Juvenile Grackle

Gallery: AvianPosted June 24, 201077 views6 comments

This juvenile grackle is calling his mom (or dad) to bring some food. He is fully flighted. Grackles are common birds, and are not much appreciated by most people, but their irridescent coloring is beautiful.

Canon 7D with 400/5.6, handheld
Taken early in the Spring

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Marie Mitchell on June 24, 2010 at 11:36 AM

Neat capture. Colors are superb.

Registered on May 13, 2010, 3 Posts, 117 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 24, 2010 at 3:49 PM

A nice behavioral capture, Michele. It looks like your focus point was the wing, and your DOF was insufficient to get the head crisp; if you look at the bird's crown, you can see the feathers outlined against the background are blurred. The angle isn't ideal, but isn't a serious drawback for me.

Common Grackles are pretty, but they are communal roosters, and in places like Brownsville, Texas, telephone lines have collapsed under the weight of the birds. A bit too successful, you might say.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on June 25, 2010 at 12:34 PM

Hi Michele,
I like all aspects of the image with regards to the bird's colors, perch and background. My only nit is I wish the bird had given you a better head turn.
Thanks for posting,
Ronnie G.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 25, 2010 at 6:35 PM

Neat calling pose and irridesence you captured nicely here Michele. I like the comp too but I do wish for a bit more of a headturn.

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

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on June 26, 2010 at 1:07 AM

Great lighting, Michele. I always like the contrasting light eyes of these birds.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Binda on June 26, 2010 at 8:09 AM

you're right, one tends to take 'em for granted. I think Jim's comment says it all but I'm a fan here too

Registered on September 8, 2007, 56 Posts, 326 Comments