Mockingbird Defense

Gallery: AvianPosted October 24, 2010103 views14 comments

Galapagos. Island of Espanola. Gardner Bay.

D3 ISO 400. 300/2.8 f10 1/3200.

3 other Mockingbirds were ganged up against this one and this was his defense pose. They locked in a battle for more than 5 minutes-it was quite vocal too.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on October 24, 2010 at 11:09 PM

Very nice! Interesting behavioral shot. I never realized that the mockingbird was so wide ranging that they could be found in the Galapagos. Is this the same mockingbird we have here in Texas. Do you happen to know what their range is?

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 25, 2010 at 12:26 AM

Angela, VERY nice capture of this fellow!, Great pose, bright eye, and wonderful feather detail - and good behavior shot. He's trying to make himself look bigger, but I'm not sure the other birds will fall for it - given that they too use this trick when needed!

Bob, Just as all species in the Galapagos are unique, the Galapagos mockingbirds are quite different than the US ones, and each island has their own unique subspecies. More here, if you're interested:
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~kpt/terraquest/galapagos/wildlife/island/mocking.html

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Ron Huff on October 25, 2010 at 12:28 AM

Just another awesome shot Angela!

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 25, 2010 at 5:16 AM

Very cool. A lower angle may have made this more intimate.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on October 25, 2010 at 7:12 AM

Nice capture of the behaviour Angela, harsh looking light handled very well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on October 25, 2010 at 9:46 AM

Interesting image, very well captured too, Angela. Great background, detail and pose.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 25, 2010 at 10:52 AM

The pose/behavior make this shot for me Angela. I also like the flying sand grains. I might have preferred a slightly lower angle but not too much lower or the sand hummocks would have obscurred some of the bird.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 25, 2010 at 12:21 PM

I hd some a little lower, but the details in the bird wing were not as good because of the angle. So this is a favorite.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Moore on October 25, 2010 at 4:43 PM

Angela,
As I was reading the comments I was agreeing with your comment about loss of view. I really like this one,The "Tallons out" is super.

Dan

Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on October 25, 2010 at 4:56 PM

Excellent. Love the action, pose and behavior. Nice exposure, focus and detail, too.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on October 26, 2010 at 12:57 AM

This is an interesting photo Angela. A unique pose in unique surroundings. Looks very good for what appears to be some very bright light.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 26, 2010 at 1:39 AM

A very neat behavioral shot, plenty sharp. The spread wings and raised foot make this one.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on October 26, 2010 at 10:36 AM

Wonderful pose Angela. I like the dof you got, shows the detail in bird and the sand.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 27, 2010 at 10:58 AM

Angela, I sure like the setting and pose of the mockingbird, this is a wonderful behavior shot.

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