<< Previous Next >>

Dark Eyed Junco


Dark Eyed Junco
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: 2008-04-25
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, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-27 19:05
Viewed: 353
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis 14-16 cm) near the feeders of the garden.

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
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.
Conservation Status
Common.
Other Names
Junco ardoisé (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
jaycee, Miss_Piggy, Evelynn, Argus, meyerd, gannu, albert, eqshannon, nglen, 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 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-08-27 19:13]

Hi Mario,

A wonderful Dark Eyed Junco - a bird I don't get to see here. Beautiful colors and details - every feather is in place. A nice pose with his legs spread far apart. Although the setting is dark the bird stands out beautifully.

Jane

Hallo Mario
No matter what kind of bird, what the colour of its feathers, in what pose you have captured it, your bird images are always a winner, including this Dark-eyed Junco. You have photographed this one with great focus, great sharpness and great style. You have put all of that together and presented us with a wonderful close-up.Then you have also added a great and informative note to round of this lovely display. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

I really like this one Mario. Your little junco is so sharp. I like all the textures and toning gray tones.

TFS
Evelynn ; )

  • Great 
  • Chiza Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 19 W: 0 N: 38] (251)
  • [2008-08-27 21:24]

Hola Mario: Esta toma es fabulosa, el color, los detalles de la especie, la luz, enfoque y el entorno son excepcionales...saludos.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-08-27 22:39]

Hello Mario,
You certainly had a lot of fine images from last spring in your archives and this one of a Dark-eyed Junco is no exception.
Lovely lighting, pose and pose taken as usual with good sharpness.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-08-27 22:51]

Hi Mario,
Another outstanding shot and your bird photography is so exclusive. I learn every day from you. Very neat and sharp image with perfect lighting and exposure. You really get the best out of your camera. Nice pose captured with a fine DOF and a well chosen POV. Very nice composition. Thanks for sharing this great image.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 11 N: 1348] (4706)
  • [2008-08-27 23:04]

Hello Mario,
Excellent shot of this Dark-eyed Junco,
Great focusing,composition and BG,Superb shot my friend.
Regards
Siggi

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2108 W: 6 N: 2116] (13589)
  • [2008-08-27 23:58]

Hola Mario,
fino pov y pose,
maravilloso foco y detalles,
plumaje e iluminación magnífica,
saludos

Hi Mario, again,

the Junco shows just a mixture of grey and black but it makes it look so elegant, I can't get my eyes off (same for black dressed ladies). But it's the angle of light that does much to enhance the different shades. You are a great expert at this.
My best regards
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 299 W: 22 N: 363] (1878)
  • [2008-08-28 2:13]

Merhaba Mario,
Olumsuz ortam koşullarına rağmen oldukça başarılı bir kuş karesi. Netlik ve detaylar çok güzel. Elinize sağlık.
Hüseyin

Hello Mario,
Great photo in splendid light and colours. Very sharp and an excellent POV and pose. Good composition.
Kind regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-08-28 4:14]

Hello mario, Very nice picture and good composition. I like the face angle and the way of body language. Well done ganesh

Bonjour Marion,
J'aime la dominante grise de cette photo bien assortie avec la couleur du Junco ardoisé
Superbe netteté
Bravo
Albert

Who would have ever thought that gray/grey and all of it's tonalities could look "pretty"? Perhaps only Ansel could have seen in this way. He did have a rare talent as do you for seeing those ever so small tonal changes and he learned how to mix his chemicals just right for each picture in order to bring out those changes in a dramatic way. Somehow in the advent of the digital age you have managed to accomplish the same thing in colour....I don't care what you say guy...you still are the main aviary guy around! I shall always think of you as the consummate professional.
Bob

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 86 W: 4 N: 180] (948)
  • [2008-08-28 12:35]

Yes, black and white tones in this are truly excellent, and the lighting does a fine job of bringing out the texture of the feathers and the log. Gary

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-08-28 13:01]

Excellent photo of this Junco.
Stunning detail in the feathers.
Great composition and eye-level POV.
Very well lit.

Excellent work!

Cheers,
Joe

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-08-30 4:07]

Salut Mario,une exceptionelle qualite' comme toujours,un grand spectacle aussi avec un simple et noir oiseux,mes compliments et bonne soiree',Luciano

Hello Mario,
Good light/shadow play involved.
Once again the catch light is there!
Good focus or sharpening. They call this 'differential focus', I believe.
Well done again...
Thank you
Annick

Bonsoir Mario,

Ce junco ardoisé sur le tronc est impressionnant. La prise de vue permet de distinguer les détails et les couleurs des plumes de l'oiseau. L'image est claire et précise. la lumière rehausse les couleurs. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF