Northern Mockingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted January 6, 201061 views11 comments

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos): Judging from it’s extensive range across the U.S. and Mexico, I’m sure that many of you are very familiar with this bird. They are also known in Canada but the first one I saw was in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands as in this image. I really enjoyed the incredible variety and beauty of their (often mimicked) melodies. I like this image because we have quite a clear view of the whole bird, including that fine long tail. We also see a little of the feathers being blown by the wind.

All comments welcomed.

EOS 7D, EF00-400mm: ISO 250, 400 mm, 1/1000 s, f/6.3, image is 2765 x 3456 pixels (=9.6 MP or 53% of the 18 MP of the 7D).

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 6, 2010 at 10:30 PM

Love the high key background which accentuates the detail and pose of the mockingbird. Well presented image.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 6, 2010 at 10:37 PM

Very nice, Steve. I first saw this in Texas last spring and thought they were really a cool bird. Given the bare twigs, I first thought it was a winter shot. I like the composition and the detail is excellent.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 6, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Nice detail on the mockingbird. I'd like to see the eye a little brighter to show off that golden yellow.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 7, 2010 at 7:34 AM

Steve,

I like the high key background, the simplicity of the bare twigs and the mockingbirds pose with the ruffled feathers.

Nicely done.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 7, 2010 at 8:03 AM

I like the ruffled feathers and the pose and comp. Looks like you did a good job with the exposure (again).

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 7, 2010 at 8:10 AM

Good pose to get this long-tailed bird completely sharp Steve. Exposure and detail look good as does your comp. Nicely done.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 7, 2010 at 8:58 AM

A nice pose and comp of the Mocker Steve. I've never been a fan of high key backgrounds personally, but I think it works for this species
Being the neat-freak I am, I might clone out the twigs on the far left of the image and keep that one strong in-focus perch the main focal point with the bird.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 7, 2010 at 1:18 PM

Looks good Steve. My preference is for a bit less of the open space above.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 7, 2010 at 7:52 PM

Very pretty. I like the repeating diagonals in the image, the nice detail, and the beautiful pose you captured.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 8, 2010 at 7:07 PM

Thank you all so much for your very interesting comments and suggestions. As usual, obtaining constructive views from so many very attentive sources is so helpful.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 8, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Great detail Steve and super bg color.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments