Common Grackle

Gallery: AvianPosted June 3, 201183 views7 comments

Grackles have taken over my bird feeder. This one was on a cedar while considering returning to the feeder. I hope their stay is temporary: I would prefer to see other birds in the feeder. These guys are tough. Grackles are known to kill and eat other birds. I can't blame the little fellows for staying away.

I like the detail in this image. We certainly have a fine view of this bird. There were a few small distracting branches that I had to clone out.

1D Mark IV, 400 mm f/5.6, 1.4x TC, hand held: ISO 1250, 1/800 s, f/8, 0 EV, 16 MP (full frame), NR, exposure adjustment, sharpening.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 3, 2011 at 11:45 PM

Never even heard of this bird before! I love the iridescent colours of it's plumage as well as it's well-defined tail. May not have been what you were hoping for Steve, but you captured a magnificent portrait of it all the same, very well done :^)

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

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 4, 2011 at 1:06 PM

I like the pose, colors, and detail on the bird. Hope the grackles leave your feeders soon.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 4, 2011 at 11:14 PM

Excellent job on the exposure and bringing out the subtle detail in the plumage, Steve. It really pops in the larger image.

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

Comment posted by Monica Siri on June 5, 2011 at 3:47 PM

Steve,
great detail and excellent exposure on a tough subject. You captured the iridescence very well. Nice setting too.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on June 5, 2011 at 7:15 PM

Really stands out well against the dark background. Love that eye!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on June 5, 2011 at 8:30 PM

Thank you for the fine comments everyone. Looks like this one is in the "nice picture of a nasty bird" category. I went a bit further with this image and used it as a basis for a posting in the Photo Art Gallery: "Grackle in Jeopardy" at:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/ic.cgi?a=vp&pr=174312&CGISESSID=1956f1c848fb5731ba9c10dcad0194cc&u=30044

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

Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 6, 2011 at 6:24 PM

you captured the shine of the feathers well, with nice detail overall. One sign of spring here in Kansas is when the grackles descend upon our feeders in huge flocks. Thankfully, most leave :).

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments