You’ll also need a sturdy tripod and a ball head or gimbal head for bird photography. Gimbal heads are better for birding but more expensive; a smooth-operating ball head is adequate.

The Benro GH2N gimbal head combines a weight-saving design with a hefty payload rating for tracking the action with long lenses ...

The Leofoto PG-1 Gimbal Head that I’m reviewing here is a classic example of the breed. It’s made by a Chinese company that specialize in high-end and fully professional photographic tripods ...