As I have worked to improve my skills in photographing birds, I have had the most success with red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). Why? First of all, the red-winged blackbird is a lot bigger than most of the birds that I try to photograph. Secondly, the blackbirds like to perch on cattails, which are closer than the trees in the areas in which I shoot. Finally, the blackbirds seem a bit more tolerant of my relative proximity (unlike some other birds that fly away at the slightest movement long before I get in camera range).
Here are three shots of male red-winged blackbirds from yesterday that I like. The first one shows some details of the feathers, which for this bird are not solid black. This may be a not-quite-nature male blackbird (immature males have wings with buff or orange edges and have yellow on their shoulders, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology).
The next two photos show the same bird in slightly different positions. The first one looks almost like the bird was posing for me for a profile shot. The last one gives us a peek inside a blackbird’s mouth as he begins to call out—it seems that male blackbirds always need to get in the last word.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
I love red winged blackbirds. Good photos.
Thanks. I am becoming good friends with them too.
And they can be LOUD,
Great shots. Sure can hear their “o-ka-lee” calls while driving down the highway. They perch on lines over idtches/cattails.
Thanks. Maybe their loud calls mask any sounds I make creeping closer to them.
and now I’m singing in my head ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’….
Anytime I can plant a song in someone’s head, I have done my job. No thanks required!