<< Previous Next >>

Pine Grosbeak


Pine Grosbeak
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
Theme(s): Joe's Favourites 2, Red Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-10 8:50
Viewed: 612
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A male Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator 20-25cm)
photographed on a Spruce branch in the boreal forrest of Montmorency, 70k north of Quebec city.

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)
crs, jaycee, earthtraveler, vanderschelden, eqshannon, darwin, XOTAELE, gerbilratz, boreocypriensis, Islander_, nglen, pvb, hester, angela926, JoseMiguel, Juyona, Jamesp, rcrick, CeltickRanger, rousettus, Luis52, albert, Ena, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 405 W: 0 N: 630] (2537)
  • [2008-03-10 8:53]

Hi Mario,

Wonderfull photo with astonishing colors. Very special way of using the light with excelent results. Very sharp image reveling the smallest details.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

Thanks Mario for another superb shot of the Pine Grosebeak!
The color, details, pose, DOF are all incredible. I envy you get to see these beautiful birds. Thanks again for sharing this awesome image with us. Richard

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-03-10 8:59]

Hi Mario,

A lovely portrait of this Grosbeak on the pine branch. The close-up view of the face is wonderful. Lovely red white and black and great details. The white snow in the background shows him off perfectly.

Jane

Hello Mario,
Superb image. Technically outstanding; excellent depth of field (couldn't be better), very sharp and well detailed,...
Furthermore a very beautiful and moody image...
Well done
TFS
Annick

Ouch! Razor sharp Mario...I do not see these as ID shots...I see them as bird pictures:-) I tend to shy away from singularly simplistic names...I like flowing words better:-) And your pictures are silently flowing! Beautiful!
bob

Bonsoir Mario,

Très beau portrait de ce durbec. Superbes détails du plumage et de la tête. Les couleurs sont formidables également.
Bonne soirée,
Mariki

Hi Mario
Super shot
Detail is superb
Stunning color
tfs jon

Hola Mario.
Una joya esta imagen, con unos detalles perfectamente captados.
Bellos tonos y colores.
Muy interesante tu nota.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

Hi Mario, fabulous focus on these feathers. The details are quite amazing...so clean and tight...wonderful stuff...regards h

Hi Mario,
I love your bird captures because they are always in nice pose and generally beautifully coloured:). Your capture is excelent as usual with all photographic criteria. Great composition my friend! TFS this beauty.
Cheers,

Bayram

Bonjour Mario,

Magnifique portrait, couleurs tendres, netteté impeccable, très beau travail dans des conditions d'éclairage pas faciles! Merci,

Eugène

  • Great 
  • marcin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 163] (1437)
  • [2008-03-10 11:45]

Hi Mario,
Wonderfull photo,very sharp
Well done
TFS
marcin

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-03-10 12:17]

Hi Mario. Thanks for all your kind comments on my pictures. foor some wehere which get such hard winters you have some very colourful birds. This one is a beauty .and the way you have taken it is first class. with fine detail and rich colours. well done TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • pvb Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 381 W: 20 N: 522] (1815)
  • [2008-03-10 12:35]

Hi Mario,
These bird must be easy to spot with there red colours in the white surroundings. I realy like the different reds/pink of this bird.
Captured in a great pose and with a good composition.
Great sharpness and details.
Well done
TFS Paula

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1482 W: 18 N: 3044] (11160)
  • [2008-03-10 12:51]

Hi Mario

I do think your bird shots are stunning. They are so sharp and detailed. They also are just lovely image with perfect light, composition and DOF. Another beauty here

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • sray Silver Star Critiquer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 0] (242)
  • [2008-03-10 13:00]

Salut Mario
Je suis époustouflé par la qualité de cette photo de durbec . Tout simplement Magnifique . La gestion de la lumière est excellente ! Merci de partager
Serge

Hello Mario,
Fantastic capture, beautiful vivid colors and superb details, excellent sharpness and depth of field, great pose!
Angela

  •      
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-03-10 13:37]

Woweee! What an absolutely flabbergastingly SUPERB shot!!!!
Sharp enough to cut with a truly incredible level of detail and stunning clarity!
Very, very well composed with a great POV.
Beautiful colours, perfect lighting and exceptional exposure.
One of your best yet!
Straight into my favourites.
Best regards,
Joe

pts tomorrow

Hi Mario,
What a great image!
It's so enjoyable the clear view and details got on the bird's plumage.
I like a lot the good composition made with the bird aligned along the diagonal.
My compliments and thanks for share.
Best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • rdfoto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 0 N: 747] (3202)
  • [2008-03-10 14:08]

Bonjour Mario
Encore une image de grande qualité avec une très bonne netteté et couleurs et une très belle attitude du sujet.
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-03-10 14:25]

Hola amigo,
sin duda una bella captura,
precioso pov,
nitidez y excelente plumaje,
saludos Mario.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-03-10 14:32]

Hi Mario

Excellent cloe-up with fantastic detail and exposure.

James

Salut Mario
Une super cadrage ! une pose parfaite de l'oiseau, belles couleurs et magnifique définition, l'oeil brille tout y est , tu as réalisé une magnifique capture !

Félicitations et au revoir...JP!

Hi Mario,

perfect shot!

Luca

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-03-10 15:32]

Hi Mario,
Wonderful shot of this male Pine Grosbeak, really good POV, the detail is just stunning as are the colours, well balanced and framed, great shot, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-03-10 16:16]

Salut Mario,tu ne finisserait jamais de nous faire des sourprises,cette photo est simplemnt exceptionelle!!!! Les couleurs du oiseaux dans la neige sont vraiment extraordinaire..on peut dire que comme Marcello est le roi des insects,toi es le roi des oiseaux,la plus belle gallerie sans aucun doute!!Merci de partager et bonne journee',Luciano

Hello Mario,
amazing beautiful capture of this pink bird. It is very lovely and beautiful. perfect sharp details, POV and composition. Eyes contact and timing great. also nicely framed. TFS, well done
Ahmet

salut Mario

superbe photo en close-up de ce Durbec des sapins
avec comme d'habitude un excellent POV et cadrage,
excellent DOF, une belle douceur dans les couleurs,
excellente netteté et détails du plumage, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1026 W: 5 N: 2888] (10447)
  • [2008-03-10 19:08]

Hola Mario.
Hermosa la foto de hoy Mario. Alta calidad en fotografia. Muy bella presentacion acompañada de una muy buena nota.
Saludos
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-11 4:47]

Hello Mario,
what an excellent shot, the colors are incredible and look at all the detail you captured in that plumage. Superp sharpness of the details. Lovely POV and composition.
TFS..Sky

Hello Mario,
Beautiful bird, and well controlled photo, I like it
Well done
Albert

Hi Mario, splendid bird with wonderful colors, superb details excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-03-11 11:14]

Hello Mario,
This is real perfection. Nothing else to add to what others has said. So beautiful!
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 570] (2343)
  • [2008-03-12 11:07]

Hello Mario,
Beautiful bird!
Lovely details!
TFS
Ena

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-15 21:26]

Hello Mario

Amazing clarity ,your POV is wonderful.
The natural setting makes this a classic,and textbook worthy.
Wonderful natural colours,the plumage detail is amazing with natural ,and beautiful colours.
This is top notch camera work.
TFS



Rob

Bonsoir Mario,

Ce durbec des sapins sur la branche est impressionnant. Les détails et les couleurs de l'oiseau sont clairs et précisé La lumière rehausse les couleurs. Le sujet est bien cadré. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF