Gladiator

[Peter Kes]

Why this finch is called 'Hawfinch' in English or 'Apple Finch' in Dutch remains a mystery to me (maybe someone knows ?). When you see these guys at the water station, they chase most birds away and all the birds have the utmost respect for this 'gladiator' bill. This 'water station' was a dug-in hide in the heart of the forest, attracting all sorts of interesting forest birds one normally does not get to see.
Cropped (this is 80% of original size), cleaned up and sharpened.

Details:

Make	Canon	Model	Canon EOS 50D
Aperture Value	f/4	Color Space	sRGB
Subject Distance	5.1m	Exposure Program	Shutter Priority
Exposure	0 EV	Focal Length	400 mm
Auto-ISO	400	Metering Mode	Multi-Segment
Shutter Speed Value	1/1000 sec	Date/Time	Fri 14 May 2010 15:39:48

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very good angle, sharpness, look-back pose and BG. I might try to get some details in the blacks on the throat.

Interesting to see the different names, in German it's 'core biter' (Kernbeißer).

[Tony Whitehead]

Great low angle, BG and pose, Peter. The eye and bill give it a quite formidable appearance. I might darken down the stone LLC slightly.

[Morkel Erasmus]

great clarity and POV here Peter...in SA the Indian Mynahs chase all the birds away everywhere

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

All has been covered but love the eye contact you captured in this image Peter.

[John Ippolito]

Agree with all comments above. Very nicely done, Peter.

[denise ippolito]

Beautiful details and clear eye Peter. I like the low angle. Nicely done.

[John Chardine]

Peter- a "haw" is the fruit of the Hawthorn, Crataegus species, which is in the Rose family. The fruits are eaten by many species of birds.

Love the image- great lighting and background, and the eye contact is engaging.

[Harshad Barve]

Excellent angle , image and details
TFS

in SA the Indian Mynahs chase all the birds away everywhere

Everywhere Morkelbhai

[Arthur Morris]

With the bird angled slightly away you waited for and got the perfect head angle. BKGR, SH, and light all superb.

[Peter Kes]

John, thanks for the explanation ! and tx all for your feedback.

Arthur: I was rewarded for hours and days in the hide. This was one of the few where everything worked. Usually these guys 'raided' in, chased everyone away, did there bathing, with the head away form me and made a hasty escape. Although they ruled the bath, they were quite cautious.