African Open-Bill

Gallery: AvianPosted September 18, 2016320 views3 comments

African Open-Bill Stork
Moremi Game Reserve, Sango Safari Camp, Botswana

African open-bills are large wading birds characterized by large bills, the mandibles of which do not meet except at the tip. This feature develops only in the adults. The roof of the upper bill is fringed with plate-like structures, so they easily crack shells of mollusks, their primary food.

D800
500mm
1/1600 sec, f/5
Mode: Av
Metering: Spot
ISO: 400
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO1
Flash: Off

Comments

3 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 19, 2016 at 10:37 AM

I really like the pose and you have excellent detail. It also does a great job of showing off the reason for the name. Nice work, Sandy.

devil

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

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on September 19, 2016 at 2:07 PM

It looks like the light may have been a little hot Sandy. You managed nice detail in the stork. Great composition, it's the raised foot that makes this for me. Well done!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on September 19, 2016 at 5:04 PM

Great look at this stork, Sandy. Great job on the exposure, the blacks show lots of detail. That raised foot really adds to the pose. Thanks for the info on this bird's unique bill, I find that very interesting. You sure have been able to document a lot of different species on your recent trips.

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