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Turdus merula


Turdus merula
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3815 W: 505 N: 8096] (27714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-21
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
Date Submitted: 2007-03-21 2:32
Viewed: 897
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Blackbird or Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) is a European member of the thrush family Turdidae.

It is common in woods and gardens over all of Europe and much of Asia south of the Arctic Circle. Populations are resident except for northern birds which move south in winter.

Blackbirds are 23.5 to 29 cm in length. They are omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms, seeds and berries. They nest in bushes or similar, laying several (usually 4) bluish- green-grey eggs with brown reddish marks in a neat cup-shaped nest.

They do not form flocks, although several birds, especially migrants, may be loosely associated in a suitable habitat. Female blackbirds are especially fierce in the spring when they compete and fight with each other for a good nesting territory. Male birds are also competitive and will protect their territory by chasing away other males. If a fight between male Blackbirds does occur it is usually short and the intruder is soon chased away.

Adult males are all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill. Adult female birds and juvenile birds have brown plumage and brown beaks and do not have a yellow eye-ring. Overall, juvenile birds are a slightly lighter brown than female birds and very young juvenile birds have somewhat speckled chests.

The male sings its varied and melodious song from trees, rooftops or other elevated perches.

The Blackbird has been introduced to many parts of the world outside its native range. In Australia and New Zealand it is considered a pest and has an effect on natural ecosystems.

The blackbird is the national bird of Sweden.

Because of a high mortality in the first year of life, a blackbird has an average life expectancy of 2.4 years; however, once past its first year a blackbird can expect to live longer and one blackbird has reached the age of 20 years.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 2:51 p.m.
Date: 21st December 2006
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/400
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 180mm
ISO: 200
Support: Hand Held
Original file type: Digital Raw
Argus, Matt-Bird, GLEM, fartash, ferranjlloret, Maite, Adanac, marhowie, uleko, mikou, zeca, bobair, Finland_in_Eton, thor68 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2007-03-21 2:42]

Hello Pam,
Excellent portrait of a somewhat ruffled male Blackbird. First class sharpness, composition and excellent bokeh BG with fine tones.
Amazing how introduced species become pests in their adopted countries!
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hi Pam,

You New Zealander you, your good, no...your really good! The exposure shows excellent detail in the black plumage on this blackbird. you hit this one right on the head of the nail. Well done. I tried to sound like Robert Deniro in 'Analyze This'. :)

Interesting note, I was quite surprised to see a picture of a Blackbird from New Zealand. Nice photo, details are good, colours and light are good... fills the frame well.

Hi Pam,
I like the composition of your photo. You have a really nice shot of the bird but the framing with the slight slivers of yellow help to highlight the birds eye and creates a simple but beautiful photo.
From
Matt.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 526 W: 87 N: 697] (6115)
  • [2007-03-21 4:15]

Hi Pam,
c'est un oiseau que je n'arrive pas à shooter pour l'instant, il est assez peureux. Jolie prise de vue, avec un point de vue idéal. Bon travail.

tfs

Hello Paul
What a great shot of this Black bird,
Great focusing and composition,
Excellent framing, Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hello Pam,
It is a bird very common in my country, did not know that also it was in your country, a pretty composition and fantastic colors
Salutacions cordials.

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-03-21 5:15]

Wonderful image, Pam!
You did it with perfect focus and excellent beautiful details. Colors, sharpness, lighting and contrast are great. I like very much the frame and composition.
Besides you added a valuable information about it.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Maite

You make a common looking bird look good.
Sharpness and details are clear.
I like this composition. Good job.
steph

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-03-21 6:53]

Hello Pam,
Very crisp and clear portrait of this blackbird. Your note is very interesting as well thanks for sharing.
Rick

Hi Pam,
Nice composition. Nice shot.

Biswarup

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2007-03-21 10:01]

Hello Pam,
I really didn't know that the Blackbird was our national bird!! But it's certainly a common bird and very lovely. Your capture shows excellent sharpness of the plumage and I like his pose on one leg on a pole. Nice soft background too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2007-03-21 11:10]

Hi Pam.
Beautiful capture of this Blackbird with amazing colors on background.I like these pose and sharp details on plumage.Very nice composition with good point of view.
TFS and best greetings,Milos.

Parades background Pam. Very well done. tfs. Stev

Hello,
We call it in Dutch: merel.
Difficult one to photograph IMO due to black plumage.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2007-03-21 23:10]

Hello Pam!
Very nice exposition! It is not easy to take pictures of black creatures like this, when it is easy to lost details. But here you caught it perfectly, with amazing sharpness on all details. The light is perfect!
Regards,
Zeca

Um lindo passaro preto muito bem fotografado com uma exelente nitidez meus parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3066 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2007-03-22 10:15]

Hello Pam.
I like your blackbird with the yellow-rimmed eyes.
Excellent exposure showing a wide range of values on the black plumage. Beautiful colors in the BG.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • bobair Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 397 W: 118 N: 1424] (5142)
  • [2007-03-22 22:09]

Hi Pam,
much has already been said about your blackbird so I can't add anything new to the mix except to say this an excellent capture. TFS. Bob

Super photo, perfect exposure of black subject that shows so much detail. Great POV and lovely composition. OOF bkgrnd and colors really accentuates the clarity of the subject. Good notes, too, this bird seems to be just about everywhere, it has even been seen in Greenland and Quebec, Canada as an "accidental tourist".

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 792 W: 138 N: 1312] (5642)
  • [2007-03-24 16:56]

hehe, what´s this, the one-legged new zealand blackbird? *gg*
never knew you had them there, too.
terrific shot, pam, perfectly composed
and with amazing details on the black bird -
especially the plumage and the yellow eye-ring are great.
well done & have a great weekend, thor.

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