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Grey Butcher Bird


Grey Butcher Bird
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 717 W: 38 N: 1560] (5019)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-01-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, Scandisk Ultra II 8g, Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV LPF
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): My Backyard Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-13 3:39
Viewed: 1072
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I captured this little Butcher Bird in the garden the other day; they now seem to be a regular visitor to the garden. This little one is still very young and hasn’t quite got the distinctive black & white colours yet of an adult bird, but it certainly has got the cry for food down pat.

The adult Grey Butcherbird has a black crown and face and a grey back, with a thin white collar. The wings are grey, with large areas of white and the underparts are white. The grey and black bill is large, with a small hook at the tip of the upper bill.

The eye is dark brown and the legs and feet are dark grey. Both sexes are similar in plumage, but the females are slightly smaller than the males.

Young Grey Butcherbirds resemble adults, but have black areas replaced with olive-brown and a buff wash on the white areas. The bill is completely dark grey and often lacks an obvious hook. They are sometimes mistaken for small kingfishers.

Grey Butcherbirds range from mid-eastern Queensland, through southern Australia, including Tasmania, to northern Western Australia. There is an isolated population in the Kimberley and the northernmost parts of the Northern Territory.

They are also found in a range of wooded habitats, including suburban areas. In inland areas, the birds tend to favour the denser forests.

They are aggressive predators, and will prey on small animals, including birds, lizards and insects, as well as some fruits and seeds. Uneaten food may be stored in the fork or a branch or impaled.

Grey Butcherbirds sit on an open perch searching for prey which, once sighted, they pounce on. Most mobile prey is caught on the ground, though small birds and insects may be caught in flight.

Details, shot Raw and converted to Jpeg, re-sized and cropped slightly. Re-sharpened for posting.

File Name IMG_0029.CR2
Camera Model Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Shooting Date/Time 5/01/2009 4:07:07 PM
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/30
Av( Aperture Value ) 13.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation +1/3
ISO Speed 320
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 400.0 mm
Image Size 800x647
Image Quality Jpeg
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Custom
White balance compensation A1 G1
AF Mode One-Shot AF
Picture Style User Defined 1(Neutral)
Sharpness 6
Contrast 2
Saturation 2
Color tone 1
Color Space sRGB
Long exposure noise reduction 2:Enable
High ISO speed noise reduction 1:Enable
Highlight tone priority 0:Disable
File Size 138.8 KB
Drive Mode High-speed continuous shooting
uleko, ramthakur, Argus, CeltickRanger, jaycee, JoseMiguel, marhowie, Adanac, iris has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2999 W: 162 N: 984] (2877)
  • [2009-01-13 4:15]

Hello Rick,
A fine capture of this young Butcher bird looking a bit lost!! Nice POV, great focus, sharp details and natural colours. It's nicely framed by the branches too. Well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Richard merhaba,sanki kendi penceresinden dünyayı izler gibi.Doğanın sesinide dinliyor sanırım,çok güzel,ellerine sağlık :)

Excellent focus on the bird, Richard. Look at that sharp capture of the eye! It is simply amazing.
The Butcherbird is something new for me and I admire its cute brown head.
Thanks for sharing this marvellous picture and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2009-01-13 5:20]

Hello Rick,
A very nice capture of a juvenile Butcher Bird, the natural framing by the branches being superb. The frontal POV, sharpness and lighting are also excellent.
I have only been able to capture an adult on a powerline: it would have been great to get a shot like this!
TFS,
Cheers,
Ivan

hello Richard

beautiful photo of the Grey Butcher Bird with fine POV
and framing of the image, i also love the way the bird
is framed by the branches, excellent sharpness and details,
lovely eye-contact and the catch-light render the image more beautyful,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-01-13 9:27]

Hi Rick,

I don't know that I have seen a Butcher Bird before! I love the pose in the open space created by the angles of the branches. Wonderful colors and sharp details of the face and plumage. He has an interesting expression on his face. The setting and composition are superb.

Jane

Hi Richard,
A great bird's collection the one you are gathering.
Excellent image, with proper exposure and plenty of sharp details on the subject.
So interesting to find out what the differences are between young and adult ones.
Congratulations and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 0 N: 403] (1393)
  • [2009-01-13 17:55]

Hi Rick
Great shot and wonderful composition with the young butcher bird perched in a natural setting,
highlighting sharp focus and fine details in the feathers.
tfs jon

Hello Rick

Terrific POV,it is high ,wide and handsome.
Excellent eye contact.
The DOF is well done.
Sharply focused with very good detail and colours.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2009-01-14 5:34]

Hello Rick,
Stunning details with your sharp focus, with great natural looking colors. The composition is splendid as is the catch light. Thank you for such fine work Rick.
Rick

Hello Rick,
Nice capture, really wonderful composition and good low pov, good sharpness, lovely catchlight in the eye, beautiful natural colors and good clarity, well done.
Than
thanks
Angela

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2009-01-18 5:10]

Hello Rick,
I quite envy you ...what a large number of species to have for backyard birds and macro opportunities!! Just the other day i was critiquing your Friar bird and Harlequin show from the backyard...and here you are with another regular visitor..
Excellent pose, with fine catchlight.The head portion shows such good sharpness and details. I like the bit of plumage standing as if ruffled..Very well captured.
TFS & Cheers
Silpa

Hi Rick,
What a strange looking bird! We don't have any specie here that could look like him... This is a nice capture with good details, composition and exposure. I love the green patterns in the background. Thanks,
Claudine

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