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Common Redpoll


Common Redpoll
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: 2008-02-20
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: 2008-02-26 14:30
Viewed: 572
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A female Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea 13 cm) stands on a pine tree branch of the boreal forest of Montmorency north of Quebec City.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu
An abundant breeding bird of the boreal and taiga regions, the Common Redpoll is seen in North America primarily only in the winter. Even then, it generally occurs during irruptions, typically every other year.
Cool Facts
Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot.
Description
Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
Wingspan: 19-22 cm (7-9 in)
Weight: 11-20 g (0.39-0.71 ounces)
A very small finch.
Bill small and conical.
Chin black.
Forehead red.
Body pale brown and streaky.
Wings and tail dark.
Two white wingbars on each wing.
Pink to deep pink wash across chest.
Sex Differences
Male pink on chest and less streaked, female without pink and heavily streaked.
Male
Crown bright red. Chin and lores black. Upperparts dark with pale edges; edges wear off through spring. Wings and tail blackish-brown. Wingbars broad and white. Lower back and rump paler and less streaked than upper back. Rump, cheeks and breast red or pink. Flanks with lines of dark streaks. Undertail coverts usually with dark centers and broad pale edges. Rest of underparts white or buffy.
Female
Similar to male, but darker and streakier. Little or no red, except on crown.
Immature
Immature male resembles adult female.
Similar Species
Pine Siskin more streaked, without red, without black bib. Yellow in wings.
Hoary Redpoll difficult to distinguish, but larger, frostier, with smaller bill and less streaking. Hoary rump white without streaks. Undertail coverts have little to no black markings. Note that Common Redpolls can look similar, and that the streaking on the undertail coverts is often hidden by the white of the overlapping feathers.
Sound
Call is a series of chittering notes with some rising, questioning notes.
Range
Habitat
Breeds in open subarctic coniferous forest and scrub. Avoids dense forests.
Winters in open woodland and scrub, weedy fields, and suburban and urban areas.
Food
Very small seeds, such as birch, willow, alder, grasses, and weeds. Also arthropods in summer.
Behavior
Foraging
Feeds on small branches, often hanging upside down. Uses feet to hold food items. Frequently visits bird feeders, especially thistle feeders.
Reproduction
Not listed as threatened or endangered.
Other Names
Sizerin flammé (French)
Pardillo sizer�n (Spanish)
CeltickRanger, Juyona, Luis52, jaycee, eqshannon, MartinL, NinaM, rcrick, ellis49, JPlumb, Jamesp, angela926, timonejoon, horia, vanderschelden, kjpweb, pvb, pilonm, hester, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To timonejoon: Thanks Babak!EOSF1 1 03-01 11:54
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-02-26 14:36]

Salut Mario,je sais plus que dire..simplement fantastique,mes plus gros compliments pour la superbe qualite' de la photo et de suject,bonne journee',Luciano

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-02-26 15:01]

Hola Mario,
hermosa captura,
perfecto trabajo y detalles,
sensacional trabajo,
saludos

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2888] (10447)
  • [2008-02-26 15:06]

Hola Mario.
Preciosa la foto. alta calidad en todos los niveles. Muy hermosa la pose y unos colores agradables.
Exelente nota.
Saludos
Luis52.

Mario,

Congratulations on yet another master piece. The pine trees make for a very interesting background. The clarity and detail in both the bird and the branch make this an awesome picture. Very nicely done. Great work.

Regards,

Martin

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-02-26 15:32]

Hi Mario,

Beautiful bird and beautiful pine tree branch that he is perched on. The colors are wonderful - I love that red patch. The details and textures of the plummage are wonderful. A very artistic shot.

Jane

VERY close in on this one...a slightly closer and if one can believe it...even sharper image...frame filler and very nicely done...a small change at times can bring about quite a reaction...
Bob

beautiful capture.wonderful colors and great sharpness and detail.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-02-26 17:19]

Ta maîtrise de l'exposition est fantastique Mario, mes deux bras en tombent! C'est la plus belle photo de sizerin de tout le site, quels beaux détails, quelle belle composition avec les branches de sapin, quel arrière-plan magnifique où on peut voir l'arbre un peu plus mais c'est la grande beauté du sizerin qui me frappe. Félicitation, c'est vraiment beau de pouvoir regarder une telle photo.

