<< Previous Next >>

Scarlet Pumpernickel Eater


Scarlet Pumpernickel Eater
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-08-10 5:02
Viewed: 1427
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Red-winged Starling (Onychognathus morio)
African Red-winged Starling, Rufipenne morio, Rotschwingenstar, Estornino de Alas Rojas Africano, Tjocknäbbad rödvingestare, Roodvleugelspreeuw, Storno Ali Rosse.

A large slender starling with dark red wing feathers. Size 27-29 cm - larger than the Dove. Afrikaans: Rooivlerkspreeu

The bill of the Red-winged Starling is short, and slightly arched. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark red.

The male Red-winged Starling is mostly a dark glossy blue-black, while the female is duller with a grey head extending to grey streaking on the upper breast and mantle. Both male and female have distinctive chestnut primaries, which are visible at rest, but very obvious in flight - appearing a large red-brown patch in the flight feathers.

The Red-winged Starling is a bird of rocky and mountainous terrain, and it breeds mostly on cliff faces. It has also adapted itself to human habitation and breeds on buildings When not breeding may wander into nearby habitats, some way away from mountains.

It is usually seen in pairs or in small flocks. The Red-winged Starling eats fruit, insects, small vertebrates and aloe nectar. The calls are a range of mellow, sweet whistled notes: peeeo, wheo teeteoo, piroo titoo taroo.

It nests mainly from September to February, usually raising two broods in one season. The nest is a bulky open-cupped bowl of coarse plant material, often mixed with mud, and lined with finer material. It is placed in an inaccessible position on a cliff ledge, crevice or on a bridge, building or other human structure.
This specimen decided to join my wife and me for tea at the Protea Hotel in the Golden Gate National Park. He perched on a chair between us and I had the opportunity to shoot him. The background is my wife’s fleece jacket. I cloned out a part of the table and her legs to get him on this scarlet BG. Hope you like it.
ellis49, AndyB, carper, PDP, danbachmann, Callie, milloup has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Very good Gerhard.
Nice color and sharp.
Nice pose,great details in the plumage , black bird is very tough to get right exposure.
Good note
Well done

Good detail in the bird against the red background. Not sure if I like the background but that can't be helped!

Quel animal majestueux quand on le voit ainsi présenté sur fond rouge.
Belles photo et de magnifiques reflets sur ce plumage noir.
Merci de nous la faire partager.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-08-10 5:41]

A nice looking bird.
Very well captured with good sharp detail and in a good pose too!
A great note too,I've not heard of this bird before.
very well done.

I like it the way you took it Gerhardt,
The red background, very good contrast with the bird, I like it, very sharp, very good job.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-08-10 9:41]

A beauty, I like the background, certainly lots of contrast it's bold and different. Excellent detail and great note.

Great close up crop with a background that almost gives the feeling of a Warhol print.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
  • [2004-08-10 14:25]

Gerhardt
This guy has the appearance of a thief on the thumbnail. Actually, these starlings are all opportunistic and some of my favourite birds to watch. This is the male of the species. IMO, the compo is 95% - a bit more bottom & some on top. Theexposureis spot-on and the red BG is great!

Wow - retaining texture and nuances in black birds doesn't always work out well, but you did just great in this one, Gerhard. Very interesting posing, good "gleamy" eye, and congratulations to your wife for not having chosen a black fleece jacket :-) Great shot, Gerhard.

I'm not too fond of the background, as it seems quite unnatural (which it is, too, as a matter of fact ;-)) However, the bird itself stands out nicely with great details in the black feathers (no mean feat) and a nice catchlight in the eye.

Pity with the red background Gerhard. The bird is perfect with lots of details and it is a difficult task with all the black feathers - so you did a great job under the conditions.

Great scene Gerhard! It looks superb this red and black! Photo made by master!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF