Andean Cock of the Rock

Gallery: AvianPosted October 7, 20162,094 views8 comments

Canon 1D-X, 500mm f4 x 1.4TC, tripod
f5.6, 1/160, ISO12800 (not a typo)

This was taken at the lek on Upper Manu Road, Peru. Most of the males were pretty far away, but this guy lost a quarrel and landed about 12 feet from me. So it's a portrait, taken in the pre-dawn gloom under the canopy. It's the closest I've ever been to one of these big cotingas.

Cropped to vertical. Slight adjustments to Shadows; noise reduction to background. There's noise in the bird but I'm still pretty happy with the quality for the ISO.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 7, 2016 at 7:25 PM

All I saw was a flash of red FAR FAR away, and one landed right next to you?! unbelievable...
Not technically perfect by any means, but a shot anyone would take. I'm amazed at the 12800 ISO -
Great catch!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 8, 2016 at 12:14 PM

Congrats on getting this one in the box Jim. I know how exciting these guys are to see let alone photograph, and the early dawn light under canopy presents great challenges. Nice work.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on October 8, 2016 at 2:40 PM

Seen pictures of this one before, but always a great sight - what a bird... Great you caught it ! Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on October 8, 2016 at 4:32 PM

Great shot. I've always wanted to see one of these since I was a kid. They're a strange bird. I can't tell where the top of its head is. And there is no beak. Perhaps it's covered with feathers.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 8, 2016 at 4:57 PM

Pretty amazing for pre-dawn in that kind of environment, Jim. That silver eye in all the red really pops.

devil

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

Comment posted by Lori Lafargue on October 9, 2016 at 2:54 PM

Wow! I've never even heard of this one. What an amazing bird, and a fantastic shot. Lucky you!
Lori

Registered on September 30, 2016, 54 Posts, 59 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on October 9, 2016 at 4:03 PM

What an amazing bird Jim. Congrats on this one captured under difficult circumstances. Well done!

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on October 10, 2016 at 6:31 PM

Looks like your trip was pretty fruitful, Jim. I'd be very happy with this image too. This is a fantastic portrait. Very well done under the conditions you described - really amazing for ISO12800.

I am curious how long he stayed there - was there an option to take the TC off and get the tail in the frame?

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