Magpies aren’t among the most glamorous of birds so they don’t get a lot of attention from photographers but I enjoy them for their fascinating behaviors, their gutsiness and their apparent intelligence. And if you want a particularly challenging photographic subject you can’t go wrong with the Black-billed Magpie.
Two characteristics of magpies make them notoriously difficult to photograph well:
- they have a maddening tendency to allow you to get close until the instant you pay them any attention and then they fly away. Aim a big lens at them and they’re gone. These birds were indiscriminately shot for centuries and they’re “smart” enough as a species to have learned some lessons well…
- the deep blacks combined with the bright whites of magpies make them an exposure nightmare. If you expose to get detail in the blacks you usually blow out the whites. If you do the reverse there typically will be no detail in the blacks. You need just the right light and a little luck to have a well-exposed magpie, especially in flight.
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc
I have a number of nice images of magpies taking off but getting one in full flight (feet tucked, tail straight and flying at speed) has proven to be almost impossible for me. The few sharp, full flight shots that had good flight postures were poorly exposed.
This image is an exception. The sun was low enough to provide light and detail in the blacks under the wings, the light was soft enough to not blow out the whites and the bird is even sharp where it matters most.
True, there’s no iridescence showing and the background is only blue sky. Maybe next time…
Ron
Great results with a difficult subject. Not only the problem of exposure, but capturing the bird in full flight. Impressive once again!
Yup, they tease me just like they do the dogs and cats in the neighbourhood – catch me if you can! I am impressed with the bird in flight.
Hi Ron- Great job of handling the whites and blacks. Composition is excellent!
Thank you, Bob. I’ve spent some time on your site and I’ll be back…
They are stunning birds. So very different from our magpies but sharing their intelligence and beauty. Even when ours are in the midst of swooping season (now) I love them. And sassy and irreverent is a perfect description. Thanks Patty. And Ron.
It’s pretty unusual for ours to swoop on folks, Elephant’s Child. They just make a LOT of noise when they’re upset.
I love their usual melody but in season ours attempt to be silent assassins. You don’t hear anything before the ominous clash of beak beside your ear. And our local council puts up warning signs each year in some of the more usual dive-bombing spots. Which change each year, depending on where the nests are and how threatened/aggressive the males feel.
Just gorgeous! You may not be able to see the blue iridescence, but when I look at the head I see shininess.
The iridescence is hard to get, Susan but I always enjoy it when I do.
Thanks Ron. I love MP’s. My Grandma’s neighbor always had one for a pet on their front porch when I was growing up. They are so funny!
Deb, A friend of mine had a magpie who hung around her house for many years. It was easily recognized because it only had one leg.
Ron–My friends in Wounded Knee also had a one legged magpie hanging around, trying to out fox the dogs over their meat bones. They called him “Lefty” and he seemed to get along just fine. I wonder how these smarty pants get in trouble like that.
” I wonder how these smarty pants get in trouble like that”
Probably from trying to “out-fox dogs” once too often, Patty…
It’s a beautiful photo, perfectly exposed.
I’m glad you like it, Kelly. Thank you.
That, is a sensational flight shot Ron! Congratlations!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
No iridescence showing, but except for the frazzled tail, which most corvids seem to sport, this bird is quite elegant looking. Thanks to your photography, I now look at these amusing, rowdy birds much differently. You’ve shown me how incredibly beautiful they can be with their iridescence showing and how sophisticated and elegant without it. I used to think of them as clever clowns certainly not bird beauty contestants..
Patty, In a comment you once referred to magpies as “sassy and irreverent”. I loved that description.
Well captured! We have quite a number of black and white birds, and they are a challenge!
Thank you, Sonja.