Repost: Long-Billed Thrashers

Gallery: AvianPosted January 26, 2012186 views18 comments

This was the only image of the Thrasher's bills pointing in the same direction. Taken in Spring 2011 in South Texas. Water and food provided.

7D - EF100-400mm @ 400mm
F/6.3 - 1/1600 - +0.33 - ISO 400
Gitzo & Wimberly head

Comments & critiques welcomed

What's in a name? I was a bit confused as to whether these birds were Long-Billed Thrashers or Curuved-Billed Thrashers. They look the same in my bird book, both are found in Texas, but I went with the long-billed Thrasher because my Kaufman book mentioned that the Long-Billed Thrasher was found in South Texas only.

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 26, 2012 at 7:28 PM

Those dominant bills pointing in the same direction is a plus for me. Nice relative position of the birds on the perch and interesting color variation in the eyes. Sharpness on the upper thrasher looks good and the lower one is sharp enough IMO. Looks like both birds have slightly droopy membranes - perhaps that's normal for the species?...

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 26, 2012 at 7:39 PM

Very nice Dattie. Both birds looking the same direction is great. Super BG too. Love those orangish eyes.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on January 26, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Very effective composition Dottie. I like the symmetrical pose of the birds, the perch, and the creamy background.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 26, 2012 at 8:27 PM

Cool shot Dottie. Nice to get both sharp and looking in the same direction as well.

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 26, 2012 at 8:42 PM

I like the light, nice sharpness and detail, love the poses.

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

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on January 26, 2012 at 9:07 PM

Nice job catching both in similar poses! Good comp & detail as well!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 26, 2012 at 10:20 PM

very nice, Dottie. great matching poses, both birds sharp, nice bg, and good comp. I believe I see just a bit of a sharpening halo, especially along the back of the birds' heads, but easily fixed, and barely noticeable as is.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 26, 2012 at 10:37 PM

Nice work getting both birds in the same position. Thgese are Curve-billed Thrashers, though; not Long-billed.

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 27, 2012 at 7:53 AM

Cure the bit of sharpening halo on the head and shoulders and this is 100% good. It's not really that noticeable, and it is certainly easy to cure.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on January 27, 2012 at 12:27 PM

Guess I'm not really up on sharpening because that's the comment I get most of the time. I tried again on the repost, but don't feel too confident that it is any better. Back to the PP drawing board

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on January 27, 2012 at 4:28 PM

Fantastic pose, great detail and an awesome BG on this one- My congrats, Fabio

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 27, 2012 at 8:42 PM

Love the symmetry and comp Dottie

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 28, 2012 at 5:11 PM

What's in a name? I was a bit confused as to whether these birds were Long-Billed Thrashers or Curuved-Billed Thrashers. They look the same in my bird book, both are found in Texas, but I went with the long-billed Thrasher because my Kaufman book mentioned that the Long-Billed Thrasher was found in South Texas only.

If your field guide shows both species the same then you need a better field guide. They look different in my copy of Kaufman, and Sibley, and American Bird Conservancy, and National Geographic, and Brinkley, and Floyd, and Robbins, and Peterson.

Yes, both species are found in Texas including South Texas.

"What's in a name?" A lot if you are a birder, as I am. But call them what you want, Denise, it really doesn't matter to the bird.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 29, 2012 at 8:17 AM

Dottie, what's your sharpening procedure?

I use photoshop, and use the quick selection tool to select the bird (and anything else I want sharpened), making sure the edges are clean, then I smart sharpen at about 200/0.3. This virtually never creates haloes for me.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 29, 2012 at 10:17 AM

I agree with Rich, these are Curve-billed Thrashers. The plumage patterns on the face, breast, and belly show that clearly.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on January 29, 2012 at 9:03 PM

Nice to capture both thrashers in the same pose. Very well done.
May

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

Comment posted by Larry Daniel on January 30, 2012 at 10:39 AM

Very nice image Dottie.

Registered on May 2, 2007, 23 Posts, 54 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 4, 2012 at 10:56 PM

Just found this post, Dottie. Guess I missed it while I was gone. I love the pose by these two birds. Excellent detail and sharpness at the eye and I like the slightly different colors. I do like the repost for sharpness.

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