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Wood Pidgeon


Wood Pidgeon
Photo Information
Copyright: Hilary Wilkinson (Hil) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1406] (4831)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Alex99 favorite shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-30 9:20
Viewed: 906
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi All, Just like to thank everyone for their kind critiques and comments, I got this pic in a small nature reserve beside my local park, he turned his head as I sneaked up, then flew away like most of my subjects.

Wood Pigeon

Latin name (Columba palumbus)

Family (Columbidae)

Overview
In the recent RSPB Garden Bird watch it emerged as the 6th most common Garden visitor in the UK, an average of 1.53 per garden, the woodpigeon continues its success. It's increased by 665% since 1979. They are the largest of the pigeon family. In flight they have distinctive white wing patches and the tail has a dark band at the end.

Where to find them
Fields, Woods, Parks and Gardens

When to see them
All year round

Diet
Buds, shoots, seeds, nuts and berries, also crops like grain, peas and cabbages. They will also feed on almost anything that you may put on your garden bird table. They also drink a huge amount compared to other birds mainly due to their diet lacking in moisture, unlike most birds that scoop up water and throw their heads back to swallow they use their beaks like a straw to suck up the water.

Description
The Wood Pigeon is mostly grey, with a pinkish breast, it has green, purple and white patches on its neck, and the tail has a black tip with an obvious white flash on the wings which is very noticeable in flight. The legs and beak are both pink, the eye is yellow. The juvenile birds are duller browner and don’t have a white patch on their necks. Wood Pigeons waddle when they walk, which adds to their general appearance of being overweight. In fact, the Wood Pigeon's feathers weigh more than its skeleton and it is Europe's largest pigeon.

Voice
A Wood Pigeon's song has five notes, compared to the three notes of the Collared Dove, and sounds like "ru-hoo ru ru-hoo". This is sometimes remembered as: "Take toooo coooos, Taffy".

Breeding & Nesting
At breeding time Wood Pigeon's can be seen displaying: flies upwards, claps its wings, and then glides downwards with its tail spread. It breeds in trees in woods, parks and gardens, laying two white eggs in a simple stick nest which hatch after 17 to 19 days. The nests are vulnerable to attack, particularly by crows, the more so early in the year when the leaf cover is not fully formed. The young usually fly at 33 to 34 days; however if the nest is disturbed some young may be able to survive having left the nest as early as 20 days from hatching.

Conservation
Since the 1970s the population has increased rapidly, which may be a result of the expansion of intensive arable farming and in particular oilseed rape.

I got all my info from reading Wilkipedia, RSPB Website and the Garden Birds of Britain
nglen, uleko, vanderschelden, JoseMiguel, eqshannon, gracious, Proframe, CeltickRanger, Alex99, Luis52, Necipp, jaycee, fartash, NinaM, ramthakur, Argus, SkyF, earthtraveler, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To lawbert: ThanksHil 1 03-30 09:53
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2008-03-30 9:29]

Hi Hilary. The lady next door today. Your Pigeon is looking across to my Brambling.
You have captured a fine picture of the bird in a nice seting with the moss on the tree trunk. Good detail and natural colours.I like the colours arond the neck. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Hil
We both have Wood Pigeons today...I really like the pose on this one as it shows so much more detail of the tail feathers, body and head in perfect sharpness.
The whole scene is spot on.
Paul
(Didnt Rossi do well!!)

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2008-03-30 10:09]

Hello Hilary,
What a splendid shot of this wood Pigeon! We have two of them coming regularly to our garden and they are really beautiful. You've caught this one in a fine pose and in beautiful light. Excellent sharpness and lovely colours. It looks great against the dark natural background.
TFS and cheers, Ulla

Hi Hil,
Well composed Wood pigeon photo.
Very good pose and the frame is filled well.
TFS
Annick

Hilary

Wood Pigeons every way I turn ! Just as Pauls, excellent focus with another classic Wood Pigeon pose.

Jai

Hi Hilary,
This is a very good capture of the w. pigeon.
I like the nice pose got, the way it has the head turn side ways and eye contact.
It works great the subtle green tones on the bark at the background.
Congratulations and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

A very unusual selection for the bird to perch and hence giving it a very neat contrasting in colours which sort of draw the eye into the focal point in an odd way not usually done...Very unique!
Bob

Hello Hilary,
Very good size posting to view and enjoy the closeness of this Wood Pigeon!
the exposure and focus is spot on in total sharpness, perfect colouration and superb details in the shot
my compliment for this fine image well presented
best regards
greeting from NZ
Tony

Hello Hilary,

Wonderful shot of this lovely Wood Pigeon.
Love the pose of the bird looking backwards.
Beautiful how you've managed to capture the bird in it's natural envoirement.
Excellent note and exposure and due to that wonderful feather detail.
Also love the way the color tones of the Pigeon do stand out against the color tones in the BG.
Very well done. TFS!!!

Kindest regards, Harry

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
  • [2008-03-31 2:31]

I couldn't help laughing at the bit in your note: "he turned his head as I sneaked up, then flew away like most of my subjects." It's the same with everyone Hilary :-) I can't even sneak up on Grasshopper! They see me from a mile off and scatter while alerting ever other animal in the vicinity to scram before I get there :-)
You got a fine image of this fellow nevertheless.
We can see the lovely metallic collar really well here.
Sharp with great clarity.
Nice composition too.
Superb work!
Cheers,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2008-03-31 9:12]

Hi Hilary.
I am impressed with the picture so much. Both subject and quality f the picture are great without any doubt. Scenery and image of the pigeon are fantastic. Superb lights and darks, ultimate details of the plumage, eye,and beak of the bird and trees, moss and other details of surroundings. My congratulations. Well done.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2801] (10142)
  • [2008-03-31 9:57]

Hola Hilary.
Muy buena la foto de hoy, me agrada la pose y sus diferentes tonos de azul en su plumaje. La nota escrita de gran valor.
Saludos Hil
Luis52.

hello Hilary

excellent shot of this branched Wood Pidgeon, with a fine POV
and framing, an excellent DOF, i love it, lovely luminosity
of the image and great sharpness and details of the foreground, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4605] (14893)
  • [2008-03-31 12:35]

Hi Hil,

A wonderful super close-up of this wood pigeon. He looks so nice on the moss covered branch. Excellent natural colors - I love the lavender and turquoise of his neck. Good details from head to toe. Interesting how he has his wings wrapped around himself.

Jane

Dear Hil
Wonderful shot of this Wood Pidgeon,
Perfect details,exposure and composition.
Superb shot my friend.

Good Luck
Fartash

Wonderful, delightful pose!
Good details and great lighting. Nice natural habitat captured here.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 562 W: 0 N: 1371] (4547)
  • [2008-03-31 17:02]

What a stunning shot, it is beautiful Hilary! The colours are very natural and the details amazing. The composition is superb too, I really like the big branch coming out with the pigeon standing on it. The green moss adds colour which is perfect with the bird. Thank you!

Francine

It is the eyes of a Pigeon that fascinate me, Hilary.
The Wood Pigeon looking back at you in this picture too has beautiful eyes.
The subject perched on the lichen-covered branch of a tree has been captured very well.
Thanks and take care.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2597 W: 133 N: 7441] (23193)
  • [2008-04-01 1:12]

This is great, Hilary!
Though a very common bird, I like the way you captured this Woodpigeon, the pose, POV, sharpness and above all the wonderful composition amongst the moss-covered branches.
A superb picture that is a delight to see and thanks for sharing it!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-04-01 4:16]

Hello Hilary,
beautiful shot, there is so much detail you captured in that Pidgeon plumage. Nicely timed the bird does give you a wonderful curious look.
Nice sharp details and great colors.
Sky

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-04-01 7:20]

Hello Hilary

A beautiful capture of this pigeon.
Excellent focus and sharpness.The colours are rich and well saturated.
The mossy natural setting is lovely.
Wonderful eye detail and plumage.
TFS

Rob

Hello Hilary, a fine pose caught here in a nice environment. Good detail and well adjusted DOF. The bird well placed in the frame with composition. tfs rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 1 N: 124] (1970)
  • [2008-04-01 18:25]

Hi Hilary,
I like your picture. Beautiful colours and détail. The composition is excellent.
Félicitation,
Roger

Hi Hilary,

This is a great shot with excellent detail and a great pose from the pigeon. I think shots of birds taken from behind are really effective as you can get lovely details in the back and wing feathers, as you have done here, but it's not always easy getting the whole bird into focus. You have managed perfectly.

Have a great weekend,

Mike

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-04-07 8:13]

Hi Hilary,
Wonderful shot of this Wood Pigeon with very impressive sharpness and colours on its plumage. I like the way it is looking over its shoulders and the natural surrounding. Superb illumination. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Hil, This is really beautiful. The pose, plumage details and color, and the composition with the mossy limb and tree all add up to make this a very fine image. Very nice indeed.
Tfs Richard

Hi Hil,
I'm squashed for time..
Lovely job, I like it :)
Howard

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