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Red headed honeyeater


Red headed honeyeater
Photo Information
Copyright: jon cody (darwin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 0 N: 403] (1393)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, 100-400L is
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird photos, Harry Eggens favorite bird shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-30 18:13
Viewed: 1525
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also found in New Zealand, the Pacific islands as far east as Hawaii, and the islands to the north and west of New Guinea known as Wallacia. Bali, on the other side of the Wallace Line, has a single species.

Honeyeaters and the closely related Australian chats make up the family Meliphagidae. In total there are 182 species in 42 genera, roughly half of them native to Australia, many of the remainder occupying New Guinea. Like their closest relatives, the Maluridae (fairy-wrens, grasswrens and emu-wrens), Pardalotidae (pardalotes and thornbills), and Petroicidae (the robins), they originated as part of the great corvid radiation in Australia-New Guinea (which were joined as a single landmass until quite recent geological times).
Although honeyeaters look and behave very much like other nectar-feeding passerines around the world (such as the sunbirds and flowerpeckers), they are unrelated, and the similarities are the consequence of convergent evolution.
Unlike the hummingbirds of America, honeyeaters do not have extensive adaptations for hovering flight, though smaller members of the family do hover hummingbird-style to collect nectar from time to time. In general, honeyeaters prefer to flit quickly from perch to perch in the outer foliage, stretching up or sideways or hanging upside down at need. All genera have a highly developed brush-tipped tongue, longer in some species than others, frayed and fringed with bristles which soak up liquids readily. The tongue is flicked rapidly and repeatedly into a flower, the upper mandible then compressing any liquid out when the bill is closed.
The extent of the evolutionary partnership between honeyeaters and Australasian flowering plants is unknown, but probably substantial. A great many Australian plants are fertilised by honeyeaters, particularly the Proteacae, Myrtaceae, and Epacridacae. It is known that the honeyeaters are important in New Zealand as well, and assumed that the same applies in other areas.
In addition to nectar, all or nearly all honeyeaters take insects and other small creatures, usually by hawking, sometimes by gleaning. A few of the larger species, notably the White-eared Honeyeater, and the Strong-billed Honeyeater of Tasmania, probe under bark for insects and other morsels. Many species supplement their diets with a little fruit, and a small number eat considerable amounts of fruit, particularly in tropical rainforests and, oddly, in semi-arid scrubland. The Painted Honeyeater is a mistletoe specialist. Most, however, exist on a diet of nectar supplemented by varing quantities of insects. In general, the honeyeaters with long, fine bills are more nectarivous, the shorter-billed species less so, but even specialised nectar eaters like the spinebills take extra insects to add protein to their diet when they are breeding.
The movements of honeyeaters are poorly understood. Most are at least partially mobile but many movements seem to be local, possibly between favourite haunts as the conditions change. Fluctuations in local abundance are common, but the small number of definitely migratory honeyeater species aside, the reasons are yet to be discovered. Many follow the flowering of favourite food plants. Arid zone species appear to travel further and less predictably than those of the more fertile areas. It seems probable that no single explanation will emerge: the general rule for honeyeater movements is that there is no general rule.
jaycee, gondox, fthsm, angela926, Proframe, rcrick, mjaniceanne, marhowie, uleko, schnoopie, satish_h, SelenE, Argus, CeltickRanger, Necipp, warnzy, hester, waylim, dejo, Maite, magiqa, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2008-03-30 18:16]

Ola Jon, simplesmente maravilhoso esta ave exelente foto exelente trabalho com qualidade e tecnica apurada parabéns por esta amgnifica imagem.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • gondox Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 332 W: 63 N: 294] (1427)
  • [2008-03-30 18:45]

Hi Jon!

Very special looking bird, at least for me as I live far from them I think. Beautiful environment as well and the whole image with wonderful colors. Even bg is very nice with a great bokeh. TFS!

Best regards,
Andor

what a colorful bird and a very colorful setting.
You captured it in a good setting, I bet it wasn't easy to capture it!

  • Great 
  • fthsm Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 47 N: 435] (2905)
  • [2008-03-30 21:30]

A very beautiful image of a cute species. Green and red, excellent contrast.
TFS Jon.

  • Great 
  • Tabib Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 5 N: 151] (720)
  • [2008-03-30 21:43]

Hi Jon,

Lively Honeyeaters, I like the crimson colour head, compliment very well with the red flowers petals. Nice composition too.

Best regards,
/Redzlan/.

Hello Jon,
great capture of this lovely colorful bird, fantastic sharpness and depth of field beautiful vibrant colors and nice contrast, great pose and good lightiong.
angela

Hi Jon

Excellent shot of this little beauty, love seeing these guys when up the top end.
Great composition and sharpness and good green OOf background highlights him beautifully.

Chris

Hi Jon,

Fantastically beautiful bird image you are showing us here today.
Superb composition and exposure.
Excellent note also.
Awsome colors and most wonderful details.
Perfect work and a great joy to look at.
Go's in to my favorite map right away!!!!
TFS!!!

Cheers, Harry

Hi Jon,
Wonderful shot mate of this Red headed honeyeater, I thought the Blue Eyed was pretty special, but this is amazing what a colour, excellent detail, really good separation from the OOF background, well framed and composed, nice work mate all the best Cheers Rick :)

Wow! just gorgeous, the colors the compostion, everything!

Very eye catching frame, a pleasing & colorful scene Jon.
The detail, DOF, POV, and exposure look great :)
Beautiful bird & Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2008-03-31 8:28]

Hello Jon,
Brilliant view of this gorgeous Honeyeater among beautiful blossoms! Great focus, sharp details, lovely colours and a fine soft background. Very nice work!
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-03-31 9:05]

Hi Jon,

Another exquisite bird from Australia. Beautiful colors - that red is special. Razor sharp details and a wonderful pose. The setting with the pretty flowers is excellent.

Jane

Hi Jon,
what a colorful shot. The colors are amazing.
The bird is captured sharp and detailed.
Nice POV and good composition.
TFS Tatjana

Hi,
very very colorful picture. One of the best bird picture on TN. congrats.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2008-03-31 11:11]

Hello Jon,
Excellent colourful photo of this Red-headed Myzomela! Very good sharpness and a marvelous composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
  • [2008-03-31 12:01]

Hi Jon,
Colors, contrast, flowers, POV, composition and details are very nice. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2008-03-31 13:07]

Hello Jon,
Superb shot of a Red-headed Honeyeater, the stunningly red head contrasting well with the rosy red flowers of the tree that it is in. Excellent composition, pose, POV and BG.
In other words, a great shot and thanks for sharing it,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-31 21:22]

Hello Jon

Wow...Super capture.
Just marking the post for now.

Rob

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2008-04-01 4:20]

Hi Jon,
looking at your portfolio it seems all the birds in Australia are so colorful, this one another one that is hard to miss :-).
Excellent capture, very sharp and crisp. Wonderful vibrant colors in this lovely composition.
Sky

wow, so colourful and so beautiful, try to decrease contast just a little, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1494 W: 0 N: 1175] (6494)
  • [2008-04-01 16:44]

Hi Jon,
Very beautiful image! Very nice colours, excellent detail and nicely framed.
Chi

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-04-01 21:06]

Incredibly colorful bird! Thanks Jon for showing us this great bird. The composition is very well done and the the technique is great, thanks!

Mario

hello Jon

this shot could be a greeting card with the very beautiful colours,
and with the lovely pose of the bid with the flowers,

excellent luminosity, fine POV and framing,
excellent DOF, great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hello Jon awsome colours on display here! amazing. Lovely sharp detail also. Nice pov and composition tfs rgds Necip.

Hi Jon,

Another stunning looking bird, and you have brought it to us with wonderfully vibrant colours. Great composition and framing too.

Mike

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2008-04-05 13:02]

Hi Jon

It looks like a painting with the vibrant colours and the perfect composition. It is an amazing looking bird and it posed on a lovely place for you. Wonderfully sharp and excellent DOF

TFS

Karan

Jon,
Another excellent shot. Intense colors. Good sharpness and clarity. great composition. Very good catch, perfect setting for such lovely bird. Thanks.
Way

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5579] (18518)
  • [2008-04-07 23:24]

Hi Jon,
Outstanding shot of this charming Honeyeater with such glorious contrasting colours. Very neat and sharp image with crisp details. Superb lighting and exposure and I like the illumination here. Fantastic pose captured with a precise DOF which isolates the subject from the BG nicely. Great POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2008-04-11 11:05]

Hello Jon,
beutiful bird, amazing color!
great pic, well saturated colors and great details!
regards,
Dejan

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2008-04-29 2:23]

WOW! What a colorful and marvellous picture! The bird is really cute and lovely to see with the head so red. I had never seen this kind and I didn't know of birds honeyeaters.
Magnificent job!
I should really like to have time and comment all your pictures, for they are gorgeous. But I should have to repeat many words for my English is very short!
Best regards
Maite

This photo is so beautiful and colourful, so it looks almost un-natural! Very nice of the cute birdie to pose for your camera on a branch full of flowers!

Hallo Jon
Sjoe! meaning Wow in Afrikaans. Once more Sjoe! This bird really have a set of showcase vividly bright red head feathers. It is indeed a display of beauty and grace. I am actually a bit jealous and envy you for this one. It is really very beautiful presented in a most favourable and pleasant manner. In the fashion world red and pink together is a big no no, but here the combination is great and really compliments one another. A super sharp, greatly focused and perfectly framed image. Thanks for sharing. Kind regards.
Anna

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