<< Previous Next >>

Cotton Pygmy-goose


Cotton Pygmy-goose
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2345 W: 92 N: 5348] (17102)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-14 7:29
Viewed: 559
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photo is taken in the bird park Avifauna. They got a special hall there with East Asian birds. This bird is new on TN.

The Cotton Pygmy Goose or the Cotton Teal, Nettapus coromandelianus is a small perching duck which breeds in India, Pakistan, southeast Asia and south to northern Australia.

Description
Small examples are the smallest waterfowl on earth, at as little as 160 g and 26 cm. White predominates in this bird's plumage. Bill short, deep at base, and goose-like.
Male in breeding plumage is glossy blackish green crown, with white head, neck, and underparts; a prominent black collar and white wing-bar. Rounded head and short legs. In flight, the wings are green with a white band, making the male conspicuous even amongst the huge flying flocks of the Lesser Whistling Duck, which share the habitat. Female paler, without either black collar and only a narrow or nonexistent strip of white wing-bar. In non-breeding plumage (eclipse) male resembles female except for his white wing-bar.

Call: A peculiar clucking, uttered in flight.

Distribution
It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season, but Chinese birds winter further south. It nests in tree holes, laying 8-15 eggs.
This is an abundant species in Asia, although the slightly larger Australian race appears to be declining in numbers.

Found on all still freshwater lakes (jheels), rain-filled ditches, inundated paddy fields, irrigation tanks, etc. Becomes very tame on village tanks wherever it is unmolested and has become inured to human proximity. Swift on the wing, and can dive creditably on occasion.

Food
Chiefly seeds and vegetable matter, especially water lilies; also insects, crustaceans, etc.

Nesting
Season- July to September (SW. monsoon). Nest- a natural hollow in a tree-trunk standing in or near water, sometimes lined with grass, rubbish and feathers. Eggs- 6 to 12, ivory white.

(Source: Wikipedia)
maurydv, Argus, zetu, greghume, eqshannon, nglen, nasokoun, siggi, oldferret, eng55, Pentaxfriend, jlinaresp, boreocypriensis, Miss_Piggy, anel, xTauruSx, uleko, cirano, Noisette, ramthakur, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hello Peter,
what a wonderful picture of the Cotton Pygmy Goose taken with good sharpness and splendid colours, i like the lovely composition with the surface of the water green speckled, nice composition with lovely reflections.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 186 N: 11161] (34473)
  • [2009-06-14 8:10]

Hello Peter,
Neighbours today!
Great to see a fine close-up of the Cotton Pigmy Goose, a species that I have photographed in India but as it was not a good digiscoped shot I did not post it on TN. So it's nice to see this sharp and well composed shot taken from a great POV with fine ligting and colours. Congratulations for this first on TN!
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1561] (6085)
  • [2009-06-14 8:15]

Hello Peter
A fine picture with wonderful colors and great details.
Regards
Razvan

Hello Peter,
Unfamiliar species to me - certainly is a small one. The iridescent green is striking. Sharp, exposure is well handled to keep the whites from blowing out.
Regards,
Greg

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2860 W: 34 N: 8481] (31692)
  • [2009-06-14 9:11]

Hi Peter. What a cute looking Goose, This is one i have never seen before so thanks for posting. You have taken this with sharp focusing and fine detail in the feathers. Your use of the light has given bright colours. It has a short bill. well done TFs,
Nick..

Good soft lines and sharp on focal point...Super notes and fine overall green cast. I like it!
Bob

hello Peter
very sharp and ωερυ beautiful close up,with fine colors and details in a very good background,very fine capture
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Ciao Peter, lovely bird with splendid eye, wonderful light and colors, fascinating reflections, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1336 W: 56 N: 4502] (15508)
  • [2009-06-14 10:06]

Great shot Peter, great sharpness, details and clarity, great POV too! Thanks for sharing.
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1930 W: 6 N: 5388] (19222)
  • [2009-06-14 11:46]

Hi Peter,today the sharpness is really over the top of quality!! What a nice pic,i can count the plums of the goose,and the green water as background is the better way to contrast the details of the bird!!! Beautiful work! Have a nice week,LUCIANO

Hi Peter,

A fine shot, good focus and dof, good natural colours and background. A bird that I have never seen before so thanks for posting.

Regards Bill

Enfoque justo :-) pero el ojo bien enfocado.
Abrazo Peter: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1074 W: 30 N: 1046] (3270)
  • [2009-06-14 12:24]

Hi Peter,
Wonderful capture.POV,details,colors,red eyes and pose of bird are perfect.
Thanks for posting..

Ha Peter,

Mooi shot van deze dwerg eend(gans)
de kleuren in de bevedering zijn fantastisch
Gefeliciteerd met dit nieuwe soort op TN

TFS Thijs

Ciao Peter. Questo amico ha una nitidezza eccezionale. Perfettia la luce e il dettgalio.

Roberto

Hi Peter,

This toy duck seems you have been photographed so beautiful. Great close-up, I love the detail and color. Contact with the eye of the animal, is very good. Excellent use of flash support. Very good job with this beautiful animal as a model.

**Useful note, thanks!

Regards & TFS

Jesús

Hi Peter,
A lovely and perfect capture of this cute one. Nice composition and great details.
TFS and have a nice new week MF!
Cheers,

bayram

Hallo Peter
This Cotton Pygmy Goose surely has lovely big feathers, and the colour is really beautiful. The colour of the water actually compliments these shiny, olive coloured plumages. I like the almost shy look it gives you, the water droplets on the black beak and the soft feathers on the face, and last but not the least that special colour of the eye. You have captured this beautiful water bird with great focus and sharpness, bringing out the lovely colours of the bird and the water to its best. Thanks for sharing.
Anna

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1689 W: 0 N: 3811] (15342)
  • [2009-06-15 0:34]

Hello Peter,
A very special looking goose! A little one,but it also seems like having character, if I look at its determined red eye.
The plumage has a marvellous greenish tint which is close to the color of the water. Well seen.
Thanks and kind regards
Anne

Hello Peter, lovely duck and fine shot of it.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2959 W: 162 N: 817] (2429)
  • [2009-06-15 9:19]

Hello Peter,
A very nice capture of this little Cotton Teal with beautiful red eyes. Lovely plumage too and very well captured with sharp details and beautiful colours!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hallo Peter,

ik denk al hoe kom je aan al die eenden die ik niet ken maar van avifauna.
Mooie getekende eend en je hebt hem met mooie structuren en detailering vastgelegd.

Gert

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 0 N: 228] (4776)
  • [2009-06-15 14:13]

Hello Peter,
Wonderful picture of this lovely Cotton Pygmy Goose with excellent sharpness and details.Very nice ligth,colours and composition.Thanks for sharing.
Regards.
Dűrzan

Hello Peter
wonderful shot of this Cotton Pygmy-goose, the whole duck are well focused
I lik his colors : the white head, the black bill, the red eyes and the greenish feathers on his back
great composition too abd good note
Have a good night

What a dainty Goose, Peter!
The image is perfect in every respect. I particularly like the plumage of this bird with a slightly green metallic sheen on it. The eye has a serene expression in it that suggests peace and happiness for the bird as it swims around.
Thanks for this wonderful picture.
Ram

hello Peter

this is a very beautiful Goose, shot with fine POV,
excellent sharpness and details of its plumage,
i love that colour of his eye, i don't know if
you would zoom less to include on the water
the reflection of that beautiful eye, TFS

Asbed

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF