Which Nikon DSLR for bird and wildlife photography?

UPDATE: There is a new version of this article which has been expanded and covers all the currently available Nikon cameras.

See here for the new version:
Choosing a Nikon DSLR for nature photography

Which Nikon DSLR should you buy for bird and wildlife photography?
Nikon currently offers a large range of different digital SLR cameras, ranging from the entry level D40 to the professional Nikon D3 which costs several thousand dollars.
In this article I cover the various Nikon models and explain which one I think is best for bird and wildlife photography.

Here is an overview of the Nikon DSLR lineup:

Nikon D40, D40X and D60

Those are the entry level DSLRs. The D40X and D60 have 10 megapixels, the D40 only 6.1 megapixels. Although those cameras provide good value for the money spent, I don’t recommend them for the serious wildlife and bird photographer. They are not very robust, have a slow autofocus (compared to other models like the D300 and D700) and can only shoot 2.5 or 3 frames per second (fps), which is not enough for action shots like when photographing birds in flight. If at all, I would recommend using those cameras as a backup body for a larger model.
That said, it is of course possible to make great pictures with those cameras.

Nikon D90

This is the successor to the popular D80. The Nikon D90 has a 12 megapixel sensor and offers the same image quality as the Nikon D300. The ability to shoot 4.5 fps makes it interesting for action shooters, although it lacks the really high frame rate of the more expensive models and the powerful autofocus of those cameras.
If you are just starting and don’t want to spend too much money, I think the D90 is a great camera for the price it costs.

Nikon D300

If someone stole my current Canon equipment, I would probably switch to Nikon (at the time of this writing) and buy a Nikon D300. I think it is the best semi-professional camera currently on the market. The high frame rate of up to 8 fps (with the battery grip) and the fast autofocus with 51 AF points make the D300 a wonderful tool for shooting birds in flight and other action scenes. The 1.5 crop factor of the 12 megapixel sensor gives you more pixels per animal than the 12 megapixel full frame sensor of the D700 and D3.
The wonderful Nikon 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED VR AF-S becomes an actual 4/300-600 on the D300 which is great for wildlife and birds. Add the Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S and you have a perfect (and expensive!) combination for almost all situations you will encounter when photographing wildlife.

Nikon D700

The D700 is an awesome camera if you want a full frame DSLR. It has the same image quality as the D3, can shoot 8 fps and has a powerful AF. For bird and wildlife photography, I would prefer the D300 as it gives you more pixels per subject, but if you have a long lens like the Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S and live in an area where birds and other animals are used to people, the D700 offers a better image quality than the D300 (mostly noticeable at high ISO settings).
The D700 is almost as good as the D3 but considerably cheaper. Compared to the D3 it can shoot “only” 8 fps (with battery grip) compared to the 9 fps of the D3 (11 frames in DX mode). The D700 only has a 95% viewfinder and not 100% like the D3. And the D3 can take two CF cards. If this is worth an extra 1.500 US $ is something you must decide and it depends on what and how you shoot.
One advantage of the D700 over the D3 is the self cleaning system for the sensor, which the D3 lacks.

Nikon D3

The D3 is the ultimate Nikon DSLR. It has everything you ever want – except for sensor cleaning. It has probably the best autofocus of all DSLRs (including those from other manufacturers) currently available and the highest frame rate of all Nikon DSLRs.
The D3 has a 100% viewfinder, the sensor (the same as the D700) delivers amazing image quality, even at high ISO settings of 3.200 and even 6.400 (the D3 can even go as high as 25.600 but the image quality suffers at those numbers).
The body is the most robust and feels like a truly professional tool. If you shoot a lot under very harsh conditions like the Arctic, rain forests and deserts, the D3 may be your best choice.
Before buying the D3, I recommend giving the D700 a serious look. It might offer all you need.
And for the price of the D3, you can get a D700 and a D300.

Conclusion:

If possible avoid the D40 and D60. They are not bad but have many limitations for the serious bird and wildlife photographer.
I think the best value for money currently is the Nikon D300. The 8 fps, the fast AF and the 1.5 crop factor are all great for wildlife and bird photographers. If the D300 is too expensive, go for the D90.
If you shoot a lot in situations that require high ISO settings, then I think the D700 is the best choice. It’s lighter and cheaper than the D3 and has built in sensor cleaning. If you can afford to two bodies, I suggest to get both the D300 and D700.
The D3 is for all who want the most robust body with the highest frame rate and a 100% viewfinder. It’s the ultimate Nikon DSLR and has everything you will ever need (except sensor cleaning). But I think the D700 provides more value for the money.

Keep in mind that the lens is more important than the camera. It’s better to have a D90 and a Nikon 500mm f/4G ED VR AF-S super telephoto lens than a D700 and just a Nikon 300mm f/4 ED-IF AF-S Nikkor. The 300mm lens is just too short for most situations (but is a great addition to a 500mm lens).

I hope I could give you an overview of what’s currently available from Nikon for wildlife and bird photographers.

This page will be updated when new Nikon DSLRs are announced.

Nikon DSLRs at amazon.com: