European Kingfisher

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European Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2218 W: 58 N: 3685] (12098)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-17
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Blue Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-18 0:01
Viewed: 564
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 84
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Common Kingfisher (or European Kingfisher)
Alcedo atthis
TR: Yalicapkini

*This species is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is largely a resident species, but may migrate short distances from northern areas where the water surfaces freeze.

Habitat: It is a bird of the waterside, since it feeds entirely upon aquatic animals. It is frequent beside lakes, ponds, canals or dykes and streams. In winter, especially when inland waters are icebound, it may move to tidal marshes and the shore, taking its stand on the mussel or limpet covered rocks and diving into the shallow pools.

In most of its European range it is the only kingfisher. It may often be confused with the Small Blue Kingfisher, with which it overlaps in the southern areas of most of its range.

Size: Slightly larger than a sparrow (ca. 18-19cm., with wings averaging 7.5 cm),
Appearance: Adult is bright metallic blue in the upper parts, cobalt on the back, and showing greenish reflections on the head and wings. The ear coverts and under parts are warm chestnut, the chin and sides of neck white.
The bill of the female is blackish and reddish orange at the base; the bill of the male is all black; the legs are bright red with a dark blue stripe. In the young the bill is black.
Flight: The flight of the Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. It usually flies near the water, but during courtship the male chases the female through and over the trees with loud shrill whistles.
The Kingfisher sometimes hovers over the water, with body held almost vertical, the tail and head bent slightly forward and the bill inclined downward.
Courtship: From February onwards the male has a trilling song, a modulated repetition of many whistles. He also signals with a whistle to the female when he is feeding her, this being his share of the nesting duties. This whistle is produced even when his bill is loaded with food, yet is clear and distinct. The female will reply and emerge from the nesting hole, and may fly to meet him, take the fish from him in the air, and return to the nest.
(*Source: wikipedia)
Heaven, fartash, boreocypriensis, rcrick, egeerhan, maurydv, Tamrock, darwin, Proframe, Juyona, SkyF, Finland_in_Eton, uleko, izler, claudine, nglen, flashpoint, Adanac, fiyo, meyerd, Necipp, jmp, earthtraveler, dejo, Alex99, hester, goldyrs has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Selen!

You present us a very beautiful picture of the Kingfisher. The close focus shows wonderful details, very well highlighted by the blurred background. The composition with the slightly de-centered bird is fine, too.

TFS!

Kind regards

Markus

Dear Selen
Wonderful shot of this beautiful Common Kingfisher,
Perfect details,soft lighting and composition,
Superb shot.

Regards
Fartash

Günaydın Selen Hanım,
Duruşu ile nefis bir Yalıçapkını. Görüntü kalitesi kendini hemen belli ediyor. DOF ve BG harika. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Bayram

Hi Selen,
Wonderful image here of the European Kingfisher, the colours are stunning, and with excellent detail, perfect POV and framing, really nice work, all the best Cheers Rick :)

Günaydın Selen
Harika bir fotograf açıklamaların ayrı bir güzellik katıyor.ellerine saglık

Splendida immagine, ottimi POV, DOF e composizione, molto buona la nitidezza e eccellenti i dettagli del piumaggio, molto belli i colori e lo sfondo. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Selen,
this is a great photo of this kingfisher. It's perfectly sharp.
I like colors and composition.
TFS Tatjana

Hi Selen,

Very good composition and detail. Must have taken some time and patience to get this close.

TFS

Pekka

hi selen!
very beautiful pic on the kingfisher!
sharp and fine composition with nice
background!
good work!

Hi Selen

Great shot.
Excellent sharpnes and composition, Great background.

chris

Hi Selen
Fantastic detail in the feathers
Very nice color and catchlite
Good composition and pose
Great capture. tfs jon

Wonderful Kingfisher image Selen.
Lovely pose of the bird and it does stand out beautifully against the soft BG.
Wonderful feather details, but I personally would like to have seen a little more color saturation.
Nevertheless a real joy to look at. TFS!!!

Kindest regards, Harry

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1519 W: 20 N: 4232] (13788)
  • [2008-03-18 3:50]

Hi Selen,
Wonderful shot of this beautiful Kingfisher with fantastic colours, sharpness and details on its plumage. Superb lighting and exposure and you have captured a fine pose with precise DOF and a fine POV. The BG looks great. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1356 W: 239 N: 4278] (15056)
  • [2008-03-18 4:19]

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!! How do you do it?!?!
This is just incredible!!!
The colours, detail, clarity... just spectacular!
Hats off to you Selen!

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1967 W: 6 N: 1620] (11834)
  • [2008-03-18 4:30]

Hola amiga,
bella captura,
foco y magnífico pov.
buen bg. y composición...
saludos

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2448 W: 207 N: 2033] (8105)
  • [2008-03-18 4:59]

Hello Selene,
gorgeous little bird and it poses very well for you.
The wonderful OOF BG shows off this bird very well.
You captured fabulous detail in that plumage.
TFS.Sky

What a lovely photo ! Excellent colors, great use of DOF, and super POV. Details are sharp and clear... I want to reach out and stroke it ! Very, very nice, TFS, Mish

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2075 W: 168 N: 5731] (18160)
  • [2008-03-18 8:19]

Hello Selen,
Of all birds this is the one I'd most like to photograph! It is so wonderful in its bright colours. Brilliant capture in very fine natural colours and sharp details. I like its pose and the soft grey background fits so well. Very nice composition too.
Many thanks, Ulla

Merhaba Selen,
Selam!!
This is a very fine and beautiful image on the Kingfisher!
good pose with awesome sharpness on the plummage, beautiful colouration and superb details
great job well done
greeting
Tony

Hi Selen,

Great shot. I like the details and the sharpness.

TFS

Wei

Hello Selen,
Definitely on my wishlist..a Kingfisher.
You photographed this one very well; excellent depth of field for example and a wonderful background.
Well done overall.
TFS
Annick

Hi Selen,
This is brilliant! You are lucky to have those wonderful birds! The ones we have here are so rare and shy. Composition, details, colors and exposure look great! This background is perfect! Well done and TFS,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1174 W: 78 N: 837] (6472)
  • [2008-03-18 12:44]

merhaba selen
guzel ve sevimli yalicapkinina net ve kaliteli bir cekim yapmissin
kompozisyon, bakis acisi, arka fon, renkler ve detaylar nefis
eline saglik
selamlar
izler

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 1 N: 3735] (12324)
  • [2008-03-18 14:43]

Hello Selen,
Simply beautiful colors in this amazing species. The details you have managed to capture are superb, thank you for sharing this beauty with us.
Rick

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 965 W: 5 N: 2177] (7906)
  • [2008-03-18 15:23]

Merhaba Selen hanım,
Yalıçapkının çok güzel bir pozu ve çok güzel bir çekim. Ellerinize sağlık.

Hi Selen,
how you come that close to a Kingfisher is the mystery with you. The shot is marvellous, all details and colours are there. Well done, again!
Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1666 W: 2 N: 4096] (15655)
  • [2008-03-19 12:14]

Hi selen. A good close up of the Kingfisher. A bird i would like to get this summer. you have captured this one with good detail and natural colours. a nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Necipp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1140 W: 15 N: 2046] (12110)
  • [2008-03-19 12:18]

Merhaba Selen, Amazing shot of the kingfisher. I still haven't got a good photo of 1 and I tried so hard. They seem difficult to find where I am. Such a close shot, really wonderful details in the head and v.good focusing w/ a good clean bg, no distractions. Congrats. Selamlar Necip

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 882 W: 46 N: 1665] (5677)
  • [2008-03-19 12:59]

Hello Selen,
Excellent photo of this Kingfisher. Perfect soft light and sharp details. Great contrast against the BG. Very good composition and POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 341 W: 0 N: 654] (2816)
  • [2008-03-19 14:23]

Bonjour Selen
Très belle prise de ce martin pêcheur, superbes couleurs et netteté, beau sujet, bravo
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 94 N: 2370] (8382)
  • [2008-03-19 14:50]

Hi Selen,
What an approach you've got! Perfect details, pose, pov and composition.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 233 W: 0 N: 157] (1145)
  • [2008-03-19 16:43]

Merhaba Selen hanım
renkler ve sırt detayları enfes doğrusu ellerinize sağlık.

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 213 W: 0 N: 635] (2839)
  • [2008-03-19 17:11]

Hi Selen,

Wow, how beautiful are these pastel colours.
Love the pose, he's showing a superb well lid eye!
He's stand so well on this perfect background!

Lise

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2518 W: 67 N: 8356] (26421)
  • [2008-03-19 20:29]

Hello Selen

A beauty!The colours are wonderful.
The sharp focus and excellent DOF really make this stand out against the lovely OOF BG.
Wonderful lighting and colour saturation.
Well composed in the frame.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1204 W: 100 N: 3882] (17999)
  • [2008-03-20 19:06]

Incredible shot Selen, so sharp and clear, great composition, perfect technique and very well done, thanks!

Mario

Hi Selen,
The turquoise plumage here is gorgeous. Wonderfully detailed and fine composition image. Tfs Richard

bonjour selen
houas!!!
superbe,avec des couleurs magnifiques et même des reflets metallisés.
a qu'elle distance te trouvais tu de l'oiseau?
laurent

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 54 N: 476] (2044)
  • [2008-03-23 7:37]

Hi Selen,
beutiful capture, lovely soft colors and details!
great pose!
Dejan

You have one of the best photos of a kingfisher I have seen Selen!
The colour and markings show very nicely.what a beautiful POV/composition.
Wish you well
Doug

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2806 W: 149 N: 4036] (13037)
  • [2008-03-24 9:42]

Hi Selen.
It is really brilliant picture of the fine bird. Terrific details of the plumage and other charming details of the bird. BG is wonderful. Its blurriness and colourfulness are great. Composition of the picture is blameless too. Bravo and kind regards.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1465 W: 18 N: 2802] (10040)
  • [2008-03-26 12:24]

Hi Selen

This Kingfisher is beautiful. The colours are really stunning and the focus is excellent. Spot on DOF and beautifully composed. It must be lovely to get close to such a beautiful bird

TFS

Karan

Selen,
What an amazing shot!You've got some very fine details of this beautiful Kingfisher on display here!
Very well done!
Thanks you!
Goldy

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