Francine

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-02-26 19:19]

Hi Mario,
Wow what a brilliant image, everything about this is just perfect, lighting, framing, colours, detail, all spot-on, really nice work all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-02-26 19:39]

Hi Mario,
Outstanding shot again of this cute little Redpoll. Immaculate sharp details and colours on its plumage and you have captured a fabulous pose. Superb lighting, exposure, DOF and POV. Very effective and nice composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Ouf !!!!
celle ci est encore terrible, c'est pas possible ca, mais ou vas tu t'arrêter ????
La branche de pin dans le background est du plus bel effet,
bravo Mario
Amitiés,
Pat

So you do just as well out in the forest as you do in your own back yard. **sigh**. You must have excellent vision and a lot of patience. It shows in your work.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Mario,
this is a a great shot. Exposure and sharpness are spot on.
The picture is clear with good contrast.
The use of fill-in flash is very good, you manage to balance
the flash and daylight in a very nice way.
I like the composition and the POV too.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 644 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-02-26 23:13]

Hi Mario, very nice detail seen on this Redpoll sitting on the conifer branch. Great colour seen in a great pose. Very nice presentation.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-02-26 23:36]

Hi Mario

Another superb composition - excellent POV with wonderful detail, well handled exposure and great colour.

TFS

James

I almost want to say this is just too good, and it makes me want to pack my camera away.
Beautiful composition Mario. You have the gift, that's for sure.
The details on the beak and feathers is very sharp. TFS
Have a nice week.

Hello Mario,
WOW! outstanding capture, beautiful vivid colors and superb details, very nice composition and pov, fantastic sharpness and depth of field.PERFECT!!
Angela

Hello Mario,

Absolutely perfect this photo! Congratulations!

TFS,
Luca

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-02-27 4:08]

Woooooooooo know this is STUNNING!!
The amount of detail in the plumage is incredible!
Very, very, very sharp with amazing clarity.
Excellent side-on POV showing the small beak, red crest and streaked plumage perfectly.
Superb DOF and BG.
Exceptionally well done,

Joe

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2138 W: 224 N: 3959] (13149)
  • [2008-02-27 4:37]

Hi Mario

What a terrific close-up of this cute redpoll!
It almost fills the frame and yet it has an impeccable sharpness over the entire body and head of the bird.
A splendid DOF assures you the best isolation of the subject from the BG and again that excellent fill-in flash works great in giving you that extra bit of light needed.
Very very well done!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 50 N: 418] (2532)
  • [2008-02-27 4:38]

Just amazing

Hi Mario
An other good one!
Albert

salut Mario

l'autre jour j'ai pris en photo un oiseau, mais une photo ratée,
par contre avant de jeter ma photo je suis allé dans ta galerie
pour voir quelle sorte d'oiseau que c'est, et j'ai appris,
Sizerin flammé, j'espère la prochaine fois réussir ma photo
comme tes photos de Sizerin flammé,

cette photo que tu nous présente est très belle,
un « shot » en « close-up » adorable pose de l'oiseau
dans cette température froide, excellente luminosité,
excellente netteté et détails du plumage et de la branche,
j'aimes également ton cadrage vertical, TFS

Asbed

Hello Mario,
Wonderful colours. Very good composition. Outstanding image!
Congrats,
Annick

In awe again! Superb work, Mario! So much fine detail and so beautiful colors! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 20 N: 522] (1815)
  • [2008-02-27 12:18]

Hi Mario,
They may call her common but I like this little bird.
Very sharp and details shot. And i like the composition and the pov you have here very much. Great to see that you could get so close to her.
TFS Paula

  • Great 
  • pilonm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 554 W: 99 N: 844] (2743)
  • [2008-02-27 13:42]

Bonjour Mario,

Ah! Qu'il est joli ce Sizerin flammé!!!Les détails du plumage sont saisissants et l'exposition, très bien maitrisée! Il n'y a malheureusement que la branche brune qui lui traverse le corps que je trouve un peu dérangant... Je me demande si avec un peu de clonage.... Excellente utilisation du flash qui ne parait pas sur la photo!

Chapeau et merci!

Michel

Vraiment Mario elle est superbe celle-là tu as su très bien la saisir, c'est fantastique de la voir de si près et le pov est superbe toute recroquevillée sur elle-même. Une très grande résussite.
Bravo
Marie

Hi Mario

I wonder to know whether we have this kind of bird in Ontario and around Toronto or not! I never saw them before. Maybe I have to open my eyes. I have a question for you: as a wildlife photographer do you think the Canon 40D is a good upgrade from 30D? I read many reviews but still can't decide for changing or not?! thank you.
Well done
TFS
Babak
PS: sorry for delay.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1482 W: 18 N: 3044] (11160)
  • [2008-02-28 12:38]

Hi Mario

Ahhh he looks so sweet posed there. Lovely image with sharp details and pin sharp focus. The composition and DOF are perfect.

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 206 W: 1 N: 351] (1561)
  • [2008-02-28 17:25]

Salut Mario,

Superbe cliché ... difficile d'ajouter des compliments, avec raison... BRAVO!
Donald

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-03-02 13:08]

Hello Mario,
This is the second one I like very much. Amazing photo of this Redpoll. Wonderful colours and perfect sharp details, also in the branch. POV and pose are brilliant.
Regards,
Peter

Bonjour Mario,

Ce sizerin flammé a gonflé ses plumes pour se protéger du froid. Il semble figer sur la branche. Les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau sont clairs et précis. Le sujet est bien cadré. Bonne journée.

Pierre

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