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The Red-winged Blackbird


The Red-winged Blackbird
Photo Information
Copyright: Jorge Chemas (jchemas) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 32 N: 754] (3388)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-04-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 300D, 28-200mm F3.5-5.6D
Exposure: f/45, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-20 20:05
Viewed: 683
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Red-winged Blackbird

One of the most abundant birds in North America with an estimated population of 250 million, the Red-winged Blackbirds are somewhat smaller than an American Robin (approximately 7.5 to 9.5 inches in length). Males are glossy black everywhere except on the epaulets, or shoulders, of the wing. The epaulets are scarlet (the lesser wing coverts) bordered with a buff or yellowish color (the greater wing coverts). The Red-winged Blackbird is found in wetlands, agricultural areas across the continent and around the cities. The black male can hide the brilliant red shoulders or show them off in a dazzling display. The striped female looks strikingly different than the male and could almost be mistaken for a large dark sparrow. Male black with red shoulders, female brown and striped all over.
The Red-winged Blackbird is a highly polygamous species, with one male having up to 15 different females making nests in his territory. The male Red-winged Blackbird fiercely defends his territory during the breeding season. He may spend more than a quarter of all the daylight hours in territory defense. He vigorously keeps all other males out of the territory and defends the nests from predators. He will attack much larger animals, including horses and people. In some populations 90% of territorial males have more than one female. But, from one quarter to up to half of the young in "his" nests do not belong to the territorial male. Instead they have been sired by neighboring males.
The Red-winged Blackbird forms roosting congregations in all months of the year. In the summer it will roost in small numbers at night in the wetlands where it forages and breeds. In winter, it can form huge congregations of several million birds, which congregate in the evening and spread out each morning. Some may travel as far as 80 km (50 mi) between the roosting and feeding sites. It commonly shares its winter roost with other blackbird species and European Starlings.

Characteristics
• Medium-sized songbird.
• Moderately long and slender bill.
• Tail of medium length.
• Male plumage is well described by the name.
• Size: 17-23 cm (7-9 in)
• Wingspan: 31-40 cm (12-16 in)
• Weight: 32-77 g (1.13-2.72 ounces)

Other Names
Carouge à épaulettes (French)
Tordo alirrojo, Tordo capitán, Mayito de la ciénaga, Sargento (Spanish)

HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

Thanks for visiting me and thanks in advance for your comments/critiques

JC
SkyF, coasties, wkshelton, liquidsunshine, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To EOSF1: Hello Mariojchemas 1 04-22 14:45
To coasties: Hello Pamjchemas 1 04-22 14:45
To SkyF: Hello Skyjchemas 1 04-22 14:44
To wkshelton: Hello Kylejchemas 1 04-22 14:44
To pvs: Hello Pauljchemas 1 04-22 14:43
To Graal: Hello Aleksanderjchemas 1 04-22 14:42
To liquidsunshine: Hello Alanjchemas 1 04-22 14:42
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2006-04-20 21:54]
  • [+]

Hey good Blackbird ! It's hard to get them right because of their black feathers but you exposed it good. There is bit of noise though cause you have exposed it at 1600iso. I think there was no need to close the lens to f/45. Thanks for sharing Jorge.

Mario

Hi Jorge

Wonderful shot. Good exposure on the black. Good light, colour, POV and composition. Well done! :-)

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-04-21 6:55]
  • [+]

Hi Jorge,
we see those birds around here a lot. So far I have not captured it well enough to show it here. You did capture this lovely bird so well, nice sharp details and good colors. Nice composition an well framed.
TFS..Sky

Hi jorge, excellent capture and composed well, excellent details with perfect DOF, BG, POV excellent work. TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2006-04-21 12:24]
  • [+]

Hi Jorge,

Very nice capture of this blackbird,as mario already mentioned I guess you could shoot tis shot with a lower ISO,but anyway,still detailed and colorfull,well done and TFS

Paul

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 787 W: 31 N: 20] (5002)
  • [2006-04-22 3:11]
  • [+]

Hi Jorge,
very nice composition and good quality of photo. Interesting note. Good work I like it a lot.
Rgs, Aleksander

Hi Jorge,
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV, notes and framing.

Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2052 W: 315 N: 4301] (14719)
  • [2006-04-22 21:29]

Very good photo.
Complete note as usual.
Thank you Jorge.
I am just trying to refund my debts...

Hi Jorge,

Nice bird. Here also we have a lot of this bird. We call it : Carouge à épaulette. The exposition seems pretty good. The compo is simple but it's o.k. The details of the bird are nice. Hope next time its wings gonna be open.. Good work.
Have a nice day.

Martin.

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