Bird ID

[Tim Winston]

Could someone tell me what kind of birds these are? I was taking pictures of other stuff and seen them off in the distance and snapped some shots of them. In case it helps here are some details, camera is a Digital Rebel x1i and the lens was a Canon 55-250mm IS at 250mm, the birds in the shot are about half a kilometer away and the power lines they are on are heavy high voltage lines hanging over a river, the spot they are over is the shore on the other side.


Thanks.


*edit*
Oh, and I guess you probably need a location. Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada.

[Daniel Cadieux]

When looking at the full-size version of your image I'd say they have the shape and colour of Double-crested Cormorants. I was not aware that they could "perch" on wires though!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

When looking at the full-size version of your image I'd say they have the shape and colour of Double-crested Cormorants. I was not aware that they could "perch" on wires though!

I remember seeing cormorants on wires in Florida, I guess your ID could be right.

[John Chardine]

Agree, Double-crested Cormorants. They nest in trees (not always but often) and are therefore adept at perching on branches. A few of them look like young birds- note the light neck and head on some of them.

Why not any other species of cormorant? This is the only inland species in NA.

[Tim Winston]

I don't know all that much about what birds are what. My best guess, which apparently was extremely far off, was that they were vultures :o Seems I have a lot to learn!

Just got this camera recently, first camera in fact, and it seems birds are a nice subject if one can get it right, so I think I shall try getting some better shots of them(if I can find them again) and others!



Thanks! :)

[John Chardine]

Well you have come to the right place Tim! BPN is a great place to learn about wildlife photography and there are lots of good bird books out there to get you going. Here we refer quite a bit to "Sibley" which is David Sibley's "The Sibley Guide to Birds" which is arguably the best bird guide every produced for North America. I would suggest you buy that one.