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Hoepoo


Hoepoo
Photo Information
Copyright: Jannie Maritz (Jannie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 244 W: 6 N: 264] (1227)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5, Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 1:2.8-3.3 / 6-72, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/3.3, 1/20 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-05-08 2:47
Viewed: 5971
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Upupidae (Hoopoe)

The Hoopoe Upupa epops is in the same order of often colourful near passerine birds as the kingfishers, bee-eaters, and rollers.

However, in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, the Hoopoe is separated from the Coraciiformes as a separate order, the Upupiformes. It is the only extant member of its family, although what are now considered subspecies, such as the resident African form U. e. africana, were formerly sometimes given specific status.

Hoopoes are widespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa. They migrate from all but the southernmost part of their range to the tropics in winter.

Their habitat is open cultivated ground with short grass or bare patches. They spend much time on the ground hunting insects and worms. That particular diet may have been among the reasons the Hoopoe is included on the Old Testament's list of unclean birds (see Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18).

The Hoopoe is 25-29cm long, with a 44-48cm wingspan. This black, white and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly. The crest is erectile, but is mostly kept closed. It walks on the ground like a starling.

The song is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop", which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

The nest is in a hole in a tree or wall. Like those of its relatives the kingfishers, the nest tends to contain copious amounts of feces and smell very foul as a protection against predators.

The long-extinct Giant Hoopoe U. antaios, lived on the island of St Helena.

The Hoopoe was also featured in Greek mythology. Once a man, Tereus was transformed into the form of a Hoopoe. The character featured prominently in such works as Aristophanes' The Birds.

Thanx for viewing and please comment.
soccer, dew77, elefantino, scottevers7, Dando, marhowie, firelord, loot has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Jannie,

A sharp and detailed pic. Good Comp and POV too. TFS,

Sheriff

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2006-05-08 5:16]

Hello Jannie!
Wonderful capture.I liked POV,pose of bird,catchlight in eyes and composition a lot.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-05-08 7:50]

Hi Jannie,
Beautiful bird! Great shot, lovely crisp detail and nice rich colours. Nicely framed, great work!
Regards,
Adrian

Great shot Jennie.
Excellent colors and details, and good POV and BG.
TFS!!!!
Regards
JC

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 0 N: 1345] (10867)
  • [2006-05-08 10:37]

Ha Jannie,

Mooie foto van deze hop. Natuurlijke kleuren en interessante details.
Het oogje met lichtje is heel bijzonder.

TFS.

Zeno.

A close capture. Maibe light is too harsh... but details and the focus on the eye is good.
Andrea

Jannie,

This one posed for you, very nice POV and thank you for the note. I nver never seen anything like this in the States.

TFS
Scott

Hi Jannie,
A new one for me, so this is very interesting. Excellent exposure. Nice subtle colors, and fine detail. Composition and framing look great.
Scott

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2006-05-10 12:03]

very nice shot Jannie,
a wonderfull capture, good in pov and with very good details, good photo, very good job.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • piton (209)
  • [2006-05-10 16:06]

Hi Jannie,
Congratulation. Very good details. Very good shot. TFS. Regards.
Hasan.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2006-05-10 20:57]

Well done Jannie for this very good looking picture. Very sharp with a good eye contact, well lighted. Good job ! Thanks.

Mario

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-05-11 4:46]

Hi Jannie, nice shot with good POV and nice sharp clear details. TFS.
Dean.

Hi Jannie!
Very good sharpness, DOF, and detail in a good composition. Perhaps a manual exposure reduction would improve the capture a bit.
Well done and TFS!

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5524 W: 722 N: 4163] (11276)
  • [2006-05-23 22:23]
  • [2]

Hello Jannie
Lanklaas van jou gehoor. Hoop dit gaan nog goed.
This is a very nice capture of the lovely hoepoe. The composition and POV is great, the colours are very natural, and the details are sharp. IMO the only small nit might be with the exposure/lighting as it is slightly OE. Probably that could be solved just with PP by removing a little bit of brightness, but I believe you should have chosen a higher ISO setting than 80 in order to force your little compact to select a higher shutter speed than 1/20.
Anyway, good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

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