Backyard White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile).

[Daniel Cadieux]

The annual fall migration sparrow backyard invasion is under way, so I took advantage of it a bit last week. Set up a few stumps and rocks, spread some black-oil sunflower seeds at their base and voilà, instant setup! Quite dark out that time, but my elbows braced on the ground permitted slow SS, but still lots of motion-blurred subjects (but sharp perches!) Once in a while one would stay still long enough...

By next year the stripes on its head will be jet black and pure white, very cool, and probably my favorite sparrow species.

Canon 7D + 100-400L @400mm, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/80s., f/6.3, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, some dodging to shadowed areas (flanks, lores), FF.


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[Vivaldo Damilano]

Good looking sparrow, I like the perch and love the BG. Good sharpness for such a low SS well done.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the perch, pose, exposure, BG and light. Excellent image Daniel.

[Melissa Groo]

Lovely--looks like a painting, Daniel. I really like the perch, that background, and the sparrow's pose. Nice work.

[Ryan Schain]

I love the perch, background, sharpness, ect. You nailed this image, despite the low light.

Age wise, this isn't a juvenile bird, as hatch year White-crowned Sparrows only retain their juvenile plumage until August (juvenile plumage is their very first plumage, in which they are covered with streaking, similar to a HY Chipping or Clay-colored Sparrow). This bird is in its 1st winter (immature) plumage. This is a very common misconception with this species.

Here's a photo of a juvenile - http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/161983/161983,1228004353,1/stock-photo-juvenile-white-crowned-sparrow-perched-on-edge-of-black-tub-21271390.jpg

[Oscar Dewhurst]

Very nice Daniel. Great detail, and I like the light and bg

Oscar

[Karl Egressy]

Nice soft light, great looking background and great pose, Daniel.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

Really beautiful colors here and the foot on the rock's point is nice.

[Satish Ranadive]

Daniel Sir:
Simple and very very sweet image.

Regards,
Satish.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks guys!

Ryan, I appreciate the info in regards to this sparrow's plumage, awesome stuff.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful shot.
I really like the perch, terrific pose, very nice light, and wonderful background.
Well done.

[mohammad reza shahab]

hi
I like the perch, pose, exposure, BG and light.

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent soft light, pose & HA. Lovely BG & great IQ. TFS

[Frank Schauf]

Nice composition and excellent expsoure control and sharpness.