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Darwin's Finches


Darwin's Finches
Photo Information
Copyright: Selen Ediger (SelenE) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227] (13822)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of South America, Finches, Birds of Ecuador [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-14 8:14
Viewed: 910
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Medium Ground Finch
Geospiza fortis
One of 13 endemic species of Darwin finches in the Galapagos Islands.

Finches
There are 13 species of finch in the Galapagos, collectively known as ‘Darwin’s finches’. No other group of birds, indeed no other group of animals, has had such a profound impact on the development of human thought and our understanding of our place in our world, then these little brown and black birds.

When Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos in 1835, he collected specimens of the animals and plants that he encountered. Among these were the specimens of these finches. They were what we know to be one of the finest examples of adaptive radiation.

As Darwin gradually came to appreciate the significance of the finches, he could see clearly that all these little brown birds were essentially similar. This has since been confirmed by DNA testing. Each species was fitted into its own particular ecological niche: the small, medium and large seed eaters, the nectar eaters, the fruit and insect eaters and, most surprising of all, the tool-using bird.
All had developed from a common ancestor as a result of isolation and a relative lack of pressure from predators.

There are 13 species of Darwin’s finches. They are almost all identifiable by their beaks. Where this is not easy, identification can be by location: they tend to live on different islands, or inhabit different parts of the same island. In general, the males are dark brown or black, the females are mid-brown.

Medium Ground Finch
Geospiza fortis
Intermediate in size (12.5cm) between the Large and Small Ground Finches, it has a heavy bill but one that is much more pointed than the Large. The beak size varies considerably, even on the same island. The plumage is virtually identical to that of the Large Ground Finch. It tends to feed in flocks rather than individually. This species also feeds on the ectoparasites of tortoises and iguanas. Very well adapted to urban areas.

*Source: Wildlife of the Galapagos
Julian Fitter,Daniel Fitter,David Hosking
Princeton Pocketguides, ISBN 0-691-10295-3
Necipp, falke, uleko, dew77, ecem35, egeerhan, ralfsworld, Raptorman, Argus, metcher, Jamesp, rousettus, spalaxtr has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Royaldevon: singingSelenE 1 05-14 09:47
To uleko: beakSelenE 1 05-14 09:44
To ralfsworld: flashSelenE 1 05-14 09:40
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Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Selene a nice clean background good closeup and nice focus Good timing with the open beak would be nice if the light was from the left, but you got good detail in the shadows very sharp feathers tfs selamlar Necip.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3001 W: 162 N: 989] (2897)
  • [2007-05-14 8:24]
  • [+]

Hello Selen,
Very fine capture of this Finch unique to the
Galapagos. Excellent sharp details. The striking beak looks rather big, may be because of the angle of the shot? Thank you for a very interesting note too!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 17 N: 458] (1682)
  • [2007-05-14 8:25]

Another incredible good photo from you, Selen!
Perfect sharpness on the plumage, interesting composition and fantastic action subject. The sun on the bill makes it stand out in a 3D way.

Your note adds to the 5* rating.

TFS/Bengt

Selen, this is remarkable! What a shot! Was he just trilling his song or producing an alarm call? Whatever, the photograph demonstrates the shape and the colour very well. Thereis fine detail on the feathers and the twig. Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2007-05-14 8:52]

Merhaba Selen,
Harika yakalamışsın.Her halinden aç olduğu belli oluyor.Netlik de mükemmel.Tüyler tek tek sayılıyor.Selamlar,ellerine sağlık!

  • Great 
  • ecem35 Gold Star Critiquer [C: 78 W: 0 N: 0] (42)
  • [2007-05-14 9:04]
  • [2]

Tam öterken sana yakalanmış. Tüylerindeki detayları çok beğendim. Eline sağlık

Hi Selen
Well presented little finch in cool pose. I think in this situations flash will help a lot to bring even more details. Nice note!
TFS
Ralf

iyi odaklanmışsın özellikle tüylerde netlik hoş,öterken yakalamanda güzel.ellerine saglık Selen.

Selen merhaba , netlik mükemmel , komp. da hoş olmuş , sağdaki dal biraz şanssızlık , eline sağlık , bol şanslar.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2007-05-14 10:03]

Hello Selen,
Even though to look at this bird is very ordinary, the fact that you have taken a sharp close shot of one of these famous finches is in itself out of the ordinary.
In addition, you have superb lighting and BG set in a fine composition and the action of the open beak gives the shot character.
Thanks for sharing this one,
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 604 W: 11 N: 1631] (5995)
  • [2007-05-14 11:30]

Hello Selen, what a beauty very nice capture of this finch, very good collors and the details are great, fine capture ...Well done..

Hi, Selen.
Nice shot. A little bit angry looking bird with open beak. Beautiful light and composition. Like also pose.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-05-14 14:38]

Hi Selen

A great posting - I do not remember seeing any during my week in the Galapagos. The light on the feathers is great and makes the picture interesting and unusual.

James

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2173 W: 220 N: 4384] (14904)
  • [2007-05-15 4:50]

Hi Selen

A very interesting but still cute capture!
The frontal POV here is outstanding nad the pose you've captured this fellow in is magnificent!
Good details on the plumage and nice OOF BG, too.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hello Selen,
You really have seen some mythical species recently and they are all beautiful! This is so interesting and I think that it is the first time that I have this opportunity to see this Sparrow :)! It is not everyday that one can travel in the Galapagos :) Details on the feathers and expression caught are priceless. Thanks for those much interesting notes.
Claudine

Selen hazır elin değmişken Darwin ispinozlarının tüm türlerini fotoğrafla bence. Süper olur. belki de fotoğraflayıp bitirdin bile. Bu kuşlar türleşme sürecic açıklanmasında çok önemli ve klasikleşmiş objeler. Tümünün fotoğraflarını yan yana koyup incelemek isterdim. Eline sağlık. Mustafa

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