Tawny (Páramo) Antpitta @12,000 feet - Colombia

[Dorian Anderson]

I'm finally back in CA after 7 weeks in Colombia! It was a truly amazing trip and taught me so much about the country and its birds.
I'm sure I'll be back many times in the future, but I've probably enough photos to keep me occupied until that day arrives!

This is a Tawny Antpitta, a species that lives only on the high elevation páramo in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (see second photo). Though members of the
usually super-secretive and mostly terrestrial Grallaria family, Tawnies are some of the more arboreal members of the group and will often perch in shrubs
to facilitate viewing. I was really lucky with this roadside bird since I could shoot downhill and across a deep valley to get this background. I would have liked
a bit more eye contact (and whistled to try to get it), but I'll take what he gave me. I haven't seen many better shots of this species, so there's that consolation.....

Tawny Antpitta - Sumapaz National Park, Colombia
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III on EOS 5D4
1/400 at f/5.6, ISO 1600, manual, handheld
Processed in LR CC with a few localized exposure tweeks

Cheers!

[Dorian Anderson]

A iphone panorama of the Sumapaz Páramo at 12,000 feet. Such an incredible landscape!

[Isaac Grant]

Beautiful bird in beautiful habitat. The pano really adds to the story. I have only seen one Antpitta ever and it was not a very long or good look. I like your perch and background but the bird facing away is a deal breaker for me.

[annmpacheco]

Congrats on this bird Dorian and being at 12,000! I too wish the little guy was facing your way.

[William Dickson]

Fab looking image and well displayed. The HA is just on the verge. Still a keeper in my book. Love the detail you captured and great colours throughout. I think the position of the legs makes up for the HA. Well done.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Head angle noted, but you know that...and you tried! Cute little bird on a nice perch and against a nice BG. I like the vertical comp. Thanks for posting the habitat also, puts things into context really nicely.

[arash_hazeghi]

very. nice Dorion a bird that we don't see often, nice BG. I just wish for a slight head turn

TFS