Mpukonyoni is the Zulu name for the Crested Barbet, a gregarious bird with amazingly colourful plumage. Its thick bill opens up to release an unmistakeable shrill I often hear in my garden. Mpukonyonis love fruit so I have been trying to tempt them, often not successfully. As soon as I leave my spot to go to the house, one or two chaps land on the designated perch to eat my fruit...Next time I will take the trouble to put up a hide!
I did manage a few frames of this fellow last Sunday. Was busy shooting a Bronze Mannikin when this tiny fellow suddenly disappeared from view, before I got to look around I noticed a Barbet in my viewfinder. The place where he landed happened to be in the proximity of a delicious apple so he went straight for the fruit. By the time I increased DOF he already dug in, a messy beak...So all I have is this frame I am sharing tonight:)
Nikon D5
Nikon 500 F4
ISO 640
F8
1/2500s
Cropped extensively to avoid cloning, so frame too tight for my taste. I would have liked more DOF to have the feet in as well as the perch (which is rather prominent). I am sharing this because I really like the pose, raised crest, and colours. I would like to participate more in this Forum but I do not have enough avian images, I will do my best to share more in the future. Thank you kindly for taking the time to view, appreciate it.
Great look at this funny guy and I love the raised crest. I like the pose, details and the colors and I don't mind the limited DOF as it concentrate us to his head. Nice capture Gabriela.
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Hello Gabriela,nice to see you posting on here.Agree with your self critique about the size of the bird in the frame but it does show all the head detail especially the crest and nice feather detail.Sure wish I had these in my garden.
Hi Gabriela,
Weird but wonderful subject - I like the pose and the colours, too. And the story behind the shot!
Great image quality with lots of nice fine detail. DOF is good with me, but I would also like to see the alternative shot with all the bird, all in focus - but that is a different shot!
Maybe you could soften/blur the perch a little to reduce its dominance.
Many thanks to you all for viewing and comments, I will certainly look at your suggestions and change a couple of things!
Found another frame taken at F9, different pose (bird looking to the side), looks a tad better but still not enough DOF - I would like some of that nice detail on the chest feathers. So I am off to the garden next week-end with some delicious fruit, let us see if a sweet ripe pawpaw will bring my friend back:)
I really appreciate your input here and promise I will be back with more
Hi Gaby, perfect colours brought out on the Barbet, and great focus on the head. I do like the raised crest.
We have raised quite a few families in our garden in nesting boxes for these guys over the years. Im not sure if its the same parents each time, but each year, there are additions to the Barbet population.
Stu, I put up special sisal logs for the Barbets to nest in but so far they have not been tempted:) I guess more natural nesting sites are available, or perhaps my logs are too close to the house. I love these guys - they are colourful, gregarious, and so beautiful. Hope to have more opportunities in the future, right now I am checking the aloes in the garden, waiting for them to flower - the buds are already there - hope to share some sunbird images soon!