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Yellowhammer


Yellowhammer
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3817 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-11-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Yellow Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-11-12 3:38
Viewed: 5359
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Yellowhammer

Introduced into New Zealand between 1862 and early 1870’s and now found throughout the country in farmlands, orchards and open tussockland.

As the name suggests the adult male has a bright yellow head and underparts. The sides of the face and crown are a soft brown, the breast has a cinnamon wash and the flanks are pale yellow. The adult female is duller and paler yellow. Both have reddish-brown upperparts, streaked darker, rufous rump and white outer tail feathers. The call is a ringing metallic ‘tink’ or ‘twick’; the male song is ‘chitty-chitty-chitty…sweee’ or ‘a little bit of bread and no cheese’.

Yellowhammers eat a mix of seeds from introduced weeds, grasses, clover and cereals and invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles, flies, bugs and spiders.

They form flocks in autumn and winter but are territorial during the breeding season from October to March. The nest is a cup of dry grass, lined with rootlets, moss, hair, wool and feathers. It is usually built on or very close to the ground in gorse, brambles, bracken, long grass, etc. The clutch of 3 – 5 whitish-pink eggs with dark brown scribbling lines is incubated mainly by the female for 12 – 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks which fledge at 12 – 13 days.

Vital Statistics

Conservation Status: Common European Introduction
Mainland Status: Widespread and locally common
Size: 16cm, 27g
Life Span: 9+ years possibly
Breeding: October - March
Diet: Seeds and invertebrates

Information obtained from http://www.tiritirimatangi.co.nz/Fauna/Yellowhammer.htm

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 12:31 p.m.
Date: 11th November 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/250
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
wallhalla15, TAZ, sandpiper2 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Pam
Very nice shot of yellowhammer,
Perfect composition and beautiful
colors,i don't like the framing.
Excellent

Regards
Fartash

Hi Pam,
it's a beautiful bird, I wish we also had one in my garden, it's realy pretty with the brilliant yellow feathers.
Also a nice pose, thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Pam
Great portrait of this yellowhammer, great composition, great colors and nice pose.
Regards.
Jorge

interesting name for a bird. sure don't look like a hammer to me. joking.
nice composition, unique. could the yellow be more vibrant by PP?
STeph

  • Great 
  • sela Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 45 W: 0 N: 39] (704)
  • [2006-11-12 13:31]

Wonderful bird portrait.
Regards Rose

Hello Pam, this is a great bird picture. Great colours, lighting, excellent sharpness and great details too. This is a very nice composition with as usual an excellent note too. Well done. Thank you for posting my friend.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2006-11-12 16:02]

Lovely picture. The colours are beautiful, nice details and POV.

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2006-11-12 22:17]

Hi Pam

A super portrait of this little yellowhammer.Great DOF and POV.The details are crisp and sharp.Excellent display of the plumage with well saturated colours.TFS

Rob

Hello Pam,
What a wonderful little treasure! You caught a very nice pose for him with excellent details, POV and composition. I also like this great BG. This is a beautiful bird, congratulations!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2006-11-14 2:06]

Hello Pam,
This bird is so cute and he stands out from the neutral green background. Its yellow feathers are beautiful and its pose is nice too. The composition is simple, smart and efficient. As usual useful note.
Congratulations my friend for this great work and TFS.

Congratulations on your 700th post Pam, a true stalwart of TN while many have faded away.

Amazing that this species flourished in NZ. I think introduction was attempted in Oz, but failed.

As usual, great composition and lovely sharpness and detail. Great contrast with OOF background.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2007-05-17 9:44]

Hello Pam,
I saw this shot of a Yellow hammer in your gallery and was struck by how close you got to this bird to produce a fine detailed portrait set in a fine composition eith nice contrasting BG.
Though this bird is quite commonin Sweden I havn't succeeded ingetting as good a shot as this one.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

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