<< Previous Next >>

Phainopepla nitens.


Phainopepla nitens.
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-03-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/1250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Eliz strange, exotic or little known species - 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-04-15 9:18
Viewed: 898
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
First in Trek Nature.

The Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) is the most northerly representative of the mainly tropical Central American family Ptilogonatidae, the silky flycatchers.

Physical description
The Phainopepla is a striking bird, 16-20 cm long with a noticeable crest and a long tail; it is slender, and has an upright posture when it perches. Its bill is short and slender. The male is glossy black, and has a white wing patch that is visible when it flies; the female is plain gray and has a lighter gray wing patch. Both sexes have red eyes, but these are more noticeable in the female than the male.

Range and habitat
The Phainopepla ranges as far north as central California with the San Joaquin Valley and southern Utah, and south to central Mexico, the interior Mexican Plateau region; the southern edge of the plateau, the transverse mountains is its non-breeding home. It is found in hot areas, including desert oases, and is readily seen in the deserts of Arizona and southern California; also the Baja Peninsula, both Baja California-(north), and Baja California Sur where they are only breeding resident birds.

Diet
Berries, any small insects, fruits, vegetables. Phainopepla have a specialized mechanism in their gizzard that shucks berry skins off the fruit and packs the skins separately from the rest of the fruit into the intestines for more efficient digestion. So far this is the only known bird able to do this.

Reproduction
It nests in the spring. The eggs are gray or pink and speckled, and the incubation, done by both the male and female, takes fifteen days. The young will be reared by the parents for up to nineteen more days.


Saludos
Luis52.
lousat, zetu, nglen, siggi, jaycee, MMM, matatur, boreocypriensis, red45, Juyona, Noisette, Miss_Piggy, eqshannon, Gert-Paassen, Alex99, brunorsantana, Argus 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 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1969 W: 6 N: 5506] (19589)
  • [2009-04-15 9:21]

Hi Luis,my best compliments for this fantastic preview for TN first!! And what a great quality! No better point of view to take so perfectly this bird whit this geogeous details and colors! Thanks to show us this beauty,have a nice day,Luciano

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1566] (6115)
  • [2009-04-15 10:07]

Hello Luis
Great shot with natural colors and excellent details
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 34 N: 8586] (32012)
  • [2009-04-15 10:34]

Hi Luis. Many congrats on this first on TN. The Phainopepla is a bird i have not seen before so thanks on posting. The bright red eye stands out from the jet black feathers. A good POV/DOF.
You have taken this with good feather details well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2377 W: 94 N: 5465] (17432)
  • [2009-04-15 11:06]

Hello Luis,
Wonderful, wonderful! The best photo of a Phainopepla I've ever seen. The sharpness and details are excellent and the colours are very clear and bright. The reddish OOF BG is gorgeous. Very good POV, pose and composition. Thank you for this great gift.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1365 W: 56 N: 4667] (16040)
  • [2009-04-15 12:00]

Hello Luis,
fantastic Phainopepla from you ! I really love all the details on the face and the plumage of the bird, but I also like his pose and expression, the composition of the picture, the soft colors, the blurred BG. Very well done !
Best regards Siggi

Hola Luis
Que decir de esta imagen, muy limpia y el pajaro de color negro y el fondo son perfectos, y como critica-- no dejes de poner fotos--
He probado el programa y va muy bien gracias.

Un saludo Antonio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-04-15 12:47]

Hola Primo,

I have been looking for a Phainopepla here for twelve years. I couldn't believe it when I saw your wonderful picture showing off the sleek black body, the marvelous crest and the red eye. Excellent colors and details. Background and composition are superb.

Jane

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 932 W: 0 N: 1984] (8901)
  • [2009-04-15 13:07]

Hi Luis
Beautiful unknown specie for me.Nice composition and razor sharp image with great plumage detail.I like your subject pose and the catch light in the eye.Nice OOF BG color to.
TFS Michel

Ciao Luis, my today neighbour, wonderful bird with splendid red eye, great light and colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

A sharply focused and finely exposed bird I'm seeing for the first time Luis, in a beautifully simple composition. TFS indeed my friend, ditto the fine notes...
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 1627] (5989)
  • [2009-04-15 19:12]

Hola Luis,
This is one of your best shots, hands down! I love the sharpness, and the colors of your picture and the BG is awesome... Very well done

Everton

Hi Luis, congrats of this 1st shot on TN of this beautiful crested beauty having a wonderful face and red eyes with excellent clarity and useful notes MF!
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2009-04-15 22:21]

Hello Lou!

What a fantastic photo! Bird looks superb with black plumage and red eye. Composition and light are very good. I like also pose of Phainopepla.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2256 W: 10 N: 2618] (15517)
  • [2009-04-15 23:58]

Hola amigo Luis,
que buena capatura,
sensacional encuadre y atractiva presentación...
saludos maestro, :))

Hello Luis
Congrats for this first species on TN and what a beauty !
this shot is superb with crisp clear details, great pose and fantastic colors
i like the contrast between the black plumage and the red eye
Have a good day
Jacqueline

Hallo Luis
A stunning, super sharp and super special image filled with lovely colours and clear details. Masterly photographed and I cannot find any fault. You have managed to capture this stunning bird in a great very close to the eye pose. The colours and details captured is fabulous. The eye is magnetic. Focus, sharpness and framing is great and presented in a most delightful manner. Thanks for sharing. With images like this, it is no wonder they are chosen for Geographic material.
Anna

hello Luis
wauwh this eyes are great of beautiful colours
great sharpness and nice composition
greeting lou

Hello Luis, beautiful capture of this bird. Very sharp focus on the crimson eye and it is very evidently noticeable. Beautiful contrasting background, nice natural colors and good usage of top lighting. TFS.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-04-16 10:08]

luis the bird seem tobe in a total angry. Such red eye it has.Good focus Ganesh

If anything could be sharper than a pin-head pointy side..I would call it this...your eyes are in no need of repair and that makes you blessed. I have had two cataract surgeries and it still bothers me even after follow-ups...and even beyond that I don't think I could do as well as you did here!
Bob

Hi Luis,

my best compliments to be first on TN my fern were also the first on tn but I did't know.
Exellent picture from this bird.

Gert

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3581 W: 143 N: 5669] (18529)
  • [2009-04-17 8:42]

Hi Luis.
Stunning, simply outstanding picture of an amazing bird. All is fantastic: DOF and sharpness of the bird and twig. Haircut and eye of the bird are sweet. Reproduction of the feathers are awesome. Composition is also blameless. My congratulations on such masterpiece. Bravo.
Alexei.

¡Que bello y extraño pájaro!

La simplicidad de la composición me recuerda el ascetismo de las pinturas japonesas...

Siempre agradecido a tus riquísimos aportes, Luis.

Desde Argentina, tu amigo, Hernán
(el que vive en una ciudad cuyo nombre podría muy bien ser el de una de México: SANTA FE DE LA VERA CRUZ... y aquí "tampoco nos rajamos, cuate!!!" jajajajaj

Que ojos tan hermosos, que bien que los sacas con la mirada en es direccion... que arbol es en el que posa? te ha dado varias buenas fotos verdad?

Lindíssimo tiro, Luis!
Ótimo ponto de vista.
Muito boa luz e foco.
Meus parabéns!

Saudações brasileiras,
Bruno

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3800 W: 190 N: 11298] (34839)
  • [2009-05-06 3:29]

Hola Luis,
Una captura fantástica de este Phainopepla que no ha visto antes. Primera ves en TN?.
Todos son perfectos, nitidez, la luz, composición, fondo, todos!
Gracias a compartirla y un gran saludo!
Ivan

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF