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Pied Kingfisher


Pied Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Walt Foster (Walt) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 12 W: 0 N: 94] (405)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1980-01-01
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 300D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Kingfishers [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-07-28 16:51
Viewed: 1491
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers. It is common throughout the Nile Valley, sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.

This is estimated to be the world's third commonest kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.

It is mainly a specialist fish-eater, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects. It has evolved two unique strategies, shared by no other kingfishers. As well as hunting from a perch, it will seek fish by hovering prior to a dive, like an Osprey.

It can also deal with prey without returning to a perch, and can, for example, catch a second fish, or eat small prey in flight. These adaptations mean that this kingfisher can hunt over the sea or in estuaries that lack the perches required by other kingfishers.

This approachable largish (25cm) bird is unmistakable, with its exclusively black-and-white plumage. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night. It can be easily tamed.

Its nest is a hole in a bank, on its own or in a colony, where it lays 3-6 white eggs. As with all kingfishers, the nest of a Pied soon becomes unsanitary.
PDP, seb36, chiliu, nixpix, TAZ has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2951 W: 366 N: 3779] (11761)
  • [2005-07-28 18:46]

Hi Walt, this is a great shot of this Kingfisher. The pose is excellent and it's a great looking bird. The composition is pretty good but for me I'd like a little more room to the right and I'd crop off some below the bird (this would get rid of a little piece of twig sticking up). Very well done.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3094 W: 234 N: 5897] (19892)
  • [2005-07-28 18:51]

Wow, what a clear picture and perfect POV of that kingfisher. That beak is sooo big, it looks like it should tip the bird over. Sharp details, beautiful colors, excellent composition. Well done and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • seb36 (92)
  • [2005-07-28 19:43]

I like the profile very much. Good one!

Good one Walt. I know how tough these chaps are to get right. The black/white combo is a devil against a blue sky and you handled it well. They also choose such small branches to sit on that one has to wait for it to settle before shooting. Well done and good note, Rob

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1674 W: 5 N: 2130] (11890)
  • [2005-07-29 0:01]

Un très beau spécimen, la pose de l'oiseau sur cette branche et le bg claire, en font une belle composition.

Félicitations !

Great shot!
Good contrast, nice catchlight in eye, excellent composition.
TFS!

very nice shot of a beautiful bird. by the way that beak looks vicious almost 3/4 th size of its body!

Hey Walt,

What a huge beak for a little bird. Well done on the capture. You've done a great job. The catchlight in the eye is great. Welldone. Sharpness, POV and DOF are all good.

Hello Walt,
It's nicely shown bird with wonderful POV and compo. But your BG make it look a bit artificial.
TFS.

Hi Walt, love this shot. I agree with PDP about the composition but it is still a superb image. There is great sharpness and detail in the bird and a nice BG. Great catchlight in the eye too. Excellent :)

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2005-07-31 3:53]

What a nice Kingfisher that you have well captured ! Composition, colors and sharpness are good ! Thanks for sharing Walt.

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