Caracara

Gallery: AvianPosted September 9, 2011334 views31 comments

I find the behaviors of this species to be very interesting. I like this image because, to me, it sums up what this species is all about in one shot. They are thieves. They take what they can get were they can get it and usually from some other bird or animal. This individual is carrying a black-bellied whistling duck egg it stole from a nearby nest.

Some peope won't like the bands, but they are part of the conservation program for his species in FL and they are on the bird, so I will not clone them out.

Please view the larger image for max details. Thanks for looking and commenting.

IDM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/3200s
f/5.6
Manual exp.
Hand held
64% of FF

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by May Haga on September 9, 2011 at 5:27 PM

Interesting behavioiur. Very neat to capture the bird with the egg in its mouth.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on September 9, 2011 at 6:05 PM

Fantastic shot... Superb details especially in the larger view.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on September 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Awesome caracara image, probably the best I have seen for this species. And it certainly does epitomize the species adaptability, grace and sometimes even odd beauty. I like it it very much. Super work Ron!!

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on September 9, 2011 at 6:56 PM

Fantastic capture Ron....Caracara is indeed one thrifty thief! I like the egg position in the mouth, well done!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 9, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Ron, this is incredibly good! You never cease to amaze me! I don't understand why the bands would bother anyone...I think it's pretty neat to catch one clear enough to id. You're helping the species. Impressive once again. (Well, not the BBWDucks)! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 9, 2011 at 8:50 PM

Terrific image! The behavior is very interesting; the documentation of it is impeccable. Wonderful detail. Exposure just right. Great wing position. And honest, on top of all that.

Well done.

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

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on September 9, 2011 at 9:31 PM

WOW What detail and handheld in flight.
You have thieves all over the place

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by Verdon on September 9, 2011 at 9:54 PM

great catch, both of you, congrats!!!

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 9, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Ron, this is SUPER UBER cool! Detail, color, action, etc.etc.etc.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on September 9, 2011 at 11:13 PM

Lovely behavioral capture and excellent flight shot. But we don't say "thieves" in birding; we say "kleptoparasitic" which sounds ever so much more professional.

The jewelry doesn't bother me at all; it's not the bird's fault.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 9, 2011 at 11:34 PM

Ron, this is gorgeous! I especially love the sharpness and detail of the face and head.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on September 10, 2011 at 1:34 AM

Excellent Ron!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Darren McKenna on September 10, 2011 at 3:06 AM

Very nice, love this behavioral shot. The egg is a real bonus here and you have great detail. Wonderful image Ron.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 31 Posts, 214 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on September 10, 2011 at 3:12 AM

Very noce, Ron! I like this behaviour shot a lot.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on September 10, 2011 at 11:40 AM

Very cool Ron! The egg in the mouth is an added bonus!

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Jude Haase on September 10, 2011 at 1:43 PM

Very nice capture Ron!!

Registered on April 3, 2006, 236 Posts, 1657 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on September 10, 2011 at 4:04 PM

Great flight shot, with wonderful colours, fine detail and an awesome BG- My congrats, Fabio

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 10, 2011 at 6:45 PM

Very nice Ron, can't say that I've ever seen one of these inflight with egg-n-beak before..
So what's next? The whole basket?

As you say, it shows the opportunistic qualities of this species very well.
Beautiful work

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on September 10, 2011 at 8:20 PM

RON! You must have the angel of 'Great shots" on your shoulder. I'd love to borrow him and I'd even pay money. LOL. Awesome all over.I'm sad for the loss of the duckling to be but he really does look like a theif in the night ...or day. I don't mind the bands.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostedo on September 10, 2011 at 11:00 PM

That's just really cool Ron. I do wish there were slightly more room in front of the bird.

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on September 11, 2011 at 1:52 AM

Great shot, really wonderful.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on September 11, 2011 at 10:04 AM

Excellent in-flight behavior, Ron. Bands don't bother me a bit - it's a bonus that they are readable.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 11, 2011 at 5:24 PM

This is a lovely sideshot Ron! The egg is a super touch...

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on September 11, 2011 at 6:22 PM

I am one who does not like "bands", but I would not clone them out either. I would post a spectacular shot like this one though!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 11, 2011 at 6:29 PM

Awesome action - reminds me of a Raven shot that Brad Hill took where it has an egg in its mouth. NIce light and exposure with a good varied BG. Bands don't bother me at all.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on September 11, 2011 at 7:56 PM

Once again you have simply wowed me. Amazing image showing very interesting behavior. I would leave the bands too.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 12, 2011 at 5:02 AM

Great behaviour n terrific image !!!
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on September 12, 2011 at 3:52 PM

One to die for. I'd like to get a good shot of a Caracara standing on a branch. To get one like this would be my wildest dream. I don't see a problem with the banding.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 12, 2011 at 5:15 PM

Whoa!!! Can't believe I missed this one earlier. Great shot Ron

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 12, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Wow, talk about right place at right time. This is great, Ron. You did an awesome job with a great opportunity.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 13, 2011 at 4:37 PM

Went to review some images and found this, you hit the 'Wow' factor when I first looked at this, excellent behavior shot Ron, your flight shots are amazing, excellent shot, way to go.

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