Avocet chick (Recurvirostra avosetta)

This captive Avocet chick – one of a brood of three – was, I would guess, less than a week old but, although they don’t fly until they are around 32-35 days old, the young birds are independent feeders within a day or two of hatching. The parent birds will simply stand guard, seeing off intruders and occasionally offering a comforting wing to shelter beneath during rain or when a chick gets chilled. Beyond the fact that the chick is incalculably cute, it is I think the background that makes the shot, the dark green framing the bird's glistening downy feathers beautifully.

Canon 1Ds MkII, Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/80 sec, f/13, 400mm at ISO 400