A photo from today of a Sandhill Crane that are not as shy as the migrating birds. There are a couple of pairs that are about an hour away from my home, and don't seem to be bothered by people. With birding slow at the moment in Southern Ontario, these guys have been great fun to watch and photograph. Normally there bills are full of mud, so I was glad to get them in a field of clover and wild flowers eating snails and insects with clean bills. They say the red coloring in the feathers comes from iron oxid in the mud they forage in. C&C Welcomed.
Canon 40D
Canon 500mm F/4 IS
1/1000s
F/6.3
ISO 400
Oh, I like this alot! Beautiful BG, and the flowers add so much here. Excellent head turn. I don't mind the cut "virtual legs", but would put a bit more room below for the clipped "virtual tail" (if you have it). You Southern Ontario guys are making me envious with your tame cranes!!