Red Crossbill

Gallery: AvianPosted March 3, 2012703 views12 comments

Went into the files for this Red Crossbill from last summer. This species is so variable--it seems like there are no two exactly alike--especially young birds like this young male. This was taken at a USFS constructed waterhole, in natural light and not otherwise baited. I'd like to get some shots of this species in pines since that is more typically their habitat, but they are always too high in the pines....

I appreciate your critiques and comments. Please view the larger version if possible.

Taken 20 Aug 2011 at 0652 (1 hr after sunrise)

f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 500

Crop to 72% of original (12.9 of 18MP)

Canon 7D, 500mm + 1.4x TC, tripod, camo cloth

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on March 3, 2012 at 9:54 PM

Nice comp on this image of a great species.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 3, 2012 at 11:26 PM

Brian, great detail in this image. I like the pose on the little branch. Like the catch light in the eye. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 4, 2012 at 12:20 AM

Excellent detail, and that's quite a bill.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 4, 2012 at 10:34 AM

Excellent. Great position; nice detail. I've got to get to that waterhole sometime.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 4, 2012 at 11:13 AM

Bird looks great, I like the background foliage. Nice work.

Ray

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 4, 2012 at 11:26 AM

Attractive species, well positioned. Like the colors as well. Personally I would maybe have preferred the BG slightly more blurred, but since you already used f5.6 , so that was obviously not an option (leaves post processing, but since it's pretty nice as it is I would leave it). The BG thing is just a minor nit though, since I like the overall image very much ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on March 4, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Super sharpness.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 4, 2012 at 1:39 PM

A nice look at that beak - fine detail, great pose, and nice BG.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 4, 2012 at 4:48 PM

Excellent, Brian, and a tight shot of a difficult species.

There's been an effort to break Red Crossbills into as many as five different species. The AOU rejected it last time around, but I think it is still under consideration.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on March 4, 2012 at 8:57 PM

Nice job capturing this unique species. I haven't seen one in decades, though I suppose they are common in some areas. Good pose and good detail.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 6, 2012 at 1:21 AM

Nicely done Brian, great detail and look at the crossed beak.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on March 8, 2012 at 10:51 AM

Great BG separation and details Brian. Really shows off the birds unique beak too..
Well done!

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