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American Kestrel


American Kestrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Scott Evers (scottevers7) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2634 W: 3 N: 3942] (12253)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 70-200 f2.8 L IS + EF 1.4X II, B+W UV MRC
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Falcons - I chapter [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-10-26 19:06
Viewed: 1242
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another raptor shot that I took at the TreeHouse Wildlife Center, Brighton Illinois. This is a female American Kestrel. This bird was being held by a handler standing in some shade. The sun went behind some clouds causing the light level to drop quite a bit. I was amazed how sharp this shot came out being hand held at 1/30. Image Satbilization is the best!

COMMON NAME: American Kestrel

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Falco sparverius

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
The American kestrel is the smallest falcon found in North America, and with the exception of the Seychelles kestrel, the world. Like all members of the genus Falco, American kestrels have dark eyes, a notched beak, and unfeathered legs. Males have a rusty back, blue wings, and a rusty-colored tail with a black terminal band. Females have rusty wings, back, and tail, all marked with black barring. Both sexes have a dark vertical line running through the eye with white cheek and chin patches. The top of their head is blue with a rusty cap, usually brighter in males than females.

RANGE:
American kestrels are widely distributed throughout the New World. Their breeding range extends as far north as central and western Alaska across northern Canada to Nova Scotia, and extends south throughout North America, into central Mexico, the Baja, and the Caribbean. They are local breeders in Central America and are widely distributed throughout South America. Most of the birds breeding in Canada and the northern United States migrate south in the winter, although some males stay as year round residents.

HABITAT:
American kestrels are found in a variety of habitats, including parks, suburbs, open fields, forest edges, alpine zones, and deserts. In addition to requiring open space for hunting, American kestrels seem to need perches to hunt from, cavities for nesting, and a sufficient food supply. In Minnesota they can be found in both urban and rural areas, hunting along roadsides from telephone wires or trees or hovering over fields.

CONSERVATION STATUS:
The kestrel is an extremely common falcon. Estimates of up to 1.2 million breeding pairs have been made for the North American population (T. Cade, Falcons of the World), with an equal number thought to breed in the Neotropics. One of the more common raptors in the Midwest, the American kestrel is afforded no special status in this area. In Florida however, the southeastern sub-species is listed as threatened.

Information from the Raptor Center, University of Minnesota.
Athila, chiliu, ellis49, dew77, red45, wallhalla15, sAner, Libor, hummingbird24, marhowie, radz, liquidsunshine, Signal-Womb, livios, TAZ, Alan_Kolnik, Luc, cedryk, CTP has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Athila: American Kestrelscottevers7 2 10-26 21:58
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Critiques [Translate]

Very sharp and well exposed picture Scott!
BG is defenitively well choseen (dark and OOF). I would have like to see part of the second eye, but I understand it's not an human posing at your command. However, why didn't zoom out to get the full bird ? It could have been as good if not better? Anyway, it's still a wonderfull portrait that deserve the maximum score. TFS

Another clean picture from you Scott.
Well done with very good complementary info.

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1158] (6414)
  • [2005-10-26 20:54]

Hi Scott,
Superb shot!
Extremely sharp and clear details,
excellent colours, great lighting and DOF,
TFS!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3069 W: 231 N: 5841] (19634)
  • [2005-10-27 0:44]

One of my favorite birds, Scott. Excellent focus and exposure. Stunning POV and eye contact. Great work, and TFS. : )

Hi Scott,
Anmother great shot from you again.
The details amd exposure are spot on. Well composed and good POV.
It's well seen from the BG.
Great work.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 788 W: 31 N: 20] (4998)
  • [2005-10-27 2:15]

Hi Scott,
nice portrait. Very good composition, sharpness and colours. Interesting note about this kestrel.Well done.
Rgs, Aleksander

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-10-27 3:47]

Hello Scott!
Very nice capture.Clear details,sharpness,POV,catchlight in eyes and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 23 N: 926] (4989)
  • [2005-10-27 4:26]

Scott bonjour, trés beau portrait de rapace avec beaucoup de details dans la plumage et un BG tout en harmonie avec les couleurs de l'oiseau. I agree with Alain concerning the second eye of bird!!. Overall, superb post. TFS Didier.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2808 W: 75 N: 7868] (26349)
  • [2005-10-27 5:21]

Another beautifull predator Scott! I like its pose and eye, good details, composition, blurred BG. Good work!

Wow, what an amazing portrait. Excellent details and good tones of colour and lighting. A beautifully detailed capture of this fine animal. Nicely composed and with very good DoF and excellent POV. Congrats Scott, that´s a wonderful work. I like it. Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-10-27 6:21]

Great portrait Scott. Very sharp details and excellent exposure. Well composed, good pose and nice POV & DOF. Great note aswell. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • Libor Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 178 W: 1 N: 26] (1104)
  • [2005-10-27 6:24]

wauuuuu beautiful bird :o)
superb shot
TFS Libor

Hello Scott,

This is an exceptional photo of this beautiful bird!

Nice sharp details, colors, and lighting is perfect.

Your dark blue BG is perfect and frames her nicely.

Wonderful job, thank you for sharing.

You're doing some fantastic bird portrait shots lately Scott. Perfect exposure with excellent detail & color. Well composed with a great POV also. Well done & Thank You.

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 601 W: 11 N: 599] (3161)
  • [2005-10-27 12:02]

Very nice portrait !Liked the eye contact&good DOF!

Nice portrait Scott,
Good detail, colours, sharpness and POV.
Very well captured. Thanks for posting.

Lovely capture Scott, nice details and a soft look to the plumage which I think is nice. Very well done.

Beautiful detailed shot, nice camera work. Tip, select just the eye and reduced shadows by 50%. The reflections in the eye will become even more clear and visible.

Greg

Hi Scott

Short on time again today, but enough time to look at this great close shot. Very good POV. Good depth of colour. Sharpness, clarity and detail are all spot on. Nicely composed work. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2005-10-30 3:48]

I wanted to say here that I appreciate this good and interesting work with gives me enjoyment ! Congratulations Scott and thanks for sharing.
PS : the raison of my too short comment is on the forum...

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16850)
  • [2005-10-30 9:26]

Scott, this is very beautiful.

Excellent pose, pov and oof and dark bg.

Excellent details upon the feathers, great lighting and catchlight.

I guess it's the same species that is here: www.treknature.com/gallery/South_America/Brazil/photo27476.htm

Best regards.

Scott,
The focus is so good on this picture it looks as though I could reach out and touch it. Although I would probably pull back a bloody stump!
I love the intense look in this birds eye.
It has a small bird style nose....like a parakeet. Beautiful capture and nice composition. I cannot believe the incredible detail.....amazing.
This one is a keeper!!
Spectacular shot pal.
Scott

Really outstainding - pinsharp, and perfect exposure to show all the details and colors. Well done!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 316 N: 4403] (14711)
  • [2005-11-01 20:47]

Personal assessment of the photo: very good.
Capacity of evocation in me: strong.
Very strong visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete and very interesting.
Thank you very much Scott.

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 954 W: 57 N: 1604] (4949)
  • [2005-11-05 14:26]

Another very nice addition to your portrait gallery of American birds. Nice exposition and well composed with the BG. TFS! Michal

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 774 W: 6 N: 1107] (3183)
  • [2006-01-18 14:46]

Hi Scott,
Awesome shot of this American Kestrel.
I like the bg,pov,dof,focus,
lighting,sharpness,note and colors.TFS
CT

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