Umbrellabird, Long-wattl

Gallery: AvianPosted April 19, 2011177 views24 comments

Species: Long-wattled Umbrellabird, this species is considered threatened due to habitat loss in NW Ecuador and SW Colombia.

I almost named this image unprepared. It's really impossible without having seen it for before to imagine how long this species watlles/beard are when it unfurls them. This was photographed at a biological station in the remote mountains of Northwest Ecuador. The females and some younger males of this species were coming into a fruiting tree in the area. Well this adult male landed right in front of where I was set up and started displaying, unfurling his wattles. Unfortunatley I had the teleconverter on so I didn't get the whole beard in and of course I didn't get another chance but I do think this gives you some idea of the bird and his wattles. Of course I didn't get the same opportunity again that trip, perhaps next time. It's 92.35% of FF

with just a sliver taken off the left.

MkIII 500F4 1.4x 1/50 F7.1, iso 1000, evaluative metering at 0, 580ex fill flash at -1.0

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on April 19, 2011 at 5:53 PM

Wow.. what an amazing bird Nate. I'm sure you would've loved to have time to get the entire beard, but it's great you were able to capture this... what is the background?

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2011 at 5:55 PM

Thanks John, the background is forest (leaves and tree trunks) with a bit of bright sky.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2011 at 6:21 PM

Thanks Jim, it totally blew me away in person.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 19, 2011 at 6:36 PM

Wow Nate, how many more inches of the wattle do you estimate was below the edge of this frame? That is a pretty amazing wattle.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2011 at 6:42 PM

Hi Mia, the book lists the wattle at 8-10 inches but I think that is before unfurling the wattle. The bird (beak to tail) is listed at 16 inches. It seemed to me it was another 6-8 inches which I didn't capture.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on April 19, 2011 at 6:51 PM

That is such a long wattle Nate, thanks for answering my question about the length. Wow

* edited to add: Great details in the dark plumage Nate!

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 19, 2011 at 7:15 PM

That's nuts. This still gives us a nice impression of what an amazing physical trait this species possesses. Great find, Nate.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on April 19, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Who this one has that not from around here look. What an interesting bird. The environment and blacks look great!

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 19, 2011 at 7:36 PM

That is really amazing Nate thanks for sharing it with us

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on April 19, 2011 at 9:32 PM

Fascinating species, Nate. I think you did exceptionally well win the light. Great details. Did you have the option of taking this image in portrait mode (camera rotated 90 deg)?

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2011 at 9:34 PM

Thanks Govind, I wouldn't have been able to fit him in with the teleconverter on. That would have been the best to have the tc off and rotate the camera to vertical.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 19, 2011 at 9:41 PM

The details you've gotten on this dark bird are wonderful. I'm sure you would have loved to get the entire bird, but now you have an excuse to go back! Very nice view of this strange but interesting bird. Thanks for sharing it with us ...whole beard or not. I wonder how he does not trip over himself!!! Sharon

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 19, 2011 at 10:25 PM

WOW Nate! What a cool looking bird. I'm really enjoying all of your images from Central America lately. The wattle/beard is amazing. What a sharp eye you captured here as well. Nice job on the fill flash. Thanks for sharing this Nate.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 19, 2011 at 10:26 PM

Never seen one of these Nate, so thanks for sharing! I wouldn't have any idea how to get the wattle all in the frame at this angle based on the length you provide....what an amazing species!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on April 19, 2011 at 10:55 PM

Amazing bird, Nate. I think you made a great image given your circumstances. It's too bad you couldn't get the full wattle, but that's the kind of thing that keeps us coming back for more, isn't it? Thanks for the natural history lesson, too. It's hard to see how this kind of feather configuration can confer an evolutionary benefit but it must considering the negatives he faces dragging that wattle around the forest. He reminds me of some of themore bizarre Bird of Paradise species.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on April 19, 2011 at 11:22 PM

great bird, Nate. would not have guessed it was that large (16"). great exposure, and definitely worth keeping and showing despite the cut off wattle. that feathered wattle is very cool--thanks for posting this.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 20, 2011 at 2:43 AM

When I looked at the thumbnail before clicking on it, I thought to myself, "Why the heck would Nate wanna' show us an image of a bird with such a dark branch in the background that obviously will ruin the the overall effect no matter how attractive the subject is?!?!" Seeing now that the "dark branch" is actually one of the most distinctive features of the subject, of course I'm LOL ;^p

I've seen some strange looking birds in my time, but this one certainly walks away with a large chunk of the cake ;^)

I think you made a great job of capturing this Nate all things considered; the eye and detail in the feathers alone lay testament to that, but the biggest hit with me is seeing such a wonderful example of Nature's creativity, many thanks for sharing :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 20, 2011 at 4:03 AM

Wow!!! What a Cool Bird!!! Looks like you did very well with the challeging light conditions and thick forest. Excellent detail throughout the bird, nice use of fill light.
Sweet Photo Nate

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 20, 2011 at 7:20 AM

Very cool bird Nate, nice details and exposure of this dark plumage.
Great use of your fill flash, well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Gallo on April 20, 2011 at 5:34 PM

Nate, I think that this is the most unusual bird that I have ever seen.....you did an outstanding job with the blacks here, not an easy task by any means. Wonderful details and pose....congrats on a great image

Registered on September 14, 2005, 182 Posts, 1471 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on April 20, 2011 at 7:49 PM

Great exposure on an incredibly interesting bird Nate. 92.35% of FF - now that's what I'd call a precise crop disclosure...

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

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on April 20, 2011 at 10:08 PM

What a cool looking bird. Nice job on detailing the black feathers.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on April 21, 2011 at 3:58 AM

Amazing Nate - flash has worked beautifully

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 22, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Way to go Nate, I have never heard of this bird, good story and image, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments