Broken Mocker

Gallery: AvianPosted January 3, 2011151 views12 comments

Sugar Land TX. Mockingbird with ?Broken beak. 12/26/10

D3 ISO 300. 300/2.8 with 2x tc. f5.6 1/1000s -0.3ev. From car window. Natural Light.

When I first photographed this bird I thought he had a deformed beak (like the crossed beaks that are occurring). As I rode around I thought-maybe that was a thrasher-but we don't have thrashers in Houston. Once I reviewed the image I realized the bird's beak had been broken and healed in this downturned configuration. Maybe this happens a lot and I just haven't noticed. I thought it was was interesting anyway. He appeared robust and healthy.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 3, 2011 at 11:39 PM

Seems like a very long beak for a Mocker..but I sure don't know Texas birds.
Fine image with great detail, nice pose, great eye and BG.
Whatever the problem was, he does seem well-recovered and very healthy.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 3, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Nice capture Angela, I've only seen a bird with a beak like this once or twice. I might have stopped down a little bit here with that clean bg.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on January 4, 2011 at 12:47 AM

Angela, He's beautiful and sharp. The bokeh is gorgeous with it's variegated coloring.

Nice catch light in the eyes.

And of course, he has to be perched on a wire.

Angela, did you have a reason for shooting wide open as opposed to perhaps f/8? I ask because the head appears a tiny smidgen soft. And of course, I have no idea how far away the BG is from the bird.

Nice job.

Cheers,

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by Gerard Satherley on January 4, 2011 at 5:44 AM

I agee an interesting capture Angela. Thanks for sharing. It also a very nice image.

Registered on December 17, 2010, 2 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on January 4, 2011 at 8:39 AM

That is a very interesting bill. Glad the bird seems to have adjusted to it. Excellent detail. I like the wire perch in this one. It coordinates with the birds coloring.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 4, 2011 at 10:01 AM

Wonderfully odd!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 4, 2011 at 10:37 AM

Nice nice; very interesting bird.

I've not seen this in a mockingbird before, but we had one Curve-billed Thrasher with a beak that grew out of control and got much longer and more curved with time. Since mockingbirds and thrashers are close relatives I wonder if this might be a regressive gene at work or something along those lines.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on January 4, 2011 at 2:46 PM

An excellent portrait, Angela. Clean and simple with some great detail in those feathers.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 4, 2011 at 4:26 PM

Very interesting Angela. I really have no idea what could cause this. Mutation, injury, parasite, who knows. A neat shot for sure.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 4, 2011 at 5:13 PM

Very interesting discussion and comments about this birds beak, Angela. What strikes me about this image are the colors: the background and bird match so well!!

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on January 4, 2011 at 8:10 PM

Good to see that he seems able to survive pretty well with the injury/deformity. Does look like the bill is relatively straight until the "break" area, and then curved. Interesting shot...and very nicely captured!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on January 6, 2011 at 6:24 PM

Nice shot and great detail and exposure. You just take some of the most awesome shots!

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments