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Pine Grosbeak


Pine Grosbeak
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 200, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-30 9:50
Viewed: 956
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A female Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator 20-25cm)
sitting on a spruce in the snow covered boreal forrest of Montmorency.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu
One of the larger members of its family, the Pine Grosbeak is a bird of the boreal forests, found across northern Eurasia and North America, and south into the mountains of western Canada and the United States. A large, unwary finch, it makes periodic winter irruptions into southern Canada and northern United States. It is the largest and rarest of the "winter finches."
Cool Facts
The tameness and slow-moving behavior of the Pine Grosbeak gave rise to local name in Newfoundland of "mope."
Winter flocks may stay near a tree with abundant fruit until all of it is consumed.
Winter irruptions are infrequent and irregular. To see an illustration of the invasion of the winter 1997-98, based on data gathered through BirdSource's Winter Finch Survey, click here.
A breeding adult Pine Grosbeak develops pouches in the floor of its mouth for carrying food to its young.
During most of the year, 99% of diet is vegetable matter, especially buds, seeds, and fruits of spruce, pine, juniper, elm, maple, mountain ash, apple, and crabapple. It feeds insects and spiders to its young, though, often mixed with plant foods. It drinks water or eats snow daily.
Description
topSize: 20-25 cm (8-10 in)
Wingspan: 33 cm (13 in)
Large finch; medium-sized songbird.
Plump, heavy-chested.
Dark wings with two white wingbars.
Large stubby curved bill.
Male red.
Blackish-brown tail and wings.
Tail long and slightly forked.
Eyes black.
Bill dark.
Legs dark.
Sex Differences
Sexually dimorphic: Male with rosy-red head, chest and back, rest gray; females with yellow-olive where male has red.
Male
Pinkish-red head, breast, back and rump. Streaked back. White undertail coverts. Blackish brown wings and tail. White wingbars and tertial edges.
Female
Yellowish olive head and rump. Gray underparts and back. Blackish brown wings and tail. White wingbars and tertial edges.
Immature
Immature male usually is indistinguishable from immature or adult female until the second year when it molts and grows new reddish feathers. Some young males have some red or orange feathers in the body plumage, which females apparently lack. Females average duller than males (especially on the crown and rump) and have a lighter russet tinge to the head or lighter olive tinge to the breast than males. The color of the head and body is often golden orange or reddish bronze in males, in contrast to golden yellow of the female, and the chin is often buffier or more brown-gray than in the female.
Sound
Song is a sequence of clear, warbling, flute-like notes. Flight calls vary geographically, but can sound like "tee-tee-tew," resembling calls of Greater Yellowlegs.
Range
Breeds in subarctic and subalpine coniferous forests of North America and Eurasia.
Winter Range
Winters mainly in breeding range, but may go farther south irregularly to southern Canada and northern United States.
Habitat
Breeds in open coniferous forests.
Wintering areas determined by food availability, so found in wider variety of habitats, including urban areas.
Found in flocks in winter; strongly territorial in breeding season. Distinctive call note often given in flight.
Conservation Status
Status largely unknown because of difficulty of assessing populations.
Other Names
Durbec des sapins (French)
Camachuelo picogrueso (Spanish)
nglen, jaycee, eqshannon, Hil, navnith, Islander_, jconceicao, gerbilratz, Heaven, NinaM, Juyona, CeltickRanger, Proframe, jusninasirun, angela926, Dan, goldyrs, uleko, albert, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eqshannon: Post it!EOSF1 1 04-02 18:36
To nglen: SpringtimeEOSF1 1 03-30 11:12
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2008-03-30 9:54]
  • [+]

Hi Mario. A fine close up of the beautiful looking bird. What lovely markings and colours it has which you have captured so well. A nice pose on the tree with the bird looking at you. well done TFS.
Nick..
Has spring arrived for you yet. ??

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-03-30 10:00]

Hi Mario,

A beautiful close-up of this Pine Grosbeak in a wonderful wintry setting. She is posing perfectly for you with a nice look on her face. Just like all your pictures with wonderful colors, sharp details and a winning composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 705 W: 13 N: 1405] (5027)
  • [2008-03-30 10:02]

Hi Mario

Lovely shot of the Female Pine Grosbeak, nicely composed with a excellent POV and a fine pose, nice crisp feather details and lovely light, the colour pallete is especially nice, I like the way the pine branches match the Grosbeaks head and the way you have used the Birds colours to make your frame.

Hil

I have a bird image...and I looked around at others to see if any had a feeder in them...not too many. Do you think Rob or others would bother me if I posted it...it only has a slight edge of the feeder..oh well...this is what I am looking to do but I have no place to take such images as this one...
Bob

Hi Mario,
Beautiful shot with excellent DOF and sudued colors.It looks like a painting.
TFS
navnith

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 61 N: 2306] (9467)
  • [2008-03-30 10:17]

Bonsoir Mario,

Très belle photo de ce durbec. J'aime beaucoup la composition. Les détails du plumage sont excellents. Très belles couleurs.
Bonne soirée,
Mariki

Bonjour Mario,

Très beau portrait, entourage agréable, utilisation de flash impeccable!

Merci,

Eugène

Hi Mario,

Superb photo.Excellent colours with fantastic detail.Good sharpness.I liked very much.

Excellent details and a fine composition. The colours are stunning. excellent focus and a great composition. TFS and best regards h

Superb portrait, Mario.
Impressive.
The perch's colours are matching very well; very beautiful bird.
You photographed the latter very well especially in terms of exposure, contrast, depth of field, etc.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2008-03-30 11:40]

Bela foto muito bem em composição e nitides cores agradaveis meus parabéns por este trabalho.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
  • [2008-03-30 11:48]

Hello Mario,
Again a wonderful photo. The colours and sharpness are amazing. Great pose, contrasts and DOF. Excellent composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-03-30 12:12]

Salut Mario,tous les jours une photo extraordinaire,le roi des oiseux de TN a nous encore la capacite' de nous sourprendre! Vraiment un travail de grande classe,merci encore de partager,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 811 W: 108 N: 1736] (6060)
  • [2008-03-30 12:43]

Hi Mario!

You present us a qualitatively outstanding picture that is technically perfect. Moreover, it generates emotions due to the very delicate composition and interplay between the sharp and blurred parts of the picture. I also like the expression of the bird very much.

A very pleasant picture!

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
  • [2008-03-30 13:34]

Coucou Mario, quelle belle tête de couleur cannelle, c'est incroyable comme les couleurs sont belles! Je voudrais prendre cet oiseau et l'embrasser! Il me semble qu'il doit sentir bon. Merci!

Francine

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2008-03-30 14:03]

Hola Mario,
hermoso trabajo,
nitidez y bello plumaje,
sensacional pov. y pose,
saludos

bonjour Mario

une de tes belles photos animalières, superbe photo
de la femelle du Durbec des sapins avec l'excellent POV
et cadrage, la belle luminosité et excellente netteté et détails, TFS

Asbed

Hello Mario,

The one even more beautiful than the other great bird shot in a lovely wintery scene you are showing us here.
Technically superb, with perfect sharpness, DOF and exposure.
Outstanding note and fantastic feather details.
Most wonderful catchlight in the eye and clarity.
Superb work. TFS!!!

Best regards, Harry

Bonsoir Mario,
Toujours agréable à regarder tes photos d'oiseaux, elles sont magnifiques et celle-ci n'est pas à part, Superbe cliché et composition , jolies couleurs et netteté, avec de beaux détails et lumière, Mes compliments
Michel

I like how the grays, and brownish-gold of the twigs and bird, tie the image together. It's a beautiful bird.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hello Mario. Stunning image of this bird and you have done well with sharpness and details. I like the perch on the branch against the muted background. Regards. Jusni

another perfect portrait of this bird, TFS Ori

Bonjour Mario
Des teintes superbes, et, comme toujours une excellente qualité technique. la branche du sapin prolonge les couleurs de l'oiseau, c'est un plus.
Cordialement,
Antoine.

Hello Mario,
Great capture, beautiful colors and
contrast, excellent composition, good pov,
superb sharpness and depth of field,
fantastic details and lovely light and
great pose.
Angela

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-03-31 2:27]

I am honestly lost for words on this one!
I don't know how you get it so sharp!! :-)
everything has already been said and to sum this photo up: Flabbergastingly brilliant.

Joe :-D

Mario,
What a shot!This looks so real on the one had, one can almost 'feel' the details and the composition , on the other, is so artistic, it looks like a painting!
Very well done!
Thanks!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2008-03-31 6:04]

Hello Mario,
Superb shot of this pretty female. I like her rusty colours that match the pine and details are very sharp. Excellent POV and a very lovely composition!
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Mario
Well done, as usual
TFS
Albert

Excellent photo , you can make a Wildlife Poster with this , TFS and good luck .

Bonjour mario,

Cette Durbec des sapins sur la branche semble oberser au loin. La prise de vue permet de distinguer les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau. Le sujet est bien cadré. Les couleurs sont rehaussées par la lumière. Bonne journée.

Pierre

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