I love this takeoff pose from an adult White-crowned Sparrow.
Maybe the birding situation is finally starting to improve around here! After several months of few birds and boatloads of frustration in the field I finally had a good day with a variety of birds in several dispersed locations yesterday morning. The downside is that I now have more than 1600 new images to cull but I’ll gladly pay that steep price (I loathe culling!) after such an extended dry spell.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
One of yesterday’s subjects was this adult White-crowned Sparrow feeding on sunflower seeds. It was interesting to watch because the breeze was blowing the seed heads around so the sparrow clung to the perch and simply waited for the seed head to be blown its way again and then plucked out a seed when it happened.
The behavior was interesting but the setting was cluttered and I didn’t expect to get many images I liked very much but I was pleasantly surprised by one of them. I’m presenting these first two photos mostly to set up the third one for the viewer – that takeoff shot is the one I like best.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This image was taken a split second before the sparrow launched. With time to study the photo it becomes apparent that takeoff from this perch presents the bird with a minor problem. The sparrow is so close to the stem of the sunflower that when it opens its wings for that first wing-beat the right wing would likely hit the stem.
There’s several possible solutions – the bird could move away from the stem before launch, it could jump off the stem and open its wings in the air after the stem has been cleared or it could rotate its body at the moment of launch so that the right wing wouldn’t hit the stem.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Thankfully it chose the latter because that gave me a takeoff posture that I like very much. I got a great look at the entire dorsal surface, the bird kept its head level (as birds almost always do in flight) which gave me nice light on the face and a catch light in the eye, the tail is partially spread, the entire bird is well-lit and we even see the feet pushing off the perch.
Yes, the background is a little cluttered directly behind the sparrow but with this takeoff pose I can live with that.
Ron
Very beautiful and artistic images Ron! The first one really caught my eye, it looks like a beautiful painting to me. I think it is the blurred background that really does that for me. The third image is the same for me, just awesome beauty, and the backdrop of fading dry stalks of grass in the fall. I bet you were pleased to see these in full size on the computer !
I haven’t seen the White Crowned here yet. Not in my yard anyway. I am puzzled by the Sparrows behavior. Last year we didn’t get that many White Crown’s. Usually we get a lot. The House Sparrow we have all year long as a rule. But this past year they come and go. Not sure if it is due to the Copper’s Hawk, or some other reason. Love your pics by the way.
Thanks, Jean. Birds can sure be fickle from year to year. They’re very hard to predict…
wonderful images of one of my favorite winter visitors….especially like the top view withbthe raised crown and the leafy background…wonderful!!!
Thanks very much, Patty.
Ron, I googled and found that the bird is 7″ long. The long tail feathers are mentioned. In the 3rd photo, the feathers behind the head, with their white tips form a semi-circle that enhances the stripes on the head. I like the way the feet are letting let go of the branch.
At our Photography Club meeting today, we discussed how to ‘spark’ interest in photography. We are going to have work shops led by the knowledgeable members, which I look forward to. Maybe you could be a guest speaker, sometime. I’m sure that everyone would be thrilled, especially me!! [I’m just appealing to the ‘teacher’ in you}.
Thanks so much, Ron
Thanks for your confidence in me, Alice but I’m afraid I always turn down speaking requests these days for a variety of reasons – among them the fact that my bad back just doesn’t allow me to spend much time on my feet. Nowadays I scratch my “teaching itch” here on Feathered Photography… 🙂
Thanks for your reply. As a bad back sufferer, I completely understand your reply and can understand for other reasons. I will continue to learn and be inspired from your posts. I’ll hope for a new inspiration at the Sandy Senior Center with the knowledgeable sharing the ‘wealth’ and me being a better and more diligent student!!
Beautiful Ron. I love sparrows and I love these photos (especially the take off photo).. I am always trying to capture these little guys. I hope to do it as well some day… practice, practice, practice…
“practice, practice, practice”
Exactly, exactly exactly, Joanne! 🙂
The same rules apply as directions for getting to Carnegie Hall. 😉
These are all very nice. I love the feather patterns that show in the last shot. For me, a single sunflower plant with just a few branches isn’t too cluttered for the bird to stand out well.
Susan, I think those feather patterns in that shot are one if its primary strengths. We don’t bet this view of a songbird often.
OK, these three shots ALL deserve a new set of superlatives AND probably an expletive or three! These are fantastic, and as Kent opined, worthy of an Audubon painting! While I feel your pain about culling through 1,600 images, an abundance of opportunities is always better than getting skunked with little to nothing for you to do. Look on the bright side. This culling keeps you off the streets 😉
As EC noted, this ballet is worth of the best of the Russian ballet! (I was going to say Barishnikov, but I’m not certain of the spelling…LOL!) Anyway, I love white-crowned sparrows. When I lived in Dallas, their melodious calls marked the arrival of Fall with a clarity and beauty that took my breath away with its wonderfulness. Oh what a treat that they stayed for the winter, constantly entertaining me in the field and around my home as they fed at my feeders! What joy they brought!
Like Linda, I LIKE the clutter (along with the behavior of waiting for the sunflower to come back to them, repeating as necessary). What a cool behavior that makes perfect sense (like most other bird behaviors)!
Another thing I noticed is that the bird raised its head feathers before takeoff. I wonder if this is an always thing that would be a signal for you to get ready for a takeoff shot?
Seriously Ron, all three shots are spectacular. I SWEAR there are no nits to be picked here. Trust me on this…HEHEHE!
You are outvoted Ron. Again.
Happy culling – but don’t get carried away. I would seriously love the opportunity to ‘dumpster dive’ in your discards.
“Happy culling”
Ha, there ain’t no such thing, EC! And I added almost 800 more shots to my backlog this morning…
We’ll go together into that dumpster dive EC! YAY! LOL!
That would be three of us “vultures!”
Vulture PARTY! YAY!
Don’t forget Patty. That dumpster will be crowded.
Yeah I figured Patty and several others will be in that dumpster with us. It’s a PARTY!
I think you’ll all be disappointed by much of what you’ll find there but it does sound like a good time with old friends (despite the smell) so I’ll join you!
Thanks very much, Laura. I believe this bird raised its crown because just before the shot was taken another sparrow flew in very close to it and challenged it. There’s a lot of squabbles on those sundlowers!
This series immediately makes me think of Japanese silk screen paintings. I can’t help thinking how much my folks and my uncle, who all loved this style of art, would be thrilled by this post. Thanks for evoking some wonderful memories this morning.
Good, I’m glad it brought back some good memories for you. From what you said in a recent comment I suspect you’ve had a difficult row to hoe recently.
Thanks, Ron. Things are definitely looking up! 🙂
Wonderful shots of those little fast birds. You almost have to think a head as to what the birds are going to do. After many years, you have it down pretty good. Think like a bird, and snap like a bee. Ha Ha. Thanks
“You almost have to think a head as to what the birds are going to do”
Not just “almost”, Trudy – you actually have to do it in many cases. And so darned often I’m wrong but when I’m right it can really pay off.
Both the second and the third images sing to me tonight. I love the look of concentration and calculation in the second – and the incredible feat of balletic precision in the third takes my breath away.
Agreed, EC – in that second image the bird actually seems to be contemplating how it was going to take off.
A truly awesome series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Hi Ron, I like the third image – a field guide view of a bird that recently arrived here in numbers. Nice!
And, as an old techie, I cant help but notice Newton’s Third Law at work on the recently departed perch.😀
Thanks and Cheers,
Dick
I thought the exact same thing about that perch when I was processing the images, Dick – “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.
You can see the progression from one shot to the next as the bird’s COG shifts too.
I really like the “clutter” in these photos. What is the background? The. The colors and clutter make them look like an antique painting or a print. I hope that isn’t an unwanted comparison.
Linda, the background is mostly dried grasses.
One of my favorite birds. Thanks for the pictures. I like the 2nd one the best.
Thanks, Ann.
What a masterpiece. Lopks like an Audobon painting!
I love Audubon’s prints so for me that’s high praise, Kent. Thanks.
I love all of these, but especially the first. The sepia-toned natural colors and the subject remind me of a Japanese painting.
Thank you, Mary.
Beautiful.. I need to go back out and try again … especially the last one….
Yes, you do, Marina. Recently you said you’ve been discouraged lately. I know that feeling well but if we keep plugging away sooner or later things come together.
All three shots are beautiful Ron, and the background makes these shots in my opinion. 🙂 I have a hard time deciding between the first and 3rd as to which I like “best”. I don’t envy you the culling job tho better that than none to cull!:)
Exactly, Judy – too many to cull beats the hell out of the alternative! Thank you.
I have to agree about the third shot, but in all honesty, all three are great and the fact you took them in succession is terrific.
Being on a migratory path for White-crowned Sparrows we tend to see primarily immatures, but from time to time we will get an adult in the spring.
I try and take the opportunity of getting this sparrow in focus whenever I can.
Dick, I also see mostly juveniles but this time of year there’s usually a few adults around. I saw quite a few of them yesterday. Thanks.