This is about as close as I’ve ever been to this highly secretive species.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Four days ago while I was photographing the male Broad-tailed Hummingbird in the mountains this Green-tailed Towhee appeared nearer the base of the same serviceberry bush. In this species sexes are alike but this bird is most likely a male because it’s nesting season and only females incubate eggs or brood nestlings. Males often feed their mates on the nest so he may have been scrounging for food to deliver to her.
He was so close he almost filled the frame. I’m pleased that the flowers at upper left and most of the branches are sharp, even at f/5.6, but I’m still undecided if the mass of white flowers behind the bird is a plus or a minus and I wish I had a little more room on the left for composition purposes. But I’m pleased with the sharpness of the bird and the excellent detail at this close range. His tail between the forks of the branch makes me smile and I love his raised red cap.
I’m always amazed at the huge difference a minor change in shooting position can make when you’re this close to the subject. In Mia’s shots of this bird only the tip of its tail had any white flowers behind it and she was shooting from the back seat of my pickup only 3′ behind me.
Shooting angle matters!
Ron
Stunning, Ron. The catch light makes him look intense. Diana
It is amazing the difference a foot or two can make. I really like this little guy — especially the tail/branch thing — and I’m so lucky to get to see him twice. 🙂
Thanks, Marty. That’s why it’s so important when I’m pulling up on a bird to keep the background in mind. It took me much too long to learn that lesson.
His ‘hairdo’ is adorable and makes me grin. Your photography, as ever Ron, is amazing. Thank you for bringing wildlife into my living room that I would never normally get to see.
If it makes you happy it makes me happy, Shelley. You deserve it. Thank you.
YOU like it, too!!! AMAZING!!! It’s a beautiful image…I love the delicate way the colors of the bird are echoed in the colors in the branch, the touch of white in the flowers and the looking back pose of the bird…t’s a real beauty!!!
Thanks very much, Patty.
A wonderful image!
Thank you, Gary.
Beautiful shot!
Thanks, Jean.
Where to start?
I like the flowers behind him, they make for an excellent contrast, and I also like that there are some flowers (which can be identified as such) nearby. They both give context. And I love the tail resting in the fork. Yet another charmer.
I agree about the position of his tail, EC. For some reason I think it gives the towhee a little extra dose of personality and perhaps fallibility.
Ron, it is so interesting to hear the differing opinions of you and your readers about the white flowers. I personally like them as they add some softness to the bird. This is a beautiful photo, in my eyes. Thank you, Ron
Thanks, Alice. I apologize for being so late in responding to your comment. Somehow I missed it until just now and that’s unusual for me.
If I blow up the photo I can see his skin just right of his eye under his raised crest. Male pattern baldness for birds? (joking) Beautiful bird and I like the flowers and the lighting is divine.
Thanks, April. You should see the detail in that skin in the high resolution version of the shot!
What type of metering do you use? I wonder if the white flowers in the background drove your SS to 1/5000sec. I can never get near that SS where I live (FL) in spite of the ISO 800 (unless I’m shooting in bright sunny day close to noon).
Elmer, I always use evaluative metering and yes, the white background drove my SS up a little. But seconds before I took this shot I was shooting a hummingbird with a fairly dark green background and my SS for those shots was 1/3200 at the same camera settings.
How fast is your lens (f/4, f/5.6…)?
f/5.6. I typically get to shoot at sunrise til 90 minutes after, and currently between 6:30-9:00 (max since 8am at this time starts to get unbearably hot with the sun to my back). I mentioned previously that while I was in CO & WA I noticed that sunrise is an hour or more early compared to here. I’m not sure if the quality of light there & the fact that you have wide open spaces means brighter conditions. I’m glad that even with your 1.4xTC that this bird was still in the frame.
“f/5,6”. That’s the difference, Elmer – at least most of it. My lens is an f/4 so it gathers more light.
BTW, that shot was taken at 9:18 in the morning.
Great photo and a wonderful pose that could tell lots of stories. I love these birds, but I seldom have the opportunity to see them as they don’t occur west of the Cascades. I’m not often in Central Oregon, where they do occur and even then, they can be hard to find as they work their way through the bushes. To get a photo that shows one so clearly and that suggests its actions and alertness is a real accomplishment. Great way to start the morning. Thanks.
It always means a lot to me when you enjoy my photos, Dan.
Yes, they’re very secretive birds. When I was a student in my college ornithology class in my ignorance I chose this species as my field study bird. I found an area where they were fairly common but they were so shy that even with my binoculars they were just a tiny speck in the distance so they were very hard to study.
I love this photo. He’s a great looking bird, he’s sitting just right on his perch, the flower is lovely and it’s all wicked sharp!!
You’re right about the sharpness, Joanne. When I applied my normal sharpening routine to it during processing it was TOO sharp (when that happens they look “crispy”) so I had to reduce it by 25%.
Sensational shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Ron: Wow! A stunning photo. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Richard.
This is a really handsome bird in a beautiful setting. I can see why the white flower background gets your attention but I like it a lot just for it being different, kind of spices things up a bit.
I enjoyed comparing Mia’s shot side by side with yours, they are both excellent and its pretty neat how just three feet changed things so much.
Dave, I tend to be drawn to photos “just because they’re different” too. As is so often the case I guess how one feels about this one is taste-dependent.
Yes, the difference in background between hers and mine is pretty dramatic, especially since we were both shooting from the same vehicle, same bird, same perch and same time.
ps: I got some interesting (at least for me) shots of a vermillion flycatcher throwing a petite. I knew raptors did so, but I was not aware that flycatchers do.
Frank, considering their diet I suspect all flycatchers throw pellets. I responded to your email a few minutes ago.
It’s a keeper Ron and you have gotten some good comments. The background white flowers don’t bother me. The bird still stands out in the frame well. As far as composition goes, I am assuming when you say “left” your referring to left in the frame, and not left of the bird. Actually, IMO, I would like to see a bit more room to the right of the frame, the bird’s left. Different strokes for different folks.
Starting to get hot here in S. Arizona. We are starting to pack the motor home today and will head north for Montana early this week. Haven’t decided on the route, but most likely thru Moab and then west thru Salt Lake City. I wanted to avoid the Salt Lake traffic, but going NE out of Moab adds a considerable amount of time. May do some bird photography along the way, but unlikely in that once we are on the road, my wife gets Montana fever. We will be up there till Mid August. For the most part we will be in the Ruby valley, the next valley north of Centennial.
Thanks, Frank. I prefer more room than this in the direction the bird is looking. And yes, I was referring to “left in the frame”.
I hope you both have a blast in MT!
Beautiful bird, Ron. 🙂 The flowers to the left add to the photo as does the tail going through the fork…:) The out of focus white flowers do set off the bird tho, in my opinion, are border line too bright tho it does set off the bird!
Judy, thanks for your honest opinion about those white flowers in the background. I had a similar inclination but I wasn’t sure about it.
I REALLY ADMIRE this photograph for a number of reasons—I do think that the soft white flowers in the background serve to set off the crisp detail of the bird, and
also provide a good variety of “value” ( light and shade variety ) for the picture in general—that detail of the tail between the twigs is a delight ! Almost “weaves” the
lovely bird into his habitat, visually……….I also like the way he almost fills the frame–there’s enough else going on around him that he doesn’t totally dominate the composition…..
a real winner of an image, in my never-so-humble opinion !
As always your “ever so humble opinion” is appreciated, Kris! You’ve made some interesting observations.
Secretive is right Ron. I have never seen one and quite possibly never will. What a handsome bird. Great shot. I like the flowers especially in that left hand corner. The way his head is turned to the light makes for a perfect picture with his silvery beak, the catch-eye, and red cap grabbing your attention.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Everett, they prefer shrub-steppe habitats so look for them there. They’re found in AZ during the non-breeding season but they sure are difficult to get close to. Thank you.
This one’s a keeper, Ron! I don’t mind the white flowers behind him- I think they help him stand out. Thanks again for a wonderful start to the day.
Thanks for that feedback, Diane.
Hi Ron,
I think the photograph is enchanting! As you know, as an illustrator, I approach your work from a somewhat different vantage point than you.
Thanks so much for trusting your gut and posting the photo that has an out of focus background I absolutely think contributes a great deal to the overall effect.
Thanks, Alison. I actually prefer “out of focus backgrounds” – in fact usually the more out of focus the better. It’s the whiteness of the flowers behind the bird that I’m uncertain of. I guess it reminds me a little of a white sky which I’ve never liked.