Male Northern flicker

Gallery: AvianPosted January 31, 2010208 views19 comments

This one may be a little tight in the frame for some of you, but I was set up for small birds at the water dish and this guy flew in. At least he stopped for about a minute while drinking and then hopped up and posed for a few seconds. I had to add a little canvas to the back as well as a tail tip to complete the frame. Also cloned out the second catchlight and a few dust spots.

After this it was back to the old reliable White Breasted Nuthatch.

EOS 1D, 400 2.8 w/1.4 converter, ISO 250, 1/800 @f8, fill flash @-1, tripod, from a blind.

Comments and critiques are appreciated.

Thanks.

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on January 31, 2010 at 10:40 PM

They are a big bird aren't they! I like your setup, perch and bg are great. Everything looks great to me.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 31, 2010 at 10:44 PM

Sweet, Jerry. In my experience, it's been tough to pull detail out of the plumage in this species. You did a very nice job of it. The flash isn't obtrusive and that's a gorgeous perch you set up.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Elwood on January 31, 2010 at 11:46 PM

Jerry this is so well done!! This is one of my favorite species and still do not have a good image. Exposure, BG and perch spot on!!

Registered on January 15, 2010, 101 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 1, 2010 at 1:04 AM

Jerry, this is excetional! A tough species to capture well. Great feather detail, pose, perch, and BG.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 1, 2010 at 2:00 AM

This is excellent, and is not tight in the frame for me.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 1, 2010 at 3:19 AM

Just a touch tight at the bottom Jerry, but I'd be very happy with this in my files.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on February 1, 2010 at 5:32 AM

Great perch and bg, Jerrry. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have guessed you had used flash, and added the tail tip!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 1, 2010 at 8:51 AM

Jerry, this looks very good--I like the pose, detail, perch, and bg. your added canvas looks very good. It is a little tight for me, but I have had the same issue with some of my flicker shots--they are so big, that an appropriate focal length & distance for nuthatches and chickadees gets a little tight with these guys.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Jenkins on February 1, 2010 at 9:02 AM

This has a great BG, lighting and pose. Really a good one, Jerry. Nice job.

Registered on April 20, 2008, 307 Posts, 604 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 1, 2010 at 10:31 AM

The colors are fantastic as are the perch. I like how the face and breast are kissed by the light. Nice details.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 1, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Well done Jerry. I don't mind the tight crop.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 1, 2010 at 5:20 PM

The crop looks fine to me and I really like the wood the flicker is perched on, wonderful colors to this bird and over all image quality looks great to me, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 1, 2010 at 9:08 PM

I like the great pose Jerry and the wonderful details I can see in the bird & perch in the larger version. The comp works well for me too.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 2, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Fabulous photo Jerry!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 2, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Great head turn and detail here Jerry, I often have a tough time fitting in the tail in with woodpeckers like this as well.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 2, 2010 at 8:44 PM

I like the pose, perch and plumage detail. Nice background too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 2, 2010 at 9:14 PM

W!!! Beautiful portrait Jerry!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 4, 2010 at 9:41 PM

A really fantastic image - I particularly like the perch and lighting

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 13, 2013 at 4:43 PM

I just saw a visiting male/female pair here last week, my gear was in the truck

The female had strange melanistic albino white patches on her head & backside I'd never seen..
Techs look excellent, cool perch. Great light too

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments