These are the best Sony lenses for bird photography when you want fast, sticky autofocus, long reach, crisp feather detail, and smooth background separation for perched portraits and high-speed birds-in-flight—and here’s what to look for as you buy: prioritize long focal lengths with responsive linear/XD motors, strong wide-open sharpness, dependable OSS (use Mode 3 for erratic movement), light-but-stable handling for panning, short minimum focus distance for small songbirds, teleconverter compatibility (1.4× for versatility, 2.0× for max reach), weather sealing for mist and dust, and tripod collar balance for gimbals; pair with bodies that give blackout-free bursts and advanced subject detection, but the lens’ AF drive and optics make the hit rate. Full-frame prime heroes: FE 600mm ƒ4 GM OSS (gold standard for BIF and distant raptors—blazing AF, buttery bokeh), FE 400mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS (stops action in low light and takes TCs beautifully), and FE 300mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS (lighter pro prime that pairs well with 1.4×/2.0× for flexible reach); if you work closer hides, add FE 135mm ƒ1.8 GM for environmental portraits with luxurious blur. Zoom workhorses: FE 200–600mm ƒ5.6–6.3 G OSS (the birder’s staple—internal zoom, great sharpness, excellent OSS), FE 100–400mm ƒ4.5–5.6 GM OSS (fast AF and close-focus for small birds, takes 1.4×), and FE 70–200mm ƒ2.8 GM OSS II (for larger birds, zoos, airshows; add 1.4× or 2.0× TCs); value third-party E-mount standouts: Sigma 150–600mm ƒ5–6.3 DG DN Sports (reach + robust build) and Tamron 150–500mm ƒ5–6.7 Di III VC VXD (lighter, quick AF), plus Tamron 50–400mm ƒ4.5–6.3 for versatile travel birding. Travel-friendly do-it-all: FE 70–200mm ƒ4 Macro G II (sharp, light, 1.4×/2.0× compatible) and FE 24–105mm ƒ4 G for habitat/context frames. APS-C shooters get superb reach by mounting the above FE teles (1.5× field-of-view bonus) and have a native gem in E 70–350mm ƒ4.5–6.3 G OSS (compact, stabilized, surprisingly sharp); budget APS-C plus converters aren’t common, so favor FE zooms on crop bodies for best AF and optics. Practical buyer tips: build a two-lens spine (200–600/5.6–6.3 + 70–200/2.8 or 100–400 + 300/2.8) and add a 1.4× TC; choose internal-zoom designs for balance on gimbals and boats; standardize Arca plates and carry a quality CPL only for habitat shots (avoid CPL for BIF—costs light); test handholding comfort—lighter lenses often mean more keepers over long sessions; if you shoot dawn/dusk, favor faster glass (ƒ2.8/ƒ4 primes) or bodies with clean high-ISO. Bird-shooting tips: for BIF, start around 1/2000–1/3200s, ƒ5.6–ƒ7.1, Auto-ISO with a ceiling you trust, AF-C with tracking (Bird/Eye) and expanded zone; for perched birds, 1/500–1/1000s is safe (stabilize stance, use OSS), open up for creamy backgrounds but stop 1/3–2/3 stop if feather detail needs bite; pre-focus where flight paths intersect, pan from the hips, and burst through wingbeats; use a gimbal or monopod for heavy primes, keep hoods on to cut veiling flare, and carry lens coats for rain/mud; in forests, raise ISO and bias exposure to protect dark plumage; for shorebirds, shoot low for mirror-water and watch heat shimmer—shorter distances beat longer lenses; keep firmware current for AF tracking improvements. Whether you’re freezing a peregrine’s stoop, isolating an owl in dappled woodland, or sketching flocks against a pastel dawn, the best Sony lenses for bird photography combine long reach, fast linear AF, solid stabilization, and clean optics—so your feathers stay razor-sharp, your backgrounds melt, and your keepers soar.