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Red-billed Leiothrix
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Red-billed Leiothrix

by Nate Chappell

Gallery: AvianPosted July 29, 2017138 views6 comments
Here's another shot from the Big Island of Hawaii.  This is an introduced species, probably brought in as cage birds and then escaped and established populations.  Introduced birds like this have done great damage to Hawaii's native birds, mostly by being carriers of avian malaria, which they are resistant to, but the native Hawaiian birds are not.  Due to this most of the native songbirds now live at 5,000 feet or above out of range of the mosquitoes.  But I couldn't help but post this bird anyway because of it's amazing color.  Good sized crop. 
Canon 1DX II, 500F4 1.4x 1/160 F6.3, iso 1250, fill flash at -1.3

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 29, 2017 at 9:35 PM
Excellent image quality, Nate.  Not one I remember seeing from our visit a few years ago.  A beautiful bird.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on July 30, 2017 at 3:43 AM
Very natural, very sharp and detailed, soft background with coordinated colors and a classic composition.  A beautiful little bird and an excellent photo, Nate!
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 30, 2017 at 4:19 PM
Perfection as usual, Nate.  The soft light is wonderful.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on July 31, 2017 at 2:16 PM
Despite several trips to Hawaii over the years, my interest in avian photography didn't start until the last one about 10 years ago, so my knowledge of birds on the islands is limited.  I am aware that most of the species were introduced.  I like this image.  Nice detail and pose.  You got a reasonable head turn and catch light.  Love the background.  I hope to go back to the Big Island soon and will try to find some native birds.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on August 3, 2017 at 1:21 PM
Hi Nate
You are right about the bird's coloring, and thank you for bring us this photo.
Peter
Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments
Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on August 5, 2017 at 7:32 AM
Perfect, Nate.
Beautiful bird, nice perch, great bg. Very nice details. 
Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments