<< Previous Next >>

Juvenile Swallows


Juvenile Swallows
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: 2007-12-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 640, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of New Zealand [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-10 22:50
Viewed: 4448
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Hirundo
Species: H. neoxena
Binomial name: Hirundo neoxena

The Welcome Swallow is a small passerine bird in the swallow family.

It is a species native to Australia and nearby islands, but not until recently to New Zealand, which has been colonised in the last half century. It is very similar to the Pacific Swallow with which it is often considered conspecific.

This species breeds in southern and eastern Australia in a variety of habitats, but not desert or dense forest. Eastern populations are largely migratory, wintering in northern Australia. Western birds, and those in New Zealand are mainly sedentary.

The Welcome Swallow is metallic blue-black above, light grey below on the breast and belly, and rusty on the forehead, throat and upper breast. It has a long forked tail, with a row of white spots on the individual feathers. These birds are about 15 cm long, including the outer tail feathers which are slightly shorter in the female. The call is a mixture of twittering and soft warbling notes, and a sharp whistle in alarm.

Young Welcome Swallows are buffy white, instead of rufous, on the forehead and throat, and have shorter tail streamers.

Welcome Swallows readily breed close to human habitation. The nest is an open cup of mud and grass, made by both sexes, and is attached to a suitable structure, such as a vertical rock wall or building. It is lined with feathers and fur, and three to five eggs are laid. Two broods are often raised in a season.

The female alone incubates the eggs, which hatch after two to three weeks. The young are fed by both parents, and leave the nest after a further two to three weeks.

These birds are extremely agile fliers, which feed on insects while in flight. They often fly fast and low to the ground on open fields in large circles or figure 8 patterns. They will often swoop around animals or people in the open.

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

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 1D Mk lll
Time of day: 19:57 p.m.
Date: 4th December 2007
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/320
F-Stop: F/8
Focal Length: 400mm
ISO: 640
Support: Hand Held
Original File: Digital RAW
red45, NinaM, rcrick, Debz 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]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2007-12-10 23:50]

Hi Pam!

Nice to see cute birds again :-) I like diagonal composition with twig and two sparrows. Grey BG looks good. Nice eye contact. Maybe slightly too dark, but overall very nice picture.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2007-12-11 10:10]

Hello Pam, I love this photo, what a nice composition. The birds are a little dark but there is a sparkle in their eyes to illuminate their faces. The birds are fluffy and add to the softness of the scene. Thank you, nice note,

Francine

Nice capture of these young swallows Pam.
Looks like light conditions were only just enough.Still some good detail seen though.
Cheers
Steve

Hello Pam,
Very nice composition, look like you struggled with the light a little, just a tad dark but well seen and well framed, all the best Cheers Rick :)

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-12-13 2:16]

Hi Pam, what a charming shot of these two little Swallows looking fluffy and cosy on the branch. VEry nice pov with almost diagnoal branch across the scene. Swallows are nice and soft whilst also sharp with nice profiles against the blue sky. Very nice compositon.
tfs
debz

  • Great 
  • jo8 Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 14] (101)
  • [2007-12-13 20:30]

Beautiful, like this shot very much.
Great work

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF