Ruby-crowned Kinglet

[Jack Backs]

These are one of my favorite birds. Unfortunately they only migrate through Missouri, so I only have a few weeks in the spring and fall to pursue them.
Love their vocalizations. Taken a year and a half ago so I don't remember specifics. I looked at the raw file and see that I cropped behind and below the bird.
There is no more room in front or above the bird available for composition adjustments. I wish the left foot was in focus.
Nikon D500/500mmF4VRII/TC-14EIII
F8, 1/640s, iso500

[Bill Dix]

Nice work getting the crown; it doesn't always show. Good singing pose. Too large in the frame for my personal taste, but you've explained that you don't have much room for adjustment.

[Geoff Newhouse]

I like the pose...like that you got the red crown showing....if you playback to them they will often raise the crown into a full mohawk...something to try next migration...probably works more in the breeding areas though.
What I'm not liking is how busy the background is especially the two lines leading away from the beak. I don't always mind busier backgrounds and don't think an image needs to have a perfectly uniform background but I do think that when OOF elements intersect directly with important parts of the bird that is becomes a distraction...some people are good enough to remove those...I have a hard time when they touch the subject. But I realize that with the way kinglets move around you never get the chance to really adjust the background by repositioning.

TFS
Geoff

[John Mack]

Your self critique is spot on. Nice to see the crown.

[arash_hazeghi]

cute fellow with pretty colors , I agree it is a bit too large in the frame and the busy BG is also distracting. wish his head was turned towards us more

TFS

[Jack Backs]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm good enough with Photoshop to remove all the distracting stuff in the background. I just didn't deem this image good enough to warrant
the effort. The OOF foot, the disheveled breast feathers, and small burned out area. I have better images of this species but this was the best of the singing poses. I suspect
if the head was turned more towards you, less of the crown would be visible.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I love seeing these guys (and the Golden-crowned as well) during migration. Such sweet and small birds! Lots of good details, and I am OK with the left foot falling out of dof range. I agree with he comments already offered.