Wikipedia:Picture of the day/Archive
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These featured pictures, as scheduled below, appeared as the picture of the day (POTD) on the English Wikipedia's Main Page in the last 30 days.
You can add an automatically updating POTD template to your user page using {{Pic of the day}} (version with blurb) or {{POTD}} (version without blurb). For instructions on how to make custom POTD layouts, see Wikipedia:Picture of the day.
May 30
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Saviour Square is an urban square and roundabout in the centre of Warsaw, Poland, located at the junction of Marszałkowska Street, Mokotowska Street, Nowowiejska Street, and Wyzwolenia Avenue. Developed around 1768 as part of the series of streets and squares created under King Stanisław August Poniatowski, Saviour Square was designed by Johann Christian Schuch. It includes the Church of the Holiest Saviour, postwar buildings of the Marshal Residential District, and surviving historic tenements. During the Warsaw Uprising, the square saw heavy fighting and destruction. In the 2010s, it gained attention for Rainbow, an art installation made of artificial flowers, and became a popular social and cultural gathering place. This photograph, taken in 2022, shows an aerial view of Saviour Square from the west, with a Warsaw tram passing through the central roundabout and the Church of the Holiest Saviour on the right. Photograph credit: Emptywords
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May 29
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A Trip Down Market Street is a 1906 phantom-ride film produced by the Miles Brothers showing a journey along Market Street in San Francisco, California. Filmed on a San Francisco cable car only weeks before the 1906 earthquake and fire, it provides a record of the city shortly before the disaster, capturing its streets, buildings, fashions and daily life. The film begins at 8th Street and continues eastward to the cable car turntable, at the Embarcadero, in front of the Ferry Building. After the earthquake, the Miles Brothers also filmed post-earthquake scenes, including a second journey down a devastated Market Street, footage that re-emerged in 2016. A Trip Down Market Street was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2010. Film credit: Miles Brothers
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May 28
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The hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is a tropical bird found in the Amazon basin and the Orinoco Basin in South America. It is the only extant species in the family Opisthocomidae. A folivore, the hoatzin eats the leaves of the plants that grow in its marshy and riverine habitat. Its digestive system supports fermentation and effective breakdown of plant matter, a trait typically found in ruminants such as cattle. Because of aromatic compounds in the leaves it consumes and the fermentation required to digest them, the hoatzin has a manure-like odor, giving it a local nickname of stinkbird. It is a noisy bird and makes a variety of hoarse calls, including groans, croaks, hisses and grunts. Its chicks feature primitive claws on two of their wing digits, which they use immediately after hatching to move around tree branches. The hoatzin is believed to remain fairly common in a large part of its range, but its population is likely decreasing due to habitat loss. It is the national bird of Guyana. This hoatzin was photographed on a branch above the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon River, in northeastern Ecuador. Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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May 27
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Althea Gibson (1927–2003) was an American tennis player and professional golfer, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis. On May 27, 1956, she became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the women's singles at the 1956 French Championships). The following year, she won both Wimbledon and the US Nationals, then won both championships again in 1958. She was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. Gibson won a total of eleven Grand Slam tournaments: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title. In the early 1960s, she also became the first Black player to compete on the Women's Professional Golf Tour. This photograph of Gibson holding a tennis racket was taken in 1956 by Fred Palumbo for the New York World-Telegram and The Sun. Photograph credit: Fred Palumbo; restored by Adam Cuerden
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May 26
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The Blue Quran is an early Quranic manuscript, distinguished by its use of gold Kufic script on indigo-dyed parchment. The exact origin of the Blue Quran is unknown. Scholars have proposed that the manuscript was created under the Abbasid, Fatimid, or Umayyad caliphates, or the Aghlabid or Kalbid dynasties; this would mean it was produced between the 8th and 10th centuries, likely in either the Islamic West (Maghreb or Al-Andalus) or the central Islamic lands of the Middle East. The Blue Quran's script is characterized by sharp angles and the absence of vowel markings. Each page contains 15 lines, which is untraditional for the period, while its more common features include the perceptible column of letters on the right side of each folio and the splitting of unconnected letters between lines. The manuscript's approximately 600 folios were separated and dispersed during the Ottoman Empire, though most of the folios remained in Kairouan, Tunisia, until the 1950s. This folio of the Blue Quran, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bears the text of verses 28 to 32 of ar-Rum (surah 30). Manuscript credit: unknown; photographed by Marie-Lan Nguyen
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May 25
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The Kelpies are a pair of steel horse-head sculptures located between Falkirk and Grangemouth in Scotland. They stand next to the M9 motorway at the eastern gateway to the Forth and Clyde Canal. Designed by sculptor Andy Scott and completed in 2013, each structure stands 30 metres (98 ft) high and weighs around 300 tonnes. Inspired by the kelpies of Scottish folklore and Clydesdale horses, the sculptures celebrate the role of working horses in Scottish industry, agriculture and canal transport. They form part of a local parkland project known as The Helix. The structures were created based on miniature models created by Scott, which were then laser-scanned. Following their opening in 2014, the sculptures quickly became a major attraction, drawing almost one million visitors within their first year. Sculpture credit: Andy Scott; photographed by Steven Straiton
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May 24
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Nephila pilipes is a species of golden orb-web spider found across Asia, Oceania, and parts of Australia. It is commonly found in humid forests and coastal areas, near surface water and against buildings. The species shows extreme sexual dimorphism, with females among the world's largest orb-weaving spiders, reaching 50 mm (2 in) in body length, while males are typically only 5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.25 in). Nephila pilipes preys mainly on flying insects and can alter web structure depending on prey type. Its asymmetrical golden webs are made from exceptionally strong silk that has been studied in materials science. The spider rarely bites humans, and its bites are generally mild. In parts of Vietnam, it is also eaten as a traditional food source. This photograph shows an N. pilipes female and male (on the female's abdomen) on the Wu Kau Tang, Hong Kong. Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp
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May 23
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Albert Marco was an Italian-born bootlegger and pimp active in Los Angeles during the American Prohibition era. Born around 1887, he immigrated into the United States in the early 20th century and became involved in crime in Nevada and Washington before moving to Southern California. Protected by political connections, Marco made large profits from liquor smuggling and prostitution, and was linked to figures including Charles H. Crawford and Max "Boo Boo" Hoff. In 1928 he was arrested after shooting two men at the Ship Cafe in Venice, Los Angeles. Convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, he was sent to San Quentin State Prison, and was eventually deported to Italy. This photograph, showing Marco at the police station with blood stains, was captured on a glass-plate negative by a Los Angeles Times photographer the morning after the Ship Cafe shooting. Photograph credit: unidentified Los Angeles Times photographer; restored by Adam Cuerden
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May 22
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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant in the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It grows up to 1.5 m tall, with pinnate leaves and clusters of small, sweet-scented pale pink or white flowers that bloom in summer. The plant occurs in meadows, marshes and wet woodlands, and attracts insects such as hoverflies. Outside its native range it can be invasive, and is restricted in parts of North America. Valerian has long been used in traditional medicine, especially as a mild sedative or sleep aid, though scientific evidence for effectiveness is mixed. The European Medicines Agency recognises valerian root extract for relieving mild nervous tension and aiding sleep. The roots also have catnip-like effects on many cats. This Valerian inflorescence was photographed in Niitvälja, Estonia. Photograph credit: Ivar Leidus
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May 21
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The Greenfield tornado was a violent EF4 tornado that struck southwestern Iowa on May 21, 2024, during an ongoing tornado outbreak. Tracking more than 42 miles (68 km), it devastated Greenfield, killing 5 people and injuring 35 others. Winds were officially estimated at 185 mph (298 km/h), though Doppler on Wheels radar recorded brief wind speeds of 309–318 mph (497–512 km/h), among the highest ever measured in a tornado. Numerous buildings and wind turbines were destroyed across Page, Taylor, Adams and Adair counties. The tornado has been noted as an important milestone in the effectiveness of NOAA's experimental Warn-on-Forecast system, which predicted tornadic activity around 75 minutes in advance. This aerial photograph shows damage to houses in northeastern Greenfield. Photograph: Christopher Riske
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May 20
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The tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) is a small North American songbird in the family Paridae, the tits and chickadees. Native to eastern North America, it inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland as well as parks, gardens and suburban areas, and has expanded its range northwards in recent decades. The species has a gray crest, black forehead, pale underside and rust-colored flanks, with a song usually described as a whistled peter-peter-peter. The tufted titmouse's diet includes insects, seeds, berries and nuts, and it is a regular visitor to bird feeders, sometimes storing food for later use. It nests in tree cavities or nest boxes lined with soft materials, sometimes including hair taken from live mammals. Family groups may remain together beyond the breeding season, with older offspring occasionally helping to raise younger siblings. It is currently listed as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This tufted titmouse was photographed in Central Park, New York City. Photograph credit: Rhododendrites
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May 19
