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Sialia mexicana.


Sialia mexicana.
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2899] (10487)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/2000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Blue Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-15 9:18
Viewed: 589
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Blue&Blue.

The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a medium-sized thrush.

Adults have a grey belly. Adult males are bright blue on top and on the throat with a red breast; they have a brown patch on their back. Adult females have duller blue wings and tail, a brownish breast and a grey crown, throat and back.

Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range; southern birds are often permanent residents.

These birds wait on a perch and fly down to catch insects, sometimes catching them in midair. They mainly eat insects and berries.

Nesting habitat
Their breeding habitat is semi-open country across western North America, but not desert areas. They nest in cavities or in nest boxes, competing with Tree Swallows, House Sparrows, and European Starlings for natural nesting locations. Because of the high level of competition, Tree swallows often attack western bluebirds for their nests. The attacks are made both in groups or alone, though only when in groups can the swallows evict the bluebirds from their nests.





Nest type and habitat comparison
In restored forests Western Bluebirds have a higher probability of successfully fledging young than in untreated forests, but they are at greater risk of parasitic infestations. The effects on post-fledging survival are unknown. Western Bluebirds have been found to enjoy more success with nest boxes than in natural cavities. They started egg laying earlier, had higher nesting success, lower predation rates, and fledged more young in boxes than in cavities but they did not have larger clutches of eggs.

The eggs are commonly 4-6 which average 20.8 x 16.2mm. Eggs are oval shape wih a smooth and glossy shell. They are pale blue to bluish white and sometimes white in color. Nestlings remain in a nest about 19-22 days before fledging.

From Wikipedia.
Saludos
Luis52.
Miss_Piggy, Jamesp, jaycee, claudine, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, nkasot, NinaM, boreocypriensis, hester, mariki, Adanac, uleko, matatur, Necipp, Islander_, marhowie, XOTAELE, Juyona, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Thanks Howard.Luis52 2 03-17 13:51
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Critiques [Translate]

Hallo Luis
Blue and blue. Most appropriate title. What can I say? This is such a pretty little powder puff. Fine details of the face and plumage. The colour of the sky really compliments the blue of the birds feathers. You have captured it in a lovely pose with a great sparkle in the eye. Great camera work throughout resulting in an excellent image. Presented in a delightful manner. Much appreciated. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 0 N: 5286] (15770)
  • [2008-03-15 9:49]

Hi Luis

Lovely lighting here - very good composition and colours too.

TFS

James

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1992 W: 8 N: 5278] (17111)
  • [2008-03-15 9:55]

Hi Luis,

PLEASE send one of these up my way! He is beautiful and this is a wonderful shot. I love the pose, the colors, the details, the familiar blue sky. The blue of his head and in his plummage is wonderful.

Jane

Hola Luis,
Very beautiful blue bird indeed!
it's a perfect image with excellent exposure and focus!
the pose of awesome with the stand in good sharpness, colour and details
a very pleasing presentation always, my dearest friend!
muchas gracias
Saludos
Tony

Hi Luis,
This is my beautiful blue buddy again! What a little marvel! This is an excellent capture with great details and colors. Lucky you :)!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1999 W: 245 N: 6519] (23242)
  • [2008-03-15 11:23]

What a pretty bird!
The blue feathers work well with the blue BG.
Great composition.
Brilliant DOF.
Well done Luis,

Joe

It is a tad less blue than our mountain bluebird which is closer to an indigo but not quite. Very nice capture Luis!
Bob

Hi Luis,
Beautiful bird,the blue sky and the blue feathers doing it well on this picture.

The bird looks on these specie Passerina cyanea, an art that i hold in a voliere.

regards Gert

hello Luis

lovely shot of the Western Bluebird, i love his pose
and the branch where he is perched, excellent POV and framing,
Mexican lovely blue sky, mexican lovely sun light,
lovely catch-light at the eye, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Luis,

Nice picture with lovely details, colours, sharpnes and framing. TFS.
Regards,

Nazım

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 8 N: 1239] (4538)
  • [2008-03-15 16:46]

Hola Luis,

This bird has very beautiful blue, felicitaciones

Everton

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 1638] (5362)
  • [2008-03-15 19:27]

Hola, beauty in blue against the big blue sky. It's a beautiful picture once more Luis, I love it. It makes me think of the movie "The Blue Bird", with Elizabeth Taylor. Two kids looking for the blue bird in a forest... maybe you have seen it. It's a magical bird. The Mexican light is almost white and shining on the bird, it is bright and filled with many details. Thank you!

Francine

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-15 20:09]

Hello Luis

A lovely capture of this western Bluebird.
The focus and detail are sharp.
Very good plumage detail and definition.
Excellent pOV and DOF.
TFS

Rob

Hello Luis,

A lovely capture of this beautifully coloured Bluebird my friend! TFS.
Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1517 W: 18 N: 3137] (11548)
  • [2008-03-16 3:21]

Hi Luis

What beautiful colouring. That really is a striking bird. Lovely blue sky BG and sharp details

TFS

Karan

Hello Luis,

Very nice presentation of this bluebird. Good POV, DOF and focus. Good pose of the bird. Superb light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 1 N: 4792] (15992)
  • [2008-03-16 4:33]

Hola Luis,
That incredible blue bird against your wonderful blue sky is simply wonderful. They will soon be arriving here to have their young. Your image is well detailed and colored and your excellent camera work shows again, thank you Luis.
Rick

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2686 W: 173 N: 8314] (26185)
  • [2008-03-16 7:59]

Hello Luis,
What a pretty little bird nicely in profile and with blue splashes on the plumage. Excellent sharp capture in beautiful light.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1817 W: 29 N: 5281] (17302)
  • [2008-03-16 8:03]

Hi Luis,
Wonderful shot of this cute little Bluebird. Nice details and colours on its plumage and you have made good use of the natural sunlighting and have exposed the image perfectly. Nice pose captured with a great DOF and a fine POV and I like the glint on its eye. The blue sky acts a fabulous BG. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

* A big THANKS for your wishes on my 200th post.

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 214 W: 0 N: 635] (2847)
  • [2008-03-16 10:20]

Hi Luis,

What a beautiful bird!
Amazing colours!
Great sharpness!
Superb light!
He stands so beautifully on this blue sky!
Congratulations!

Lise

Aaah, another blue-on-blue composition, a result of a perfect capture from a pleasant POV Luis, glad to see one of your fine birdies again amigo!
Cheers,
Mehmet

Hello Luis, very nicely composed good plain background and the details are fine tfs rgds Necip.

Hi Luis,

Nice shot, deep blue on light blue! Thank you,

Eugene

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 29 N: 3296] (11791)
  • [2008-03-17 4:09]

Hi Luis,
very nice composition and lighting, i like the combination of blue bird and blue sky!
tfs
Paul

Hello Jose,
Very good detail, color, DOF, and exposure. Well composed space left with the bluebird looking there..Nice shade of blue in your sky complimenting the birds color also.
Howard

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1431 W: 128 N: 5269] (23315)
  • [2008-03-17 7:45]

Hello Luis, another great shot of a fine bird. Good composition and great sharpness, well done, thanks!

Mario

Hola Luis.
Encantadora pose la de este pajarillo que se mantiene alerta a ver qué ocurre a su alrededor.
Buen encuadre y estupenda nota.
Saludos desde Gran Canaria, JL.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2133 W: 6 N: 2152] (13787)
  • [2008-03-26 14:11]

Genial captura Luis,
lo llamativo del color y la percha...
hermoso bg, que compite en hermosura con el pajarito, excelente trabajo.
saludos amigo
pt

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3245 W: 154 N: 4948] (15933)
  • [2008-03-30 1:50]

Hi Luis.
Nice composition of beautiful and unknown for me bird. Wonderful colour and detail reproduction, great framing, impressive use of sunlight. My compliments. Perfect bird picture.
Alexei.

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