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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: 2007-02-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon 100-400/4.5-5.6L IS
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-02-22 3:34
Viewed: 2901
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This posting of a horned lark was captured yesterday, a sunny day with mild temperatures so the birds were singing. The gophers were even out for a snack.
Shore Lark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Alaudidae

Genus: Eremophila

Species: E. alpestris



The Shore Lark (Eremophila alpestris), called the Horned Lark in North America, breeds across much of North America from the high Arctic south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, northernmost Europe and Asia and in the mountains of southeast Europe. There is also an isolated population on a plateau in Colombia. It is mainly resident in the south of its range, but northern populations of this passerine bird are migratory, moving further south in winter.

This is a bird of open ground. In Eurasia it breeds above the tree line in mountains and the far north. In most of Europe, it is most often seen on seashore flats in winter, leading to the European name. In America, where there are no other larks to compete with, it's also found on farmland, on prairies, in deserts, on golf courses and airports, and the like.

Unlike most other larks, this is a distinctive-looking species on the ground, mainly brown-grey above and pale below, with a striking black and yellow face pattern. The summer male has black "horns", which give this species its American name. America has a number of races distinguished by the face pattern and back color of males, especially in summer. The southern European mountain race Eremophila alpestris penicillata is greyer above, and the yellow of the face pattern is replaced with white.

Vocalizations are high-pitched, lisping or tinkling, and weak. The song, given in flight as is common among larks, consists of a few chips followed by a warbling, ascending trill.

The nest is on the ground, with 2-5 eggs being laid. Food is seeds supplemented with insects in the breeding season.
Argus, uleko, jaycee, Tamrock, Shoot_Score, Ken52, ellis49, vhemmati has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Rick,
This is a species I long to capture, but it's pretty rare in Sweden. Youve got him sharply and composed the shot well with excellent Bg but I wonder if it is overexposed?. I've tried the WS
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-02-22 5:07]

Hello Rick,
I really like your capture of this little bird which I'd love to see. Great sharpness and wonderful soft colours which merge so nicely with the background. Excellent shot!
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Rick,
Nice image. Good detail. Excellent colors. Creamy bukeh.
Well done
TFS
Annick

hi rick,
very nice capture,
well composed shot,
effective pov, lovely bg,
nice colour tones,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-02-22 10:57]

Hi Rick,

What an adorable bird - I have never seen this before. You show him off very well against this bg.

Jane

  • Great 
  • marcin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 138 W: 0 N: 268] (2057)
  • [2007-02-22 10:59]

hi Rick,
nice capture, good sharp and colors

  • Great 
  • badar Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 106 W: 0 N: 160] (785)
  • [2007-02-22 12:23]

Hi Rick,
Very well balanced exposure & great details on this lark. Well composed.
TFS
Badruddin Ali

hi rick!
this is very good
sharp with fine pov and dof
great composition
beautiful!

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-02-22 21:29]

Hello Rick

A beautiful little bird.You show it with an excellent perspective.Very good DOF,with sharp details and natural colours.Very good use of the natural lighting.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 93 N: 1243] (4195)
  • [2007-02-23 11:47]

Very nice photo of this bird. Outstanding DOF with nice neutral background. Excellent detail/sharpness. Very nice exposure.

Hi,
Very beautiful color and the subject is detached very wellof the background. I like the cream-coloured composition.
Eric

Hi Rick,
a beautiful picture with good compo and very nice low POV.
The details and exposure are also good. But what I like most
is the colour tones, it in very good harmony inthe entire picture, very nice.
I like Ivans ws too.
Well done.

Hi Again,

I definitely like your pictures of the birds of that region of Canada, very beautiful and interesting birds. This one an example of these birds, thanks for sharing them with us.

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