<< Previous Next >>

Albino Chickadee


Albino Chickadee
Photo Information
Copyright: Helene Provencher (chouette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 0 N: 843] (3000)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon EF300mm 4/L IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-01-13 23:14
Viewed: 1959
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello TN friends!

Back with this photo of a rare bird: Albino Black-capped Chickadee.
Took this winter, under poor light conditions.

Hope you like it!

Albinism is a pigment (melanin) deficiency that occurs rarely among birds and mammals, even including humans.  The effects among birds vary from a few white feathers to all-white plumage. A true albino bird is very rare. It would have no pigment in its feathers, bill or legs and its eyes would appear pinkish-red, because the blood vessels can be seen when the typically dark color is missing.

Albinism is normally caused by a genetic mutation that can be inherited if both parents have the albino gene. If it's hereditary, then a new set of feathers will carry the same white pattern.

Regardless of cause, it's rare to see even a partial albino bird. It's more common in robins than any other wild bird species; about 8 percent of all North American full or partial albino wild birds were robins (house sparrows were second), but even that translates into about one in 30,000 robins (someone works hard at compiling these statistics).

Being an albino or partial albino bird catches our attention; unfortunately, it makes a bird stand out for predators, too. The greater the lack of pigment, the weaker the eyesight and the higher the danger of going blind from the sun without the protective coloration, making an albino bird an easier target for predators and usually leading to a shorter life span.

Since potential mates usually recognize each other by visual clues delivered by feathers, some albinos may not be able to attract a mate. A flock of the same species will often shun an albino.

Melanin plays another, less obvious role that has only surfaced in the last few decades. Pigments appear to make feathers stronger and more resistant to abrasion; feathers with color last longer than white ones.


Speed: 1/800 f/5.6
ISO 800
Focal Length: 300mm
Tripod
Dave, pankajbajpai, Tamrock, wkshelton, jeanpaul, scottevers7, claudine, metcher, TAZ 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
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gazo: Bonjourchouette 1 01-28 10:23
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Dave Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 522 W: 47 N: 668] (2151)
  • [2007-01-14 0:40]

Wow!
What a treat!
Must have been a great thrill getting the opportunity to take its picture...;-)
Bravo!

Hi Helene,
Yep, this one is a "wow!" shot. Fantastic exposure and the DOF is awesome, almost boarders on the abstract. Solid white balance too.
TFS
Paul

hi helene,
what a lovely post,
well composed with nice pov,
lovely bg, excellent dof,
framed beautifully,
very well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11878)
  • [2007-01-14 6:23]

Bonjour Hélene!

Une très jolie présentation,j'en reviens tout simplement pas,une méssange albinos.Bravo pour cette belle composition avec cette composition tout de blanc.
Merci!
Joseph

what a beautiful bird!
sharp with good dof and
well composed
good work!

Hello Helene

Excellent work, Here is a winter postcard, excellent work, great colors bg POV DOf perefct details very crisp, nicly composed and capture photo excllent Job

TFS Kyle

Hello Helene What a beautifull bird captured nicely perfect dof nice complementary background great POV tfs Rgds Necip.

Hi Helene,
Amazing! I have never observed one of these before, so this is a treat. You handled the difficult exposure and light very well. The whites look great, and they have nice detail. The shallow DOF works perfect for this well composed shot.
Scott

Bonjour Hélène,
Dans un premier temps je suis étonnée par le sujet et deuxièmement par ta technique. J'adore cette prise de vue, composition, détails et profondeur de champs. Il y a des traces de bruit dans sur la partie gauche de la branche dû au ISO 800 mais on les vois seulement en regardant la photo très attentivement. C'est vraiment la première fois que je vois une mésange albinos, je l'aurais facilement confondu avec une espèce inconnue :) C'est un photo très bien réalisée et intéressante. Merci,
Claudine

Hi, Helene.
This is really unique for my eye. Have never seen albino. Good pose and POV. Nice color and composition.

Salut Hélène
Très belle image que cette jolie mésange albinos qui est vraiment spécial.
le focus est bon et l'exposition bien réussie. La composition et le fond gris font bien ressortir l'oiseau.bravo pour ton BG.
Bravo et merci...JP
Les sourires demain

Excellent work Helene.

This photo stands out for all the right reasons.
The bird has an interesting pose, nice POF and great DOF, sharp as anything and well composed.

Congrats

Simon

  • Great 
  • hibou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 197 W: 1 N: 348] (1537)
  • [2007-01-21 11:01]

Bonjour Hélène,
Quel magnifique spécimen ! J'aime bien l'aspect de la lumière très discrète et très douce ... en accord avec le thème albinime. Un peu comme le fait un membre de TN Gregory Lazzaro (glazzaro) avec ses photos. BRAVO et merci de la partager.
Donald

Belle photo,très bien prise,bien nette,beaucoup de détails, j' espère arriver un jour a en faire des pareilles. Amicalement Thomas

  • Great 
  • gazo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 74 W: 0 N: 13] (88)
  • [2007-01-28 0:43]
  • [+]

Exceptionnelle !! Je n'avais jamais vu ou entendu parler d'une mésange albinos. Extraordinaire.
Quelle belle photo.
Pouvez-vous me dire où vous avez capturé cette beautée?

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2007-01-30 11:41]

Bonjour Hélène,
Sur le coup j'ai pensé que la profondeur de champ était courte, mais pour finir cela donne un bel effet. La composition est élégante et l'oiseau rare est beau.
Compliments et merci pour le partage.

The albinism is a very ineresting phenomenon (thing) for every species of bird.
Interestinf photo and good composition. Best regards, Cezar T.

Bonsoir Hélène,

Une belle image de cette mésange albinos, la photo a une bonne composition, netteté et de jolies couleurs. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF