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Pygmy Owl


Pygmy Owl
Photo Information
Copyright: Aivar Mikko (metcher) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 513 W: 12 N: 986] (4258)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Owls all over the world, Birds. [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-07 12:58
Viewed: 1814
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was very surprised when I met this bird in forest. I don't even know who was more scared of us. It can be once in a lifetime opportunity in Finland with this bird. Forest was very dark and I had to go to noisy ISO800. Here is what I got out of it.
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Description: Generally dark rufescent to greyish-brown, above spotted whitish, below streaked brown and off-white. The sides of the breast are mottled brown. There is a prominent, white half-collar around the back of the neck. The tail is brown to grey-brown with 5 narrow, whitish bars. The head is round and there are no ear tufts. The facial disk is not well defined, the face being whitish, with small brown markings, mainly in the form of 2 or 3 broken, concentric rings around each yellow eye. The Bill is yellowish, as are the bare parts of the feathered toes. Legs are also feathered, claws are dark horn with blackish tips.

Size: Length: Males 15.2-17cm (6-6.7") Females 17.4-19cm (6.8-7.5")
Weight: Males 50-65g (1.76-2.3oz) Females 67-77g (2.36-2.7oz)

Habits: Most active at dusk and dawn, but also during the daytime. Not normally active at night.
Eurasian Pygmy Owls are expressive birds - When excited, one will cock its tail, flicking it from side to side. When angry, the feathers of the body and head are raised, and when frightened, they are held tightly against the upright body. Flight is woodpecker-like and undulating over a distance.

Hunting & Food: Eurasian Pygmy Owls hunt ground prey from a perch, swooping on potential prey after watching and waiting. Small birds are ambushed and caught in a dashing flight.
Small birds make up much of a Pygmy Owl's diet - Thrushes, Crossbills, Chaffinches, Leaf Warblers, and Pied Flycatchers being common prey. They also take birds approaching their own size, such as the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush or Hawfinch. Small mammals are also important food, especially voles, mice and shrews. Other prey taken include small lizards, bats, fish, and insects.
Food is often cached in tree holes, or on branches. This occurs more often in Winter.
http://www.owlpages.com
manyee, scottevers7, chiliu, Demetrio, eleana, Robespierre, dew77, coasties, chouette, ellis49, marhowie, PDP, Active, anavazao has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PDP: Hi, Paul.metcher 1 01-10 05:01
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
  • [2006-01-07 13:13]

Great shot, Aivar. A beautiful owl. The eyes are fantastic. Great POV. Well done andn TFS. : )

Hi Aivar,
An excellent capture under some very low light conditions. The owl looks well exposed with nice colors. Very sharp detail in the head and face area. Did you try shooting this in a portrait framing? Maybe just crop all that negative space on the right side to a portrait framing. A great shot, I hope I get a shot on one of these guys some day.
Scott

Hi Aivar,
Good detail, colours and sharpness considering the conditions.

Thanks for posting, have a great weekend.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2006-01-07 15:13]

Hi Aivar,
With the superb composition, a real nature photograph,
excellent contrast between the sharp face and blur around.
Very well done!

  • Great 
  • klemmg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 40 N: 484] (1719)
  • [2006-01-07 15:38]

Great capture and nicely composed to show the habitat too. A very intensive stare that provide a clear focus.
Gabi

Welll spotted and well snapped up. Excellent work..

Demetrio

Hi Aivar,
wow, what a pretty bird - I love the big impressive eyes so much. I've never seen an owl in nature, only in the zoo - it must be so exciting! Congratulations - a perfect moment for a perfect shot, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • eleana Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 207 W: 80 N: 75] (2233)
  • [2006-01-07 16:56]

Wow, Aivar!
Great capture, good cropping, background and sharpness. Expressive yellow eyes.
Best wishes,
Elena

Hi Aivar,
Compliments of the way you captured this little one. The head is the most sharp part and in this composition is that the key factor. The hazy back- and foreground is not disturbing me at all. Informative note.
Very good!
Thx and regards, Ruud

Excellent. I like the sharp focus on the head and chest with a bit of blur lower down on the owl. The background could perhaps be made more blurred to make it even less obtrusive.
John

Hi Aivar,
this very small Owl (Sparvuggla)is a beauty.
You did well with this ubder this conditions.
Well coomposed, good details and nice colours.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-01-08 3:56]

Hello Aivar!
Wonderful capture.Eye contact is amazing.I liked POV,details,framing and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

Hello Aivar

Lovely expression on the face of this cute wee Owl. Big bright, clear eyes. Lovely pose and good eye contact. Well composed. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2006-01-08 7:44]

Bonjour Aivar!

Une belle prise nature,les détail dans le plumage sont bon et le regard de l,oiseua est superbe et perçant.

Félicitations et merci pour l'envoie.

Joseph.

Waauw, what a great shot. I lik it alot. Owls are one of my favorit birds. I have never seen this one but I hope there wille be a day that.... Tfs

Cris

Great capture of this beautiful owl! You were lucky to see this bird! Great POV and nice composition. Very good job. Thanks for sharing!

Well composed with very good sharpness, detail, color and light Aivar. Great eye contact with those striking eyes. Well done. Thank You!

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2006-01-09 18:37]

Wow! I like it ! He's looking at you thinking 'He has a bigger eye than mine' !
:-)

Sharp and clear. Good background !

Mario

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-01-10 2:46]
  • [+]

Hello Aviar, very nice shot here. The eyes are fantastic. I think the space on the right doesn't really add anything and over the bottom right there seems to be a 'fog' - was there vegetation in the way? Despite my nit picking it's a very good shot and very well done for this capture.

Hi Aivar:)
great shot. The owl`s eyes are so brilliant:)
Good details, sharpness and original BG.
TFS :-)
Barbara

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2006-01-10 10:23]

A beautiful shot of this owl. I like the way that it's eyes catch the attention. Maybe a tighter crop?

Hi Aivar!
What a fantastic portrait!!!! Superb close-up with fantastic weyes. I love your cute owl.

wow,
I see you tell the "Pygmy Owl"! Great shot with nice colours and details!
Ana:)

Hi Aivar.
This is a shot, this shot makes me to look enchanted the whole picture but the eyes of the owl are magic.

Impresionante toma de esta ave . El fondo crea una atmósfera perfecta. Gran enfoque del ave y bien captada su mirada. Una fotografía excelente ... !!

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