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Red-backed Kingfisher
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Red-backed Kingfisher

by Simon Bennett

Gallery: AvianPosted June 8, 201184 views10 comments
Red-backed Kingfisher, Fort Grey NSW. These birds inhabit the dry parts of Australia and avoid water as if it were the plague.

Canon 7D, EF500 f/4 + 2IIx, tripod, manual focus, ISO400, f/8, 1/1250, vertical crop from horizontal image.

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on June 8, 2011 at 6:20 PM
Cool, a kingfisher that doesn't fish. I love all the variations within the kf family. Very nice capture. Great pose, perch and bg. There seems to be a slight sharpening? halo around the birds bill and overall the image seems just a tad soft but this is far better than my efforst when I've tried manually focusing a 500 + 2x manually.
Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 8, 2011 at 7:47 PM
Another kingfisher I've never met. Neat!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 8, 2011 at 11:03 PM
So what does a dry land Kingfisher eat, Simon? Beautiful detail and I like the perch.
:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on June 8, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Interesting bird. I'm curious about what's for dinner, just like Dennis. Missing some detail in the head area.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on June 9, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Detail looks fine to me Simon - you bastard. Great shot - rump fluffed up and all

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on June 9, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Wow, a kingfisher that avoids the water, that sure is different. Nice perch, pose and look under a clear blue sky, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on June 9, 2011 at 7:45 PM
Thank you all for your comments. Dennis and Angela asked about their diet:

Thse birds typically forage from vantage points such as trees (like above), overhead wires, fences where they sit and watch for prey on the ground then fly-pounce to capture prey. The main food is insects/invertebrates and small lizards; and occasionally frogs (often emerge from sand after rain), birds (e.g. young martins and eggs in mud nests) and small mammals e.g introduced House mouse (Source Handbook of Australian and New Zealand Birds).
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by David Sparks on June 10, 2011 at 10:59 AM
I wonder if there are gnatcatchers that don't catch gnats? Nice detail and colors. I like the catch light, pose and perch too.
Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on June 11, 2011 at 4:23 PM
Not seen this KF before - very nice shot of it, I must say!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 18, 2011 at 6:01 AM
Wow! Just when I think I must be familiar with all species of Kingfisher, up you pop with another one I've never even heard of before ;^)

Seriously, wonderful capture of this beautiful little bird and thanks for sharing Simon :^)
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments