Yellow-headed Blackbird

[Mike Milicia]

Canon 1D X, 500mm f/4L IS, 1/500, f/9, ISO 400

Just a simple portrait of a common bird but I liked the light on this one.

Photographed last month at Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge near Malta, MT.

[PhilCook]

This handsome species does not exist here...sadly ! Nice detail in the blacks, sharp focus and like the comp with a bit of greenery on the bottom. Not as fond of the oof white streaks in the backdrop...what is that ?..... The second vertical blade of grass from the left seems to be creating a shadow on the white strip.

[Shawn Zierman]

The soft light and your solid exposure work yielded loads of great details in the blacks.
I like the suggestion of habitat included too.

[Karl Egressy]

Nice pose and perfect exposure, Mike.

[Mike Milicia]

Thanks, Phil, Shawn, and Karl!

Phil, that is OOF dried vegetation (reeds or cattails) in the BG and I believe the "shadow" you are seeing is an OOF green reed in the FG.

[Melissa Groo]

Wonderful portrait with fantastic details in the blacks, Mike. The out of focus stuff doesn't bother me. Wish I had gotten something half this good of a YHBB but alas...

[Daniel Cadieux]

The green grass at bottom makes this image for me...very nice touch! Blacks are perfect, and yellows tasteful. I'd prefer those white OOF stems not be there, but quite a striking image.