Black Faced Solitaire

[Keith Bauer]

From Costa Rica: The Black Faced Solitaire's call sounds like a rusty gate hinge. I heard this one before I saw it. Fortunately, the small view I had was unobstructed and I was able to capture this image.

Canon 50D
500mm f/4 with 1.4x TC
ISO 400
1/125 @ f/5.6
Wimberly / Gitzo
No Flash

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I'd run a little NR on the BG and wish for a slightly better HA. I'd also lighten the eye as it just looks a touch dark, though I am unsure if the natural eye look would be compromised that way.

Lovely setting, BG is good and it is nice and sharp and well framed. Gorgeous bird. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Ashutosh Sinha]

Wow! you are one lucky guy. It posed for you in the open. I always saw this bird in dark under-growth. Don't tell me you have got photographs of Tapaculos and Zeledonias also :-). I like it as presented and don't wish for anything more.

If you are familiar with Varied Thrush song then it sounds similar to this species song. You can listen to Varied Thrush song here http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Varied_Thrush/id.

[Harshad Barve]

Agreed with Akos here
BTW what a wonderful species this is
loving it all the way
TFS

[Kiran Poonacha]

A better HA would have been a killer, still like it, congrats...

[Rob Drummond]

Don't mind the head angle at all Keith - really like the intense colours and jungle feel

cheers
Rob

[Dan Brown]

Great catch of this hard-to-see species Keith!! I can hear him now:).

[Doug Brown]

I've been waiting for you to post this beauty. What a lucky encounter you had at Savegre Lodge! A slight head turn towards you would have been nice, but these birds are rarely encountered in good light on a nice perch. I'd be plenty happy with this image!

[Stu Bowie]

I like the attentive pose, and can hear that "rusty gate" call. If this is a rare sighting, you must be very happy to have captured him in the open.

[Keith Bauer]

I like the attentive pose, and can hear that "rusty gate" call. If this is a rare sighting, you must be very happy to have captured him in the open.

When I captured this image, I brought it back to the group and shared it. Greg Basco has been in Costa Rica for many, many years and said he has never had the opportunity to photograph one of these guys up close like this image. I felt very lucky. I didn't mention in the original posting... This is full frame.

Thanks to all for the comments.