Juvenile Rufous Hummer

Gallery: AvianPosted July 31, 2011128 views16 comments

When we were making dinner tonight this youngster showed up on the branch holding one of our hummingbird feeders. It must have been fresh from the nest, because it didn't know what to do and sat there begging until its mother fed it. Unfortunately, I didn't get any images of both the mother and juvenile in focus (not enough dof available).
This is a pretty major crop, mostly to eliminate the rather twiggy bg. I still had to clone out one twig running transversely immediately over the bird's head.

1DMkIV, 500mm f4 ISL + 1.4TC, Black Widow on Gitzo legs, f10, 1/1000, iso 1000, Av mode with -1/3 compensation. Adjusted exposure and added some fill light in ACR. Normal processing in CS4. Cropped to 3.6 MP. The black band on the left is the wire tie holding the nectar feeder. Taken through the open kitchen window at 4:50 pm today.

I always appreciate your comments and criticisms.

Thanks for looking,

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on August 1, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Great shot of this little hummer. Really good detail for a big crop and I love the open beak "expression" and the clean BG.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on August 1, 2011 at 12:37 AM

Beautiful little bird, so vulnerable and needy. Very nice image quality. The open beak really adds to the interest factor for me. A little more of that brown background color showing below the perch on the right side would be on my wish list (very short list).

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 1, 2011 at 2:03 AM

Great pose of this little juvie, and nice detail for a large crop.
Any way to lighten up the branch? It draws the eye from the bird.
Nice catch!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on August 1, 2011 at 8:24 AM

You caught the emotion of the moment in this little guy's demeanor. Very pleasing image, Dennis.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 1, 2011 at 9:32 AM

Neat shot of the baby Dennis. I've never spotted one so brand new before..
As you say, it would've been great to get that shot of the mom feeding it, I'd keep a look out over the coming days.
Held up nicely with the large crop, a testament to Canon image quality

Well done

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

Comment posted by David Hemmings on August 1, 2011 at 9:36 AM

Great capture Dennis, I have never seen a juvy. I would have cropped to leave the metal piece out of the image

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Kim Connolly on August 1, 2011 at 10:26 AM

It is great just as it is, love the open beak and the ruffled feathers. The background is superb too.

Registered on June 18, 2008, 14 Posts, 226 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 1, 2011 at 10:41 AM

Feed me!! Very cool image. Love the sleepy eyes and the open beak. Great feather detail. Not wild about the black band on the left. I would crop just a touch from the bottom to remove the light area on the left side.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on August 1, 2011 at 11:21 AM

Neat shot given the constraints. I'd be happy with this and wouldn't try to do anything else to it.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on August 1, 2011 at 4:41 PM

Wonderful capture of this juvenile Rufous. Love the open beak.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 1, 2011 at 5:41 PM

Darned cut bird and pose Dennis. I like it as presented.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 1, 2011 at 9:28 PM

Quite a little puff ball but the look and open beak really make the shot for me. I do not mind the other items since my eye went right for the youngster. Nice job in getthing this.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 2, 2011 at 5:00 PM

Dennis,

This bird, with its bill open, eye slightly closed and feathers all fluffed up is very appealing. Nice detail despite the large crop and the background is just lovely. How wonderful to have this right outside your window.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on August 2, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Detail couldn't be better Dennis. Great pose too, excellent work.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on August 5, 2011 at 12:00 AM

A beautiful subject wonderfully detailed; had to look this one up in your gallery Dennis, as I came across the next one you posted and was curious to see this one, pleased I took the initiative :^)

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

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on December 19, 2011 at 5:27 AM

This has to be one of my favorite hummer photos ever! I think it's ok that the mom is not in the frame because her presence is definitely implied! I love the lighting & feather detail!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments