to maintain a lower ISO value.

When photographing birds-in-flight from close distances, it is important to remember that the motion of the bird will appear amplified, requiring a faster shutter speed. For example, my standard Pro Capture H shutter speed is 1/2500. Since I was only 5.7 metres (~18.7 feet) away from the swallow taking flight in the image above, I used a faster shutter speed of 1/5000 to help freeze its motion. And even with that faster shutter speed you can see that the tips of its wings have some blur.

When photographing a purple martin from about 10 metres away, my standard shutter speed of 1/2500 was sufficient for the task.

It is also important to consider frame rate as well as BIF shutter speeds. When we use a fast frame rate we increase our chances of capturing interesting wing and body positions of birds-in-flight.

Getting a sharp, in-focus image is the primary concern of bird photographers. This is why some folks also debate the use of IBIS or lens VR/IS reduction, when photographing birds-in-flight. There can be differences in thought about using mechanical versus electronic shutter. These factors can vary by the specific camera gear that someone owns… so I can’t comment on these potential issues.

For my part, I use computational photography technology (i.e. Pro Capture L or H) for all of my bird-in-flight photography. I utilize electronic shutter in silent shutter mode. The Image Stabilization on my E-M1X set to S-IS Auto with Fps Priority. I always have the Sync-IS on my M.Zuiko 150-600 mm f/5-6.3 IS turned on, but never use that function with my M.Zuiko 100-400 mm f/5-6.3 IS. With Pro Capture H I use a frame rate of 60 Fps. With Pro Capture L I use a frame rate of 18 Fps.

At the end of the day, each photographer needs to develop their own approach to photographing birds-in-flight. Deciding on which shutter speed to use in specific situations is an important part of folks developing their own technique.

In summary, the smaller and closer a bird is, the faster the shutter speed that needs to be used. A general rule of thumb is to use shutter speeds between 1/1000 to 1/1600 for larger birds. Shutter speeds of 1/1600 to 1/3200 for medium sized birds. And shutter speeds of 1/3200 or higher for small birds.

These are general guidelines only. A photographer’s creative intent, the type of mid-air action being captured, the distance to the subject bird, and the wing positions of the bird being photographed, also need to be considered as they can alter BIF shutter speed choice.

When it comes to deciding which BIF shutter speeds to use, nothing can replace experimenting with your own gear out in the field, while shooting in a wide range of BIF situations.

Technical Note

Photographs were captured handheld using camera equipment  noted in the EXIF data. All images were created from RAW files using my standard process in post. This is the 1,465 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.

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