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Dark-eyed Junco


Dark-eyed Junco
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Vincent (earthtraveler) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 427 W: 123 N: 947] (3483)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ50
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/100 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-26 11:35
Viewed: 5065
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dark-eyed Juncos have been the birds seen most often here this winter in my yard. Their feeding activity and sounds have been a day brightener during this long, cold winter. A recent April snow storm brought in many birds to feed and I was able to capture this Junco who perched closer than usual to me while I was waiting with my tripod mounted camera, a long lens, and shooting through an open kitchen window.

The Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis, is the best-known species of the juncos, a genus of small grayish American sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. It is a very variable species and its systematics is still not completely untangled.

Female adults generally have gray heads, necks, and breasts, gray or brown backs and wings, and a white belly, but show a confusing amount of variation in plumage details. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight. The bill is usually pale pinkish.

The males tend to have darker, more conspicuous markings than the females. Juveniles often have pale streaks and may even be mistaken for Vesper Sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) until they acquire adult plumage at 2 to 3 months.

The song is a trill similar to the Chipping Sparrow's (Spizella passerina). Calls include tick sounds and very high-pitched tinkling chips.

Source: Wikipedia

Aperture Priority
ISO 200
F-stop 3.7
Exp 1/100 sec.
Lens 420mm + 1.7X Pan.LT55, 714mm equivalent
Tripod

Thanks for taking a look and sharing your thoughts.
Richard
nglen, Jamesp, matatur, marhowie, jaycee, CeltickRanger, Luis52, gracious, zulfu, gannu, Alex99, tuslaw, eqshannon, Argus, boreocypriensis, Adanac, jusninasirun, goldyrs has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-04-26 11:48]

Hi Richard. Such cute looking little birds the Juncos. you have captured it in a nice pose with good detail and natural colours. you have done well with the light i can see you had rain at the time so well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2008-04-26 13:14]

Hi Richaed

Great close-up eiyh good detail. I like the blurred streaks of rain in the BG.

James

Such a cute little bird beautifully captured from a good lateral viewpoint Richard, you've succesfully eliminated any camera shake at 1/100 sec. @ 700 plus mm lens with a sturdy tripod and achieved fine plumage and colouration detail under poor lighting conditions. Good work my friend.
Mehmet

I like the soft light and color Richard.
I also like the long streaks @ 1/100th from the stormy weather, a nice added effect..Very good POV, DOF, exposure, and details. And the green of the BG adds some needed color to your frame.
Well done!
Howard

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-04-26 16:06]

Hi Richard,

A very nice shot of a very pretty bird. I've never seen a Junco - if they winter in Minnesota I guess they would not like the heat in Arizona! Nice soft colors, good details and a lovely pose.

Jane

hello Richard

very beautiful shot of the Dark-eyed Junco, fine POV, framing and DOF,
i love the way diagoanly the bird and the branche are
framed on the image, excellent sharpness and details of the plumage, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2008-04-26 19:42]

Hola Richard.
Bella la foto de este Junco. Muy hermosos colores y fina pose y un exelente fondo difuso que le da mas realce a la presentacion.
Muy interesante nota escrita Richard.
Luis52.

Hello Richard,
Very beautifully captured on this Junco!
the lighting is awesome in perfect sharpness, good colour and superb details
very well done and TFS
best regards
Tony

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2008-04-26 22:30]

Hi Richard,
Wonderful shot of this Dark-eyed Junco. Fabulous pose captured with very impressive sharpness and lovely colours and details on its plumage. Superb control of light and exposure levels. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2008-04-27 1:27]

Hi Richard,
Superb capture of this Dark-eyed Junco. TFS.
Regards,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2008-04-27 8:06]

Hello Superb shot. Strong focus and cute looking bird. Lovely focus. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2008-04-27 11:29]

Richard,
Great shot of this cute little bird. Your sharpness and fine detail is very evident in this image. Nice natural soft colours with a blurred background really set this shot off. Great notes!
Ron

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2008-04-28 0:24]

Hi Richard.
I like your next bird picture again. It is so perfect as previous shots. All is excellent. Nice scene, great details of the bird and nearest twigs, perfectly blurred delicate BG. Blameless framing and composition. My best regards and TFS. Well done.
Alexei.

Beautiful. How odd that we both posted same the other day...mine of course was from afar and also from a few years ago...but this close in shot is very softly constructed to give it a true birdly appearance. Nice Richard. I am sorry to have missed you Purple Finches as well...I am due to post one soon...
bob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2008-04-29 13:08]

Hello Richard,
Delightful capture of a Dark-eyed Junco.
The POV, pose, composition with the branches, the BG, colours and good sharpness all combine to make this a first class image that is a joy to see and I thank you for sharing it,
Ivan

Hi Richard,
Splendid and perfect shot my friend. TFS and also thanks for your kind comments on my 100th post.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2008-04-29 20:43]

Hello Richard,
One of the most difficult things with juncos I find is getting the eye right and here you have done an outstanding job.
The whole image is superb with great details and col,ors, thanks my friend.
Rick

Hello Richard. This is a very nice capture of junco. I like the perch on that double branch with superb sharpness and vivid clarity. The background is very well silenced making this a fine pleasant post. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

Richard, splendid capture - so clear and well composed - congrats

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-07 21:21]

Hello Richard

A lovely capture of this junco with the precipitation falling around it.
The detail is very good with sharp focus.
Wonderful eye contact and natural colours.
The POV is well done.
TFS

Rob

Hi Richard,

Picture perfect! A beautiful Junco in a wonderful pose. Colors and details are excellent. The beak, eye, wings, and plummage are superb. Amazing how well he shows off against the darker background. I love it!!!

Goldy

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