<< Previous Next >>

Dark-eyed Junco


Dark-eyed Junco
Photo Information
Copyright: Bob Williams (bikefifty) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 158] (596)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Rebel XTi, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II
Exposure: f/8, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Photos on TrekNature [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-29 5:55
Viewed: 3112
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This little guy was all fluffed up to ward off the cold while he was sitting on the branch. This is one of the more frequent birds at our feeder during the winter. We call them snow birds because when we first see them in late fall we know that snow is not far behind. Although they will feed out of the feeder, they spend most of their time feeding on the ground. They compete for ground space with the American Trees Sparrow.

From Wikipedia:

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, much like the related Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca), and its systematics is still not completely untangled.

Description
Female Slate-colored Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis)

Adults generally have grey heads, necks, and breasts, grey 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.[1]

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. But junco fledglings' heads are generally quite uniform in color already, and initially their bills still have conspicuous yellowish edges to the gape, remains of the fleshy wattles that guide the parents when they feed the nestlings.

The song is a trill similar to the Chipping Sparrow's (Spizella passerina), except that the Red-backed Junco's (see below) song is more complex, similar to that of the Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus). Calls include tick sounds and very high-pitched tinkling chips.
CeltickRanger, crs, nglen, jaycee, Noisette, Janice 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
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Janice: OOF Feathersbikefifty 1 02-04 18:08
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2009-01-29 6:01]

Hi Bob
This is a perfect capture. Sharp details and natural colors, good light and perfect focus. Well done.
Best regards.
Razvan

Fantastic shot! Wonderful sharpness, great dof. Well done!!

Hi Bob,

Nice shot, great bokeh. Wonderful...

hello Bob

excellent close-up photography of the Dark-eyed Junco,
shot with very fine POV and framing, i love the very good
space you leaved where he is looking, beautiful luminosity,
excellent sharpness and details, and the catch-light render
the photography always more beautiful, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 0 N: 922] (3551)
  • [2009-01-29 10:37]

Hello Bob,

This is a very fine portret of this tiny bird. Image is very good showing excelent details of the plumage. Light is well used so that very naturaly looking color tones can be see. The sharply shown bird stays nicely against the blurry background.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-01-29 12:23]

Hi Bob. You have captured a fine close up of this little Junco. Which you have taken with fine detail and natural colours. Your use of the light has given a warm glow to the shot, and a nice pse with its head turned. Interesting notes too. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer [C: 102 W: 7 N: 236] (160)
  • [2009-01-29 14:25]

Terrific. Really nice work. Gary P.S. Try putting a 1-pixel white line inside the frame.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2009-01-29 15:28]

Hi Bob,

The Junco is on my list of birds I would like to see some day. A beautiful capture of this little one all fluffed up from the cold. He has a beautiful face and a wonderful twinkle in his eye. The colors and details of his face and feathers are superb. A wonderful close-up with a lovely background and very nice composition.

Jane

hello Bob
Amazing shot of this junco
great colors and fine details on the plumage
beautiful blurred BG
TFS Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2009-02-04 17:07]
  • [+]

Oh Bob, I want one of these...
What a beautiful bundle of fur - sorry, feathers!!

The white breast feathers seem to be OOF and blurred, as there are no details in the centre feathers showing at all. And I am surprised that no one before me mentioned it. This is a case where people will just praise your photos but not tell you what is wrong. Which is a shame if you want to improve.

But the darker feathers and eyes show up well. And he loks great against that BG

TFS
Janice

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF