Greater Roadrunners

Gallery: AvianPosted February 18, 2011977 views34 comments

I've been watching these two Roadrunners for the past week building a nest just outside of the front door of my house. During mating, the male first shows up with a gift for the female. (She doesn't actually get the gift until they're finished though.) I just happened to look outside and this was the scene. Fortunately my camera was sitting right there.

D700
500mm
1.4xtc
iso 640
f5.6
1.800
handheld

Comments

34 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 18, 2011 at 4:03 PM

Something a little different from you and it's stunning. Only nit is the light reflectin off the vegetation I presume behind the female roadrunner...

The blues on the underside of the "gift" are an excellent touch and the framing is superb

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 18, 2011 at 4:49 PM

Spectacular, Charlie! The story-line of his "dinner and a movie" offering is beautifully presented. Love it.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on February 18, 2011 at 5:15 PM

Wonderful!! and right outside your front door too!

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Larry Reitz on February 18, 2011 at 5:20 PM

One incredible capture. Couldn't possibly find a nit.

Registered on September 7, 2007, 32 Posts, 335 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 18, 2011 at 5:28 PM

Awesome!

I've never seen them in any stage of mating. What a treat to see it; what a feat to get a great image of it happening.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on February 18, 2011 at 5:54 PM

Incredible - nothing more to say.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 18, 2011 at 6:05 PM

Would be a great shot eevn without the behavioural aspect Charlie. Love the blue on the lizard. Also looks like a great yard.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 18, 2011 at 6:18 PM

wow--cool yard birds, Charlie, and a great shot! the lizard is a great extra touch. I'd think about toning down the bright spot behind the female's wing and perhaps the brightest part of the foreground.

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 18, 2011 at 6:30 PM

Amazing behavior Charlie and the shot was perfectly timed to show it off best. Love it.

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

Comment posted by Marc Dubuc on February 18, 2011 at 6:53 PM

Stunning picture! Beep-beep!

Registered on January 4, 2011, 59 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Schiebelbein on February 18, 2011 at 7:30 PM

Great shot all around.

Registered on November 8, 2008, 55 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 18, 2011 at 7:32 PM

Charlie, this is wonderful capture of animal behavior to guarantee continuation of the specie. This is the same tactic I used with my first wife but to be honest after presenting her with the third lizard everything started going "downhill!"

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 18, 2011 at 8:09 PM

Wonderful natural history.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 18, 2011 at 10:48 PM

Very cool, Charlie. Great action and behavior and you did an excellent job capturing it.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 19, 2011 at 12:14 AM

Fantastic, Charlie! I don't suppose they'll still be at it in April!

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 19, 2011 at 3:14 AM

Awesome behavior photo Charlie

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by antino cervigni on February 19, 2011 at 4:29 AM

Wow, fantastic shot.
Antino

Registered on April 17, 2010, 70 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on February 19, 2011 at 4:41 AM

Superb shot- great private moment, awesome details and BG- maybe I'd try to darken a bit the highlights, but it is a wonderful image anyway- well done, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 19, 2011 at 5:12 AM

GRRROAN.... I can't even FIND a roadrunner, and you get 2 mating, with lizard and right outside your door.
Admit it..these are really stuffed toys you found, right?
Seriously... just an extraordinary image. My only suggestion would be to darken the bright ground a little, as well as that bright spot behind the female.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by richard remington on February 19, 2011 at 8:07 AM

Charlie,

Outstanding. I love everything here and the blue on the underside of the lizard is terrific.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 19, 2011 at 8:44 AM

Awesome shot Charlie. Love the lizard gift.

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

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 19, 2011 at 10:00 AM

This is really interesting! I like the complex behavior you were able to capture

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on February 19, 2011 at 7:12 PM

Great grab, behavior shot Charlie, lizard is a big bonus and I like the habitat.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 19, 2011 at 7:19 PM

This is one of the best avian courtship shots I have ever seen. A+ Doesn't get much better to me.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 20, 2011 at 12:06 AM

Very cool photo Charlie. The couple is pretty fantastic, the lizard puts it over the top for sure. Looks like challenging light but I think you handled it expertly.

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

Comment posted by Andrius Pašukonis on February 20, 2011 at 7:46 PM

that's a stunning behavioral picture

Registered on July 23, 2005, 111 Posts, 408 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on February 23, 2011 at 1:40 PM

Great shot, wonderful timing. I'm jealous that you have roadrunners in your front yard :). Congrats on the EP!!!!

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 23, 2011 at 1:40 PM

Big congrats on the WP Charlie! Really a neat shot.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 23, 2011 at 2:05 PM

no doubt about this WP!
Congrats!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Lorna Taylor on February 23, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Fantastic work Charlie and congratulations on your WP!

Registered on November 12, 2010, 254 Posts, 3083 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on February 23, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Wow !!! too good ...

Congratulations , very well deserved

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 25, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Ah romance! Congrats Charlie, what a catch!

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on March 1, 2011 at 11:32 PM

Wow. Somehow I missed this last week. This is a great photo. Amazing to see this and even better to image it. Congrats on the EP and a job well done.

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

Comment posted by Miro Susta on March 9, 2011 at 5:23 AM

Great!!!

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments