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Horned Lark


Horned Lark
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-04-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5d Mark II, Canon EF 600mm f4.0L IS USM
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/1250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2011-05-06 17:06
Viewed: 3015
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
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General Description

By Lee Sollenberger

The Horned Lark is widely distributed on a global scale. In the Americas it occurs from the high Arctic islands to southern Mexico and in the eastern Andes of Colombia. In Eurasia, where it is known as the Shore Lark, it is found from the Arctic coast south to extreme northern Africa, Asia Minor, the Himalayas and Japan. In Alberta, it can be found transiting the whole province, but avoids forested areas, breeding only in open landscape, primarily in the agricultural areas, in the Rocky Mountains above treeline and in the northeastern corner on the Canadian Shield region. Its numbers have drastically declined in recent decades.

This is Alberta's earliest spring migrant, arriving in February, finding food on wind-swept bare ground. If heavy snows fall after their arrival, they gather on the bare plowed edge of roadways, often in the hundreds. Most early arrivals likely move on to breed in the tundra region. Local summer residents may arrive later. Horned Larks avoid the big cities, but some may be found on large, open, bare expanses such as on agricultural fairgrounds in smaller urban communities. In the Calgary area, they are most readily found on grazed pastures or cultivated fields east of the city. When fields are bare, a few birds can usually be found during the winter months in the southern part of the province.

Weed seeds make up a large percentage of this bird's annual diet. It also eats many insects during the summer months.

The nest is always on the ground, usually tucked into a sheltered hollow. It is constructed of dry grass and plants stem with a finer inner lining of plant down, fur and/or feathers. Usually four greenish gray eggs are laid, incubated by the female for 10 to 14 days, depending upon the latitude. Both adults feed. The young open their eyes at three to four days, leaving the nest when nine to twelve days old. They are fully able to fly four days later. This species may rear more than one brood annually.
From Weaselhead.org
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To mwmod99: Doesn't Rick agree?Hormon_Manyer 4 05-08 10:12
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Rick

Beautiful photo of the Horned Lark posed over the snow,
with fine POV and framing, excellent focus sharpness
and details, beautiful eye-contact with catch-light,

TFS

Asbed

Wow! That 600mm really got you nice and close to the lark.
High and low registers shows nice lighting throughout the subject
and the snowy mini-mountain. :)

  • Great 
  • ana974 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 48 N: 968] (4857)
  • [2011-05-06 19:32]

Hello dear friend Rick!
As usually your pic here is lovely! Amazing POV and excellent natural colors. The little bird is really cute! TFS
Nice w-end!
aNa

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2011-05-06 20:59]

Hi Rick.
Outstanding quality and beautifulness of the picture taken with help of extra-class equipment. Amazing bird, terrific details and perfect colour rendition. I also impressed with exposure of the snow and composition of the shot. Bravo. Well done.
Alexei.

Hi Rick this is a pleasing shot of the lark which at first glance I thought was a Killdeer in the gallery thumbnails but on closer inspection I know not to be the case,the three black bands had me fooled for a second.I must say that this image has very accurate colour and such a fine light on it,that all your details are very sharp.I like that pale spring sky and it works hot dang to contrast with the little bird.A nice one Rick and thank you sir for sharing it with us.

Bob

Gorgeous capture indeed Rick! I love the chosen point of view and the simplicity in this frame. Unfortunately the white balance on your magnificent camera was set incorrectly and heavy Cyan/blue cast is dominating to a degree when even the vividness of the colors has been taken away. I know that you do not agree with me here, but please have a look my workshop!
Regards,
George Veltchev

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-05-07 0:46]

Hello Rick,
Beautiful photo of this Horned Lark in nice natural colours. Maybe a bit more contrast is possible. Excellent sharpness, details and a very good POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2011-05-07 1:21]

Hello Rick,
The Horned lark is rare in Sweden and I have naver been as close to one to enble such a fine capture as this. The POV against the blue sky is great as is the composition on the snow. Fine sharpness, DOF and natural colours too.
Thanks and have great weekend,
Ivan

Hello Rick
Interesting species and beautiful photo with excellent composition and good sharpness.
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hi Rick,

Beautiful species I've yet to see one here, this one at the peak of the plummage scale. I agree with the White balance remarks, but that's easy to solve in Photoshop, the basics of this image are wonderful

TFS
j

Hello Rick
wonderful image, lovely scene, the bird is captured with nice details
superb pose and composition, the blue sky makes a beautiful BG
Have a great sunday
Jacqueline

great capture, great snow, TFS Ori

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