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Snow, Wind and Cold


Snow, Wind and Cold
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-01-09 10:41
Viewed: 515
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Here's another brave little Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis 14-16 cm) in the falling snow, the wind and the cold !

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

A widespread and common small sparrow, the Dark-eyed Junco is most familiar as a winter visitor to bird feeders. It comes in several distinctly different looking forms, but all are readily identified as "juncos" by their plain patterning, dark hood, and white outer tail feathers.

Description
top
Medium-sized sparrow.
Unstreaked gray or brown, no wingbars (usually).
Gray to black hood.
Belly white.
White outer tail feathers.
Eyes dark. Legs pink.

Size: 14-16 cm (6-6 in)
Wingspan: 18-25 cm (7-10 in)
Weight: 18-30 g (0.64-1.06 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes similar, but females average paler and browner.

Sound
Song is a musical trill. Calls a hard "tick," "smack," and a short twittering trill.

»listen to songs of this species
topConservation Status
Common.

Other Names
Junco ardois� (French)
Junco ojo oscuro (Spanish)


Cool Facts


Juncos are the "snowbirds" of the middle latitudes. In the eastern United States, they appear in all but the most northern states only in the winter, and then retreat each spring. Some juncos in the Appalachian Mountains remain there all year round, breeding at the higher elevations. These residents have shorter wings than the migrants that join them each winter. Longer wings help the migrants fly long distances.


The Dark-eyed Junco includes five forms that were once considered separate species. The "slate-colored junco" is the grayest, found from Alaska to Texas and eastward. The "Oregon junco" is boldly marked blackish and brown, with a distinct dark hood, and is found in the western half of the continent. The "gray-headed junco" has a brown back and gray sides and lives in the central Rocky Mountains. The "white-winged junco" is all gray with white wingbars, and breeds only near the Black Hills of South Dakota. The "Guadalupe junco" of Baja California is dull and brownish. Two other forms may be distinguishable: the "pink-sided junco," a pale version of the Oregon junco, living in the northern Rocky Mountains, and the "red-backed junco," a gray-headed junco with a dark upper bill, found in mountains near the Mexican border.


The Dark-eyed Junco is a common bird at winter bird feeders across North America. Data from Project FeederWatch show that it is often the most common feeder bird in an area, and it is on the top-ten lists of all regions except the Southeast and South-Central (where it is 11th and 12th, respectively). To view the top-25 lists of feeder birds from across the continent, go to the Project FeederWatch
mariki, eqshannon, fiyo, Juyona, jaycee, Adanac, rcrick, SelenE, Alex99, smitha, thijs, Luis52, NinaM, CeltickRanger, dalmatinac, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

It still is so odd for me to hear all of these familiar names...it is as though I was back in time...and a different place in life...almost every one of your favorite and most pictured birds such as this are ingrained in me from my single digit years...In a round about way it also makes me feel a bit older now..I am the oldest in the very large family...hard for me to grasp...but times like this, seeing your wonderful and well done images, gives me a certain nostalgic feeling. I really appreciate it!
Bob

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-01-09 11:36]

Hi . Going to be late home from the office tonight so just a note for now to say great shot .well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-01-09 11:37]

Hi Mario,
excellent composition and a perfect DOF with fine detail, the blurred snowflakes in the background make this a truly beautiful winters scene my friend, well done1
Paul

  • Great 
  • javig Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 10 W: 0 N: 20] (134)
  • [2008-01-09 11:42]

A superb and frosty shot!

Javi.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-01-09 11:42]

Salut Mario,it seem he have a fur..the cold is high,and the bird is very simpatic,thanks for share and excuse me for my bad english,have a nice day,Luciano

Hi Mario
Excellent composition, pose and details.
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 64 N: 1225] (3835)
  • [2008-01-09 12:10]

Hllo Mario,
so supersharp this portrait. And the light is phantastic, the composition excellent. Thank you for this and for the detailed note.
Best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 958 W: 5 N: 2373] (8876)
  • [2008-01-09 12:18]

Hello Mario,
Great shot
Lovely detail and colours,nice composition.TFS

Hello Mario,
It's easy to see it is cold outside!
The fluffy plumage protects the little fellow from the cold, but he is still depending on extra food to survive...
Good light and super details, a well composed presentation!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-01-09 12:41]

Hello Mario,
Excellent sharp detailed photo. Great wintering colours. Perfect composition, POV and DOF. Very nice pose.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Mario,
Excellent excellent captured on good exposure and focus even in a weather like this!
good clarity, natural colour and details on the Junco!
great work and good composition indeed
TFS
cheers
Tony

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-01-09 14:01]

Hola Mario,
hermoso junco,
bella compo.
su plumaje preparado para resistir el frio...
original momento,
saludos

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-01-09 14:30]

Hi Mario,

This Junco, blown up from the cold, is beautiful. The details of the face and plummage are outstanding. I love the colors and the way the background blends with the bird. Wonderful composition on the diagonal branch.

Jane

Bonsoir Mario
Un très joli travail : j'aime beaucoup lorsque le fond est dans les mêmes tonalités que le sujet principal, et la composition est parfaite; très belle netteté sur l'oiseau. J'ai fait un ws pour supprimer les flocons de neige, mais j'ai atteint ma limite ce soir. Je le chargerai demain.
Cordialement;
Antoine.

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-01-09 16:11]

Hello Mario,
Top notch image coming from superb camera work. This is cool or should I say cold, the grays and whites, the bare branches. Brrrrrr, thanks for sharing my friend.
Rick

Hello Mario,
very good composition and pov, excellent sharpness and good depth of field, very nice colors and detail.
Angela

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-01-09 19:37]

Hello Mario,
Wonderful image of this little Dark-eyed Junco, the detail in the plumage is excellent; love the framing and the soft background, very nice work, Cheers Rick :)

Bonjour Mario,

Très jolie composition. Belle pose de ce mignon petit oiseau. J'aime beaucoup la juxtaposition des tons bruns et gris.
Amicalement,

Mariki

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-01-10 1:55]

Lovely shot Mario!
The composition is exceptional!
Very good POV as well.
Extremely sharp and detailed with superb clarity.
Nice lighting.
Very well done,
Joe

Hi Mario

You did a good job in cold, but the junco doesn't look worried at all, even with snow falling in the background.

Well composed and good sharpness.

Chris

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2426 W: 63 N: 4002] (12926)
  • [2008-01-10 4:33]

Hi Mario,
I liked the pose you captured a lot. This little fellow looks so cute. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-01-10 5:59]

Hi Mario,
I will be back.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2008-01-10 8:06]

Hi Mario.
What a nice picture of the fluffy beauty. Great feather reproduction. Wonderful soft light and colours. Excellent subject and superb smooth BG. Bravo.
Alexei.

Hello Mario,
Beautiful shot of the little bird.
It looks all warm and cozy.
Good sharpness and details.
Lovely POV and Dof.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • thijs Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 4 N: 42] (168)
  • [2008-01-10 14:36]

Hi Mario

I don't know this species, but it's always great to learn new things. especially when it's from a picture this beautifull. You managed to capture it really good. Love the details. Poor little fellow hed the make a huge amound of feathers to stay warm. Beautifull composition.

TFS, Thijs

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2888] (10447)
  • [2008-01-10 15:20]

Hola Mario.- Por lo que se aprecia. Aire y nive, clima muy frio, sin embargo estos pequeños se las arreglan para pasar estos dias frios. Muy bella la imagen y finos detalles logrados aqui.
Luis52.

I hope he is as warm as all those downy feathers look. It is a lovely simple composition with nice toning colors throughout.

TFS
Evelynn ; )

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-01-10 16:58]

Bonsoir Mario, quel joli tableau que celui-ci, un tableau, oui. un tableau précieux avec un si bel oiseau, son plumage ressemble à de la fourrure. Et j'adore les flocons horizontaux derrière le junco. Merci!

francine

salut Mario

belle pose de l'oiseau les détails du plumage et de la branche
sont comme d'habitude excellent, les parties des couleurs
neutres de son plumage font un bon contraste avec les
parties claires de son plumage, j'aimes bien ça, TFS

Asbed

Bonjour Mario,
Magnifique, quels détails, la composition est superbe,la netteté est parfaite et les flocons de neige agrémentent le tout.
Merci
Marie

Hi Mario. Absolutely flawless shot. Exceptional details,subtle colour scheme and lovely composition. Reminds me of delicate Oriental ink paintings.Regards. Klaudio.

Bonsoir Mario,

Ce junco ardois a gonflé ces plumes d'air pour se protéger du froid. Il ne semble pas être dérangé par la présence du photographes. la prise de vue permet de voir avec précision les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau. La photo est bien cadrée. Merci du partage.

Pierre

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