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House Finch


House Finch
Photo Information
Copyright: Penny Harms (nellyemh) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 87 W: 1 N: 145] (641)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD Macro
Exposure: f/8, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Backyard and other wild Birds, Finches [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-04 7:14
Viewed: 581
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 49
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yes - I know - I can't believe it either! Another House Finch!! :)
I am trying out some new camera setting and PP techniques and want to see how it looks on TN. Any comments/tips welcome! Hope everyone has a glorious week!
-----------------------------
The House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) is a medium-sized finch of the Rosefinch genus.

Adults have a long brown tail and are a brown or dull-brown color across the back with some shading into deep grey on the wing feathers. Breast and belly feathers may be streaked. In most cases, adult males have a reddish color to their heads, necks and shoulders. This color sometimes extends to the stomach and down the back, between the wings. The male coloration varies in intensity with the seasons and is derived from the berries and fruits in its diet. As a result, the colors range from pale, straw yellow, to bright orange, to deep, intense red. Adult females have brown upperparts and streaked underparts.

These birds are mainly permanent residents; some eastern birds migrate south. Their breeding habitat is urban and semi-open areas from southern Canada to Mexico.

The house finch forages on the ground or in vegetation. Their diet is mainly seeds and berries, being voracious consumers of weed seeds, such as nettle and dandelion. Consume some insects. They are frequent visitors to feeders throughout the year, particularly if stocked with sunflower seeds or Nyjer/thistle seed. They will congregate at hanging Nyjer sock feeders. The house finch is known to damage orchard fruit and consume commercially grown grain, but is generally not considered a significant pest, rather an annoyance.

Nests are made in cavities, including openings in buildings, and also on various kinds of vegetation; sometimes nests abandoned by other birds will be used. Nests may be re-used for subsequent broods or in following years. The nest is built by the female, sometimes in as little as two days. It is well made of twigs and debris, forming a cup shape, usually 1.5m to 2m above the ground.

Eggs are laid from February through August, two or more broods per year with 2 to 6 eggs per brood. The eggs are a pale bluish-green with few black spots and a smooth, somewhat glossy surface. The female incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days and the young leave the nest about 11 to 19 days after hatching. Dandelion seeds are among the preferred seeds fed to the young.

During courtship, the male may present the female with choice bits of food and, if she imitates the posture of a hungry chick, he may actually feed her. The male may also feed the female during the breeding and incubation period.

Originally a resident of the southwestern United States, during the 1940s, the birds were sold illegally in New York, marketed as the "Hollywood Finch." Many vendors and owners released the birds into the wild in order to avoid prosecution. The released birds spread rapidly and, in areas that are not forested, have displaced the resident Purple Finch. In 1870, they were introduced into Hawaii.
pvs, darwin, uleko, CeltickRanger, nglen, dejo, NinaM, rcrick, hester, t2l0c has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To uleko: orange...nellyemh 1 02-04 12:10
To lawbert: thanks!nellyemh 1 02-04 12:07
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Critiques [Translate]

Wonderful BG to compliment the colors of the bird. The bird is sharp and has good color and exposure. Well done.

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1148 W: 254 N: 2555] (11565)
  • [2008-02-04 7:26]

Hi Penny,

A nice capture with a different POV,the colors looking great,very sharp on the bodey ,but the dof is just not enough for a sharp eye,anyway I like it and a usefull note,thanks

Paul

Hi Penny
Wonderful presentation
Fine sharpness and detail
Very nice color specially the BG
tfs jon

All well indeed, very nicely captured with a perfectly well blurred background matching well the orange-red colors of the bird.
Well composed and well shot,
Mike

hello Penny

superb shot with a wonderful multi-colored bakcground
the background's colours match from a excellent way
with that colours of the bird's head, excellent POV the finch
from his back and excellent sharpness and details of his plumage, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-02-04 9:05]

Hola Penny.
Exelente foto. hermosa la pose de este "Gorrion" Alta nitidez e iluminacion.
Saludos
Luis52.

Hello Penny
There you go...PERFECT!!
Nothing else to say apart from congratulations on your all your efforts which are now paying off so well and Thanks so much for sharing this one.
Paul

Good image, Penny.
I like the depth of field for instance.
TFS
Annick

Hi Penny, very nice catch of this Finch. Very good details seen with this POV and the fine focus. Very nicely done.
TFS, Richard

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-02-04 10:00]

Hi Penny. So its a finch you keep posting them .you have good detail and natural colours in this close up. I like the pose with its little head turned around . good use of the light. well done TFS.
Nick..

Penny,

I love this image,
Great colors and wonderful detail,
The BG is great,

fototab

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2056)
  • [2008-02-04 10:38]

Hi Penny,
beautiful one! Magnificent colors and nice details captured,
great work,
Dejan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1210 W: 68 N: 2509] (8277)
  • [2008-02-04 10:52]

Hello Penny,
Beautiful photo with very good sharp patterns in the feathers. The BG is fantastic. Good colours, POV, composition and pose.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Penny,
fantastic shot, perfect focus with amazing details, wonderfull colours and very nice composition,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • kjpweb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 86 N: 1084] (4788)
  • [2008-02-04 13:25]

Beautiful capture - well done! Showing great detail and color.
Thank you for sharing!
Cheers, Klaus

Hi Penny
Fantastic image of the beautiful bird. Crisp sharpness. Exactness and clearness of the colours, amazing subject and composition are excellent . Brava. Congratulations. Extra-class work. Ivan

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 627 W: 42 N: 1153] (3730)
  • [2008-02-04 19:12]

Hi Penny,
Stunning shot of this House Finch, the detail in the plumage is superb, composition is excellent, the background colour really sets this image, lighting and exposure all perfect, just beautiful, well done, all the best Cheers Rick :0)

  • Great 
  • Sayre Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 41 W: 2 N: 29] (156)
  • [2008-02-04 19:59]

This is a truly remarkable picture! I love how well the BG colors compliment the colors of the bird. The clarity is great on the bird. Nice exposure and DOF. Great job!
TFS Steph

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-02-05 0:53]
  • [+]

Hello Penny,
Very impressive shot of the House Finch in sharp details and very bright and fine colours. This is the most orange-coloured House Finch I've seen! I like its pose and the composition too. Well done!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 0 N: 1388] (4593)
  • [2008-02-05 16:28]

This has to be the most gorgeous picture of a house finch I have seen yet, not only because of the technical abilities shown, but also for the beauty of the bird against the background, colours recalling its plumage. The bird is bathing in a beautiful light, you really got it Penny!

Thank you,

Francine

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-05 20:28]

Hello Penny

This is a wonderful ,sharp image of a House Finch.
Exceptional clarity with lovely lighting and colours.
Well placed in the frame.
Super camera work,
TFS

Rob

Hello,
Lovely shot ,It is your start , What will be happend in future. Love to see more.With best wishes, Nadeem Khawar.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
  • [2008-02-06 8:31]

Hello Penny, wow that's a fine one! Great sharpness, beautifully composed, great exposure and very nice background. Very well done, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2008-02-10 8:05]

Hi Penny

You have some stunning bird shots but the colours of this one really grabbed me. Great POV, wonderfully composed and excellent focus. Lovely DOF giving the nice blurry BG

TFS

Karan

  • Good 
  • t2l0c (11)
  • [2008-02-13 17:30]

This little guy is so cute, glad that you were able to get this close of a shot. I feel as though I can reach out and touch him. Very sharp and clear, nice job.
Tawnie

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