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#732 Damaged Goods
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#732 Damaged Goods

by Richard Ditch

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted April 17, 201694 views4 comments
Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)

Place: back yard, Phoenix, AZ
Date: February 12, 2016, 5:11 pm
Equipment: Nikon D7200, Nikkor AF-S 300/4
Exposure: ISO 800, aperture priority matrix metered, 1/160th @ f/5.6 natural light
Raw, PS CC 2015 on Mac, 88% of full frame

I had taken this simply for documentation and had not planned on posting it, but the Damaged Goods weekly theme is a natural fit.
Birds’ bills are unique adaptations – boney extensions covered with a horny or leathery sheath of keratin. An injury can result in a deformed bill that doesn’t wear and regenerate properly. We don’t know what happened to this bird and are surprised to see it still surviving in our yard. This year it even has attracted a mate!

Please view the larger version before commenting if at all possible. Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated.
 

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on April 18, 2016 at 7:01 AM
Nice to know the bird is thriving, Richard.  Maybe taken simply for documentation purposes but a very appealing range of browns and greys do bind the image together well I feel.  Excellent detail too.
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 18, 2016 at 3:39 PM
Wow, Richard, given that beak, it's hard to imagine the bird surviving a year.  The sharpness of the bird is great, the eye pops nicely, and that beak is astonishing.  The overall brown tones make for a warmly attractive view.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 21, 2016 at 9:58 PM
Interesting case, Richard, and an excellent image.  You caught just the right angle to emphasize the deformed beak.  It always amazes me what kind of deformities and injuries animals can overcome.

devil
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Williams on April 25, 2016 at 3:43 PM
That is a bizarre bill Richard. Very interesting catch. It is amazing how many avian images are coming up this week for missing or broken parts. Good, unique match for the theme this week.
Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments