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Cape Sparrow


Cape Sparrow
Photo Information
Copyright: Anton Prinsloo (Anton) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 46 W: 11 N: 154] (595)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70S, AF-S Nikkor VR 200-400mm F/4 G
Exposure: f/8, 1/320 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-07-16 12:11
Viewed: 5095
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The male Cape Sparrow is unmistakable: it is the only sparrow in the region to have a pied head.

Cape Sparrows (Passer melanurus) are found in pairs or family groups when breeding; otherwise they are more or less gregarious, sometimes in flocks of hundreds of birds. They forage by hopping on ground, often in company with other sparrows, weavers and doves, but may hawk flying insects and drink regularly. These birds roost in pairs in specially built roosting nests, or communally in trees in flocks of up to 100 birds. They adapt well to human settlement, becoming fairly tame. They are vocal all year and start singing at dawn.

Their main food source is seeds but also insects (adults and larvae -- mainly small caterpillars), ovaries of deciduous fruit blossom, buds, scraps from feeding tray.

They breed all months throughout range but mainly August-March. Their nests: are large untidy hollow balls of grass, weeds, feathers, string, cotton, cloth and other soft material, with side entrance tunnel; thickly lined with feathers. These nests are found from 2-20 m above ground in bush, tree, hollow fence pipe, chicken-wire fence, telephone pole crossbar, creeper, under eaves of building, in old swallow's nest. The nests are often colonial in arid regions where up to 30 nests are built in one tree (but not all occupied at once). Both sexes built the nests.

Alternative Names:
English (Rob 6): Cape Sparrow
English (Rob 7): Cape Sparrow
English: Mossie
German: Kapsperling
French: Moineau mélanure
Indigenous: uNdlunkulu(Z), uPhenyane(Z), ngqabe(X), Undlunkulu(X), Unondiwane(X), Serobel (SS), Tswere(Tw)
Scientific Explained: melanurus: Greek melas, black; oura, the tail. passer: Latin, a sparrow
pablominto, elefantino, thor68, coasties, soccer, rozaanbeukes, mlines, Alex99, aido, elroyie has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Anton,
Very pleasant birdy photograph!
The setting is good with a non intrusive background...
The sparrow is captured with wonderful texture in the feather coat, great details and good natural colours!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Anton,

Another lovely shot. Cute subject and superb lighting.
I posted a workshop for slight adjustments.
TFS.

Serge

Hi Anton, amazing small bird.
Well captured with a great BG.

Andrea

  • Great 
  • Aramok Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 896 W: 101 N: 1501] (5166)
  • [2006-07-16 14:24]

lovley shot - the detail is great and the compiosition excellent. that BG really makes the sparrow stadn out really well.

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 795 W: 138 N: 1319] (5674)
  • [2006-07-16 16:15]

what a pretty sparrow, anton! :-)
excellent composition and pov with wonderful colors and details.
well seen & captured, thorsten.

Hi Anton

Well done on a great shot. Well composed, good POV and clarity and sharpness are spot on. :-)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2006-07-17 3:01]

Hello Anton,
I love the composition and the rich dark colors in this shot.
Great details and POV of this sparrow.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • soccer Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 587 W: 0 N: 655] (2557)
  • [2006-07-17 8:16]
  • [2]

Anton,

Great pic, showing good detail of the subject against a clear BG. The composition, POV and DOF are also good and make for a good posting. TFS,
Sheriff

Hi Anton,
A nice picture. Well composed and pov. Looks like a bit breezy day and you handled the situation well. TFS
JC

Hi Anton, Beautiful sharp pimage of this little bird. Good angle to see the full body and tail. Background shows the subject off well. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2006-07-18 7:58]

Hi Anton.
A very lovely made picture. It's exclusively well composed. The colours are gentle. The only thing that would be desirable to make, so it to correct sharpness. But this problem was sold by Pictures_Collec (Serge Miclo) in a masterly fashion. My congratulation, TFS,
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-07-18 11:48]

Hi Anton,
Nice shot of this little fellow. Good light and exposure, perfect DOF and a wonderful neutral background. Nice detail although I think there is some noise which is a bit distracting. I'm sure neatimage could fix that. Great work.
Regards,
Adrian

Nice picture of a very cute little bird, the BG is great, the workshop that offered by Serge is upgrading the picture.

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