20110607

Male Blackbird (Turdus merula)

I was actually focused on a blue tit when it flew off with a start as this handsome chap landed on the same shrub. I missed the commotion, but was pleased to get this image of a much-underestimated bird that I think is really quite dashing. The yellow beak and the ring around the eyes are, I would contend, quite striking.

Canon 1Ds MkII body with a Canon 100-400mm IS USM lens, 1/50 sec, f/5.6, 370mm at ISO 500

5 comments:

  1. Isn't he smashing, pretty new too, look at his feet and he still has a bit of a 'gape-mouth'.

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  2. Hi Toffeeapple. I'm very much a photographer first and, while I'm strong on mammals, reptiles and rodents et al, I'm still learning when it comes to the avian world. What's significant about his feet and gape-mouth is what? – Tim

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  3. The scales on his feet look kind of 'not set' if you see what I mean? The gape is the remnant of chick-dom, in that when the adult feeds the chick, the mouth opens very wide to encourage the placing of food in the mouth, you can just see it in the corner of his beak.

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  4. Thanks Toffeeapple. I like learning something new.

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  5. So do I! I have learned so much by reading blogs, especially like http://cabinetofcuriosities-greenfingers.blogspot.com and
    http://deansdailydiary.blogspot.com Not forgetting Warren's either.

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