Theme - Boat-tailed Grackle

[John Whaley]

These birds don't get a lot of love but if you catch them in the right light they have beautiful iridescent black / blue coloring. I had several portraits I had intended to share but time got in the way. In any case here is one at the 11th hour.
1/500, f6.3, auto ISO 2200, + 1 ev, 500 f4E + 1.4III , D850.

[Noel Heustis]

John - You found the perfect golden background to contrast the black and iridescence of the grackle. You've got nice detail in the feathers and the bill. It's such a nice bg it would be hard to get rid of any of it, but if it were mine I might take a bit off the top for a tighter composition.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Despite them being "bullies" in and around bird feeders, I like them grackles. I always find them look angry, but in a neat way. I agree with the beautiful sheen too, which is shown nicely here. Good tan BG too. I do find the subject rather low in the frame here, and some of the blacks could go a bit deeper IMO (especially the eye). Glad you paid attention yo an often ignored species.

[John Whaley]

Thanks for the feedback. Off the top and a bit of eye work.

[annmpacheco]

Well done John, love them grackles... Nice details and colors, love the BG. TFS

[Isaac Grant]

Nice details here and bird looks great against that background. I would clone out that swirly thing on the beak. Also you have some noise on the feathers and in the eye.

[Krishna Prasad kotti]

The repost look good.

I like the clean beautiful background and the beautiful eye. I wont change anything in the repost.

Thanks for sharing.

[Dorian Anderson]

This is a very nice look at a bird we often overlook. You've shown how pretty they can be with the right attention. Nicely done!

[John Whaley]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

[Lorant Voros]

I just love when someone shows the beauty of common species. Well done.