Black-billed Nightingale-thrush Catharus gracilirostris San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica
Canon 7D, EF 400mm f/4 DO IS, 1/400, f4.5 ISO 1600, handheld.
These birds typically sulk in the undergrowth. I was carrying my luggage to the car and heading off from San Gerado when up popped this individual from nowhere. I dropped my stuff and raised my camera, slightly out of breath and with hands still shaking from the weight of the bags, and managed a few grab shots.
It breaks a few style rules (the background is a little noisy and crossed by vines, the bird is facing away and there is no eye contact), but I like it.
Hi John. You pretty well summed things up. Nice texture and detail on the bird. I think a bit of NR could improve the background. I think I would crop a bit tighter.