Female Long-tailed Widowbird

[Pieter Lotter]

Canon 40D
Lens Canon 100-400mm
f6.3 +1.67 compensation
1/500
ISO400

Captured at Rietvlei Dam, Pretoria. Normally the more colourful male in breeding plumage is popular with photographers and the dainty female is often ignored. Thorn at the bottom right hand corner of picture has been removed.
Look forward to your comments.

[Randy Stout]

Pieter:

I must admit I have never seen the female, that showy male gets all the attention. She looks a lot like our female rose breasted grosbeak, esp the bill and face.

Well exposed, neat pose, thorny perch. Head angle is a little away, usually more engaging if more towards us.

Re: comp, I would like 1/2 of a sliver more canvas on the right

I might consider another round of sharpening for web as well.

Cheers

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

The vertical composition was the way to go, but I find the subject rather large on the frame. Head angled away is too bad, and it seems not as sharp as the body (especially the feet). Great perch, and a nice uniform BG. Thanks for sharing the female of the species...we shouldn't ignore the gals!

[Pieter Lotter]

Thank you Randy and Daniel for your comments, particularly on the crop and sharpness, which are valid and appreciated.

[Robert Holguin]

Real nice shot. Great perch and background, nice pose a better head would have been nice, but still a great shot.
Well done.