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To Jaycee (Jane Magen)


To  Jaycee  (Jane Magen)
Photo Information
Copyright: Luis Leal (Luis52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, 80-200 f2.8D ED AF Nikkor+1.5X Kenko
Exposure: f/4, 1/2000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-04 9:18
Viewed: 674
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is Jane's Favorite Sparrow.

Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Status: Rare summer east. Casual west.


General Description
North American RangeThe Black-throated Sparrow is a small, gray sparrow that has a distinctive black throat, with a bold white stripe above its eye and another down its cheek. Adults are not streaked. The black tail is outlined in white except at the tips of the middle tail feathers. Juveniles, who retain this plumage into October, lack the black throat of adults and are lightly streaked.

Habitat
Black-throated Sparrows use a variety of dry, open, grassy or shrubby habitats, including sagebrush and creosote bush deserts. In Washington, they favor degraded or otherwise gravelly soils.

Behavior
In winter, loose flocks feed on open ground. They walk or run, often with their tails cocked upward. Males sing from atop low bushes.

Diet
Adapted to dry habitats, Black-throated Sparrows can survive long periods of time without supplemental water, obtaining moisture from the seeds and insects that make up their diet. In the hottest part of the summer, however, supplemental water is necessary. In the winter, seeds make up the majority of their diet. During the breeding and nestling season, insects become more important. When available, berries and other fruits, as well as fresh green shoots, are also part of their diet.

Nesting
The timing of the breeding season may vary depending on rainfall and available food. The male sings to defend its nesting territory and to attract a female, and they form a monogamous pair. The nest is located in a low shrub, well hidden and close to or on the ground. The nest is an open cup of grass, small twigs, and other plant fibers, lined with fine grass, plant down, and hair. The female incubates the 3-4 eggs for 12-15 days. The female broods, and both parents feed the young. They leave the nest at 10-11 days, and most pairs raise two broods each year.

Migration Status
Black-throated Sparrows are migratory, and the northern limit of their breeding range may change from year to year, occasionally extending farther northward. They winter in the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Saludos
Luis52

jaycee, nglen, marhowie, gracious, Proframe, matatur, Juyona, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, Islander_, maurydv, Necipp, angela926, Adanac, darwin, mariki, uleko, angybone, Royaldevon, Argus, rousettus, ramthakur, matt_moi has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Luis.
Very sharp and clear shot. Nice bird, I like the silver-grey colour. Very well taken against the blue sky.
TFS
Wojciech

Hello Luis
This is a lovely crisp and sharp picture of the sparrow placed nicely with the diagonal branch.
A perfect Dedication to Jane.
Best regards
paul

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1788 W: 8 N: 4639] (15001)
  • [2008-04-04 9:52]

Hi My New Cousin,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. And yes - this is my favorite Sparrow. A beautiful shot of him too. The colors are perfect - the details are excellent - the composition on the diagonal branch is superb. I don't know why, but the Black throats up here have a much harsher look to them.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2008-04-04 10:26]

Hi Luis. This is a nice dedication to Jane i am sure she will like it. You have captured such a nice pose in this one. great detail and colours. stands out so well against the blue sky. well done tFS.
Nick..

Hi Luis,
Nice shot. Very nice composition and details.
TFS
Wei

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1213 W: 68 N: 2512] (8287)
  • [2008-04-04 10:35]

Hello Luis,
Excellent photo of this Black-throated Sparrow. Beautiful sharp details and natural colours. Great pose and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Jose,
Fine detail and a great comp/POV. I especially like the exposure that has shown the grey tones of the bird so well :)
Never seen this sparrow here..
Well done!
Howard

Hola Luis,
Como esta usted!
Beautiful composition and a nice dedication to our friend Jane!
you had the best exposure and focus in the shot in perfect details
well done
muchas gracias
Saludos
Tony

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-04-04 11:28]

Hello Luis,
Wonderful shot, the color and details are amazing.
Love the blue BG that brings lets this little bird stand out very well.
Very nice POV, lets us enjoy the wonderful facial features of this bird.
TFS..Sky

Hello Luis,

Lovely dedication to Jane.
Beautiful image with perfect sharpness, exposure and composition.
Most wonderful feather details and contrast between the whites and grey tones of the bird and the deep blue sky.
Great note also.
Perfect work. TFS!!!

Best regards and have a nice weekend, Harry

Ah, you are back to azure BGs my friend, and of course a perfect frontal capture of a fine specimen in high definition. Thank you indeed Luis, for sharing this beauty with us.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2042 W: 6 N: 2025] (13277)
  • [2008-04-04 13:37]

Hola Luis,
precioso pov,
queda muy bien el ángulo de disparo,
usastes el flash??
bonito trabajo maestro, como siempre,
un abrazo, para los tuyos y para ti amigo.

I think, and I may be wrong, that I have seen this particular one out of your latitude...so to me it almost looks as a surprise in Mexico. Very neat capture. You are a roving photographic ambassador of the country Luis...TFS!
Bob

hello Luis

wonderful shot of the Black-throated Sparrow, fine POV & framing,
i love the POV you choosed and the way you framed the image,
lovely all blue sky, lovely luminosity of the image,
great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Luis,

Very good shot, nice composition and sharp details! Thank you,

Eugene

Splendida immagine, la dedica a jaycee per il cielo e per POV, la composizione č nel tuo stile rigoroso, eccellenti i dettagli e magnifici i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

hello luis, this is beautifully caught. such fine composition and a lovely pose. details are very sharp. The excellent blue background looks nice. tfs rgds Necip

Hello Luis,
fantastic capture, superb vivid colors and good contrast, excellent composition and point of view, very good sharpness, nice depth of field and good light.
Angela

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1049 W: 1 N: 4160] (13980)
  • [2008-04-04 19:36]

Hola Luis,
Beautiful capture for a beautiful lady. Once again a razor sharp focus reveals great plumage details. The composition is fantastic, great work Luis.
Rick

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 214 W: 0 N: 635] (2843)
  • [2008-04-04 19:44]

Hi Luis,

Very nice shot!
Excellent details in the plumage!
Great composition, the sparrow is nicely perched on the diagonale branch and against a perfect blue sky!
Well done!

Lise

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 247 W: 0 N: 455] (1716)
  • [2008-04-04 20:52]

Hi Luis
Wonderful presentation and superb details
Crystal clear image with lovely color and light
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1552 W: 0 N: 1165] (6442)
  • [2008-04-04 23:41]

Hi Luis,
Beautiful bird very well captured with excellent detail.
Chi

Hello Luis,

Excellent shot of this beautiful bird. Good POV, DOF and sharpness. Nice composition. Good exposure and contrast against the blue sky.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2468 W: 168 N: 7464] (23588)
  • [2008-04-05 4:31]

Hello Luis,
I can see why Jane likes this one - it has such beautiful markings especially the white lines above and under the eye. Excellent capture showing great sharpness and fine colours. Lovely blue sky and a fine composition!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1696 W: 242 N: 5596] (19883)
  • [2008-04-05 5:30]

Very crisp shot of this Sparrow, Luis!
Jane will really like this!
Superb composition and POV.
Very nice light too.
Great BG.
Well done!

Joe

First let me say that I think Jaycee is pretty awesome too! :)

Great shot - wonderful blue background. We're getting that blue sky hear again. It sure lifts the spirits.
Great details on the bird, clear and clean, good composition. Great as usual. :)

Hello Luis,

Wonderful, clear, detailed shot!
I have never seen this bird before but the beak is certainly like that of our sparrows!

I like how you have presented it on a diagonal branch. It shows up clearly against the blue sky.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2613 W: 133 N: 7504] (23403)
  • [2008-04-05 12:38]

Hola Sr. Luis,
A fine capture of the Black-throated Sparrow and a fine tribute to our TN friend Jane, especially as it has such a fine blue sky BG!
Nice pose an POV and fantastic composition and sharpness.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful image.

Y espero tambien que tengan usted y Su familia un buen fin de semana.
Su amigo, Ivan

Hola amigo Luis,
another perfect capture. The bird very greatly is presented with sharp details, POV, eyes contact, blue BG and composed diagonally with branch. I like color tones, you used. great work.
muchas gracias y saludos
Ahmet

Luis, you have rightly dedicated this wonderful image of a Black-throated Sparrow to Jane. She really has a deep attachment for this bird. You have emulated her blue sky BG very effectively here.
The image is sharp and crisp with fine details and colours on the bird.
TFS and regards.
Ram

Hello Luis,
Sharpness and colors (with a really blue sky) are greats. The note is very usefull.
Regards,
Matthieu

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