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The Pan-Pacific Auditorium was a prominent indoor venue in Los Angeles, California, United States, operating from 1935 until its closure in 1972. Designed by the architectural firm Wurdeman & Becket in the Streamline Moderne style, the auditorium featured a green-and-white façade with four aircraft-inspired towers. Over more than three decades, it hosted a wide range of events including sporting fixtures, political rallies, concerts, radio broadcasts and television productions. Notable visitors and performers included Leopold Stokowski, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon. Although added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the building fell into disrepair and was eventually destroyed by fire in 1989. Its distinctive design inspired entrances at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure. This photograph, taken in the 1970s for the Historic American Buildings Survey, shows the entrance of the Pan-Pacific Auditorium with its distinctive towers. Photograph credit: Marvin Rand; restored by Yann Forget
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May 18
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Sam Poo Kong, also known as Gedung Batu Temple, is a Chinese temple site in Semarang, in the Indonesian province of Central Java. Its foundations were set when the Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He arrived in the area via the Garang River, sometime between 1400 and 1416. After disembarking from his ships, Zheng found a cave in a rocky hillside and used it for prayer, establishing a small temple on the site. The temple later became an important site for both Chinese Indonesians and Javanese worshippers. Destroyed by a landslide in 1704, it was rebuilt and repeatedly renovated, notably in 1724, 1937, 1950, and 2002–2005. The complex contains five temples in a mixed Chinese and Javanese style and includes shrines dedicated to Zheng He and his crew. It is now shared by Indonesians of multiple religions, including Buddhists and Muslims, and hosts an annual carnival procession. This photograph of Sam Poo Kong was taken in 2014 and shows, from left to right, the main temple, the Kyai Juru Mudi Temple, and the Tho Tee Kong Temple. Photograph credit: Chris Woodrich
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May 17
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The Balearic green toad (Bufotes balearicus) is a species in the family Bufonidae, the true toads, native to Italy, Corsica, and the western Mediterranean Sea region. Although named after the Balearic Islands, it was probably introduced there by humans during the Bronze Age. It is mainly a lowland species but can occur up to 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level. Formerly treated as part of the European green toad complex, genetic studies now recognise it as a distinct species, though limited hybridization occurs where its range overlaps with related green toads. The species has characteristic brownish or reddish-spotted paratoid glands. It is classified as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, although Balearic populations are declining. This female Balearic green toad was photographed near Giuncarico in Tuscany, Italy. Photograph credit: Richard Bartz
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May 16
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Henry Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. Known for his work on screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image. Born and raised in Nebraska, Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor and made his Hollywood film debut in 1935. He rose to film stardom with performances in films like Jezebel (1938), Jesse James (1939) and Young Mr. Lincoln (1939). Fonda received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and won the Best Actor award at the 54th Academy Awards for his final film role in On Golden Pond (1981), which co-starred Katharine Hepburn and his daughter Jane Fonda. He was too ill to attend the ceremony and died from heart disease five months later. This publicity photograph shows Fonda in his role in Warlock (1959). Photograph credit: unknown
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May 15
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Malta is an island country in Southern Europe, located in the central Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. The archipelago's main inhabited islands are Malta, Gozo and Comino, with the capital at Valletta. It has a population of 574,250, spread over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi). Malta has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has been ruled by many powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, the Knights Hospitaller and the British Empire. It played an important strategic role during World War II and was awarded the George Cross in 1942. The country gained its independence in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. Malta is a parliamentary republic and a member of the European Union and Commonwealth of Nations. The official languages are Maltese and English and it is predominantly Catholic. The country is known for its strategic location, tourism industry, and its architectural and historical monuments, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This map of Malta was produced by Dutch cartographer Nicolaes Visscher II in around 1690. Map credit: Nicolaes Visscher II
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May 14
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The Usambiro barbet (Trachyphonus usambiro) is a bird in the family Lybiidae, the African barbets, found in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Formerly treated as a subspecies of d'Arnaud's barbet, it was recognised as a distinct species by the International Ornithologists' Union in 2021. First described in 1908 by Oscar Neumann from specimens collected in Usambiro, Tanzania, it differs from d'Arnaud's barbet in having a longer wing, a shorter tail and a darker bill. The species inhabits open savanna, grassland, shrubland and pasture habitats, including Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, at elevations of 1,100 to 2,100 metres (3,600 to 6,900 ft). It likely feeds on seeds, fruit and insects, and is listed as a Least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Usambiro barbet has a yellow head with black spots, black wings with white spots, and a yellow breast marked by a dark breast band. Its belly is pale yellow with a reddish vent, and the sexes are similar in appearance. This Usambiro barbet was photographed on a branch in the Serengeti National Park. Photograph credit: Giles Laurent
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May 13
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Robert Pattinson (born 13 May 1986) is an English actor. He is known for starring in both major studio productions and independent films, in which he often portrays eccentric characters across a diverse range of genres. Pattinson made early screen appearances in supporting roles, including in Vanity Fair (2004) and as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), before achieving global recognition as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga film series. He subsequently began working in independent films from auteur directors, including Cosmopolis (2012), The Lost City of Z (2016), Good Time (2017), High Life (2018) and The Lighthouse (2019). Pattinson then returned to big-budget mainstream cinema, starring in Tenet (2020), The Batman (2022) and Mickey 17 (2025). He is set to appear in the 2026 films The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three. This photograph of Pattinson was taken in 2025 at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Photograph credit: Elena Ternovaja
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May 12
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Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock formed from mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and silt-sized particles of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. It is characterized by fissility, the tendency to split into thin layers less than 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in thickness, and is the most common sedimentary rock. This photograph shows a shale formation with numerous horizontal beds of rock at Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Photograph credit: Chris Woodrich
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May 11
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Crabs are a group of decapod crustaceans, including the "true crabs" of Brachyura and several groups within the infraorder Anomura, such as hermit crabs, king crabs and porcelain crabs. They are typically armoured, flattened animals with their tails tucked beneath their bodies, and many species can move sideways and hide in crevices. Crabs are not a single natural clade; similar body forms have evolved repeatedly through carcinisation, making the group polyphyletic. Crabs range in size from the tiny pea crabs to the Japanese spider crab, with a leg span up to 4 metres (13 ft). They are found throughout the world's oceans, on coasts, in freshwater, and on land, especially in tropical regions. Crabs feed in varied ways, including scavenging, hunting, grazing on algae, filter feeding, and parasitism, and they are important in fisheries, cuisine, mythology, and art. This photograph shows a male hermit crab of the species Patagurus rex that was dredged from the ocean off the coast of French Polynesia and was designated as the species's holotype in 2013. Photograph credit: Arthur Anker
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May 10
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The Detroit International Riverfront is a redeveloped waterfront in the US city of Detroit, supported by public and private investment totaling several hundred million dollars. Key public spaces include the riverwalk, the Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, and a cruise ship terminal at Hart Plaza. The riverfront hosts major events including the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, and the Detroit–Windsor International Freedom Festival. The last dates to 1959 and was originally a joint-venture with the nearby city of Windsor, Ontario. Since 2007, it has been split into separate events, but Detroit's fireworks show retains Canadian elements such as dual national anthems and a flag flown by helicopter. The Detroit International Riverfront was voted the best riverwalk in the United States by readers of USA Today in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This photograph shows the 2025 Freedom Festival firework display, viewed from Windsor. Photograph credit: Chris Woodrich
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May 9
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The cheek-lined wrasse (Oxycheilinus digramma) is a species of fish in the wrasse family, Labridae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, residing in coral reefs, sheltered inland areas, and lagoons, at depths from 3 to 60 metres (10 to 200 ft). Juveniles have been observed to live among the tentacles of the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis. The cheek-lined wrasse feeds on sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans, often hiding behind other fish to approach its prey. The species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade. This cheek-lined wrasse was photographed off the coast of Anilao in the Philippines. Photograph credit: Diego Delso
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May 8
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American women in World War II became involved in many tasks they rarely had before; as the war involved global conflict on an unprecedented scale, the absolute urgency of mobilizing the entire population made the expansion of the role of women inevitable. Their services were recruited through a variety of methods, including posters and other print advertising, as well as popular songs. This photo by Esther Bubley shows a woman being trained by the Capitol Transit Company (in Washington D.C.) to operate a streetcar. Photograph credit: Esther Bubley; restored by Adam Cuerden
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May 7
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Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa (7 May 1836 – 21 January 1874) was a British operatic soprano who established the Carl Rosa Opera Company together with her husband Carl Rosa. Parepa's aristocratic father died soon after her birth, and her mother turned to the stage to support them. Parepa made her operatic debut in 1855, at age 16, and soon earned enthusiastic reviews in the major London opera houses. In 1867, following the death of her first husband, Parepa married the violinist and conductor Carl Rosa in New York, and they founded an opera company with Parepa as the leading lady. They toured successfully in America for several years. After their return to Britain with ambitious plans for their opera company, Parepa fell ill and died in 1874 at only 37 years of age. Photograph credit: Jeremiah Gurney; restored by Adam Cuerden
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May 6
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The olive-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris chloropygius) is a small bird in the family Nectariniidae, the sunbirds, widespread across the African tropical rainforest. The male has a metallic green head, back and throat, a blue rump, scarlet breast patch, yellow pectoral tufts and an olive belly, while the female has an olive-brown head and upperparts, dark brown wings and tail, and olive underparts washed with yellow. The olive-bellied sunbird resembles the tiny sunbird, but is slightly larger and lacks blue bars in the red breast plumage. It feeds on insects such as caterpillars, beetles and spiders, as well as nectar, flowers and seeds, usually foraging low in the canopy. The species is common, faces no major threats, and is listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This male olive-bellied sunbird in flight was photographed in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Photograph credit: Giles Laurent
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May 5
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Impossible colors are colors that do not appear in ordinary visual functioning. Different color theories suggest hypothetical colors that humans are incapable of perceiving for one reason or another, and fictional colors are routinely created in popular culture. While some such colors have no basis in reality, phenomena such as cone-cell fatigue enable colors to be perceived in certain circumstances that would not be otherwise. This image presents three demonstration templates for viewing chimerical colors, a type of impossible color that can only be seen when cone cells in the eyes become fatigued. Such colors are perceived after steadily looking at a strong color (in the left column), then looking at a different color (in the middle column) once the cone cells have become fatigued. These templates demonstrate three categories of chimerical colors: stygian colors, which are those that are simultaneously dark and impossibly saturated; self-luminous colors, which have a glowing effect even on non-luminescent media; and hyperbolic colors, which have a saturation beyond the gamut allowed under trichromatic theory. Template credit: Craig DeForest, after Paul Churchland; edited by Alexander Zhikun He
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May 4
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Frederic Edwin Church (May 4, 1826 – April 7, 1900) was an American landscape painter who was a central figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters. Church was best known for painting large landscapes, often depicting mountains, waterfalls, and sunsets. His paintings put an emphasis on realistic detail, dramatic light, and panoramic views. This portrait of Church was taken around 1868 by the Canadian-born American photographer Napoléon Sarony. The image is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. Photograph credit: Napoléon Sarony; restored by Adam Cuerden
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May 3
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The American bison (Bison bison), commonly called the American buffalo, is a species of bovid and one of two living species of bison, alongside the European bison. With wild bulls recorded at up to 1,270 kilograms (2,800 lb), it is among the heaviest extant land animals in North America. Once numbering an estimated 60 million, the species was driven close to extinction by the late 19th century. Conservation and reintroduction have restored populations to some extent, and it is now found mainly in scattered conservation herds and protected areas across Canada, Mexico and the United States. The American bison is the national mammal of the United States and has for centuries been central to the lives and cultures of many Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains, being hunted as a source of food, clothing and shelter. This plains bison (subspecies B. b. bison) was photographed on rangeland in the Western United States by Jack Dykinga for the Agricultural Research Service. Photograph credit: Jack Dykinga
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May 2
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The Aqueduct of Segovia is a Roman aqueduct located in Segovia, Spain. It is thought to have been constructed during the 1st century, and is one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments on the Iberian Peninsula. The aqueduct is regarded as a symbol of Segovia and is present on the city's coat of arms. This photograph, taken in 2009, shows the elevated section of the Aqueduct of Segovia passing through the Plaza del Azoguejo in the city centre. Photograph: Bernard Gagnon
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May 1
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The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is a species of swan in the family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia and is an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name "mute" derives from it being less vocal than other swan species. Typically measuring 140 to 170 cm (55 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognisable by its pronounced knob atop the bill, which is larger in males. Photograph: Geni
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