Phainopepla

[Paul Lagasi]

Another image from Arizona, taken at Madera Canyon. I had been trying to get an up close image of a Phainopepla, 5 trips to Arizona and never got one to sit still. This day that all changed, he let us get to within 15 feet and didn't care that we were there...It gave me an opportunity to wait for the right profile photo.

Strange thing is all the bird guides don't show a crossed bill which this one has.....anyone who see these birds regularly, do they all have crossed bills?
Thanks for looking...

D300
Nikon 300 2.8
F4
1/3200
iso-400
pattern metering
aperture priority
+0.3
handheld
cropped
processed from Raw image

[D. Robert Franz]

Nice light, fine comp and a good BG. Perch is less than ideal but that's what he gave you. Well done!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I like the sharpness and eye contact. Could you have backed up a few steps for a less steep angle? I would run NR on the BG.

[Dan Walker]

Great bird. Love the eye, would like to see a lower angle, but this still works. I don't think the crossed bill is normal, could be wrong though.

[Paul Lagasi]

Thanks Folks, I took over 100 images of this bird, he was about 15 up in a tree, I looked through them this was best non-steep side angle...This image above is taken from about twice the distance, larger crop same specs...