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Kingfisher


Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-11-09
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 800, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of New Zealand, Blue Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-09 0:13
Viewed: 4434
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingfishers

Kingfishers are birds of the three tismand Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). There are about 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are found throughout the world.

The taxonomy of the three families is complex and rather controversial. Although commonly assigned to the order Coraciiformes, from this level down confusion sets in.

The kingfishers were traditionally treated as one family, Alcedinidae with three subfamilies, but following the 1990s revolution in bird taxonomy, the three former subfamilies are now usually elevated to familial level; a move supported by chromosome and DNA-DNA hybridisation studies, but challenged on the grounds that all three groups are monophyletic with respect to the other Coraciiformes; which leads to them being grouped as the suborder Alcedines.

The tree kingfishers have been previously given the familial name Dacelonidae but Halcyonidae has priority. This group derives from a very ancient divergence from the ancestral stock.

Kingfishers live in both woodland and wetland habitats. The Laughing Kookaburra, at 45 cm the world's largest kingfisher, is a woodland bird, while the European Kingfisher Alcedo atthis is always found near fresh water.

Kingfishers that live near water hunt small fish by diving. They also eat crayfish, frogs, and insects. Wood kingfishers eat reptiles. Kingfishers of all three families beat their prey to death, either by whipping it against a tree or by dropping it on a stone.

They are able to see well both in air and under water. To do this, their eyes have evolved an egg-shaped lense able to focus in the two different environments.

The above obtained from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingfisher

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 1D Mk lll
Time of day: 19:32 p.m.
Date: 9th November 2007
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/200
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 800
Support: Hand Held
Original File: Digital RAW
StephenE, Tamrock, vanderschelden, anel, warnzy, Ena, LordPotty, cecilia, Alan_Kolnik has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam,

I looked through your gallery and must say I'm impressed. This shot is also exceptional. I specially like the comp here as it shows a bit of the environment. Pin sharp with nice detail. TFS.

hi pam!
nice pic on this beauty!
sharp and a very fine
composition,good pov to!
well done!

Good work, Pam.
Do like its special perching, together with the semi-bluured green in the background. Makes it special!
Well done
TFS
Annick

Excellent shot, Pam!
TFS
Ralf

Pam,

So far these birds have alooted me,
but thanks for the chance to see up close,
great comp,

fototab

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2007-11-09 6:08]

hello pam,
Very interesting composition. I like the way the bird is sitting on this trunk high above. Excellent decentred picture, very original shot.
Thanks and best regards
Anne

Hi Pam
outstanding compo!
perfect sharpness on bird
lovely
tfs
tom

Hi Pam,

I haven't been able to get anywhere near a kingfisher and I'm suitably jealous of this shot. Good detail and composition and a nice soft background. Looks like you were a little unlucky with the light, and have done amazingly well to come away with something this good.

Kind regards,

Mike

Hi Pam,
oooohhhh, you can be so lucky to see and capture such a wonderful bird. They are so shy and rare here in Germany. I had the luck to see one flying on some days in Summer while "hunting" for dragonflies. But I never had a chance to make a shot - of course I had the macro-lens on the camera ;-(
So thanks for this fantastic shot, a beautiful arrangement, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2007-11-09 12:46]

Hello Pam,
What a fantastic composition. The BG/environment is amazing. The Kingfisher is very sharp and has great natural clear colours. Excellent DOF.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 324 W: 61 N: 594] (2454)
  • [2007-11-09 15:12]

Good photo! Nice colors and composition!
Best regards
Ena

Lovely capture of this cute Kingfisher Pam.
Well composed,good colours etc.
Nice work.
Steve

Pam,
In case you are not sure which particular Kingfisher this is: Todiramphus sanctus (Sacred Kingfisher).

Well done Pam, they are always to fast for me. Still to get one myself.
Wonderful image, loveley exposure and colour.

Kathleen

Brilliant shot, great colours - Love the background.
A very well composed image...
Cecilia

Beautiful colors of this thoughtful looking little bird! I like the natural setting.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-15 7:36]

Hello Pam

The colours are beautiful in this shot.The blue is brilliant.
The focus is spot on with wonderful plumage definition.
Wonderful POV and DOF.
TFS

Rob
Rob

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-11-18 3:49]

Hi Pam, sorry I missed this wonderful photo! It is a wonderful composition and pov. The Kingfisher is perfectly placed in the frame and is nice and clean and sharp with great light and colours. Very well exposed. Great work.
tfs
debz

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