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Junco


Junco
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Kolnik (Alan_Kolnik) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 176 W: 30 N: 177] (1137)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-03-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 70-300mm APO
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-03-08 22:08
Viewed: 1044
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
We had a sudden snowstorm today, and a group of birds of a type I have not seen before clustered around our birdfeeder. I have been told this is a variety of Junco, and common in winter at birdfeeders. I had to snap this quickly from the window, so its not as sharp as I would like.

"Slate-colored junco" Junco hyemalis

* Dark gray head, breast and upperparts
* White belly
* Female and immatures somewhat browner than adult male and may have buffy flanks

Habitat:
Ranges from Alaska to Southern Canada and over almost all of the U.S. In winter, they prefer open woods, undergrowth, roadsides and brush. Common in suburban areas in the winter.

Diet:
Close to half of their summer diet is insects. They feed heavily on seeds of weeds and grasses, especially in the winter. Young are fed almost entirely on insects. Will come to feeders, but mostly forage on the ground beneath the feeding tray.

Nesting:
Nest is almost always on the ground, well hidden under overhanging grass, under logs, rocks or in a shallow hole in a dirt bank. It is built mostly by the female, and is an open cup of grass, weeds, leaves, lined with fine grass and sometimes hair and feathers.

Eggs:
3-5, whitish to bluish white in color. Incubation is by the female and lasts 11-13 days.

Young:
Both parents feed the nestlings with most by the female. Young leave the nest about 9-13 days after hatching. 1-2 broods per year.

Thanks to http://www.westol.com/~pennwest/birds/junco.html

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Name of Birdhummingbird24 2 03-31 17:39
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Alan,
I have browse a little in your gallery to see you Osprey and then I saw this little Junco with no comment... They are very difficult birds to photograph because of their dark color. The only way I have done it with correct exposure (I think) is by adjusting the white balance in the RAW program :) This is a good POV with nice catch-light. Thanks,
Claudine

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