Some birds just have a different look about them.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this strange-looking Sandhill Crane five days ago at Farmington Bay. It’s so chunky that to my eye it almost looks like a turkey and it’s missing the signature red crown of the Sandhill Crane.
But wait, it isn’t a Sandhill Crane after all.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
It’s two Sandhill Cranes – an adult in the front and an almost full-grown colt. The adult had been preening with its head hidden under its left wing and the colt hasn’t yet developed the red crown.
I’m sure most folks weren’t fooled for long (some may have spotted it immediately) by the first image because of the extra pair of legs but I suspect it took some longer than others to sort it all out. I thought the juxtaposition of the bodies of the two birds was pretty effective at fooling the eye for a moment, until we noticed the presence of four legs.
I hope you’ll forgive the misleading tomfoolery in my title and early text but I enjoyed the transition from the first image to the second and decided to have a little fun with it. It was something I needed this morning.
Ron
Good one! Reminds me of the time Dan and I came upon a Black-necked Stilt that appeared to have “props” on her breast as she sat somewhat squat on a beach in Southern California. We looked, looked again and thought: “Huh?!” Then, to answer our curiosity, she stood up and two wee youngsters dropped down out of her breast to land softly on the sand and go walking along ahead of her!
Yep, it always pays to “count the legs…” Ha
Love it! This would of been a great fools day picture! First thought was how did a crane head get on a turkey body. Definitely had me for a moment or two!
“Definitely had me for a moment or two!”
That was definitely my goal, Jeff. Thanks for letting me know that it worked.
Got me. I didn’t even check the legs. 😀
Good!
Love it.
You have become the ‘Dynamo’ of bird photography.
I didn’t like hearing that you ‘needed’ fun. I hope all is much more better today.
Thanks for your concern, EC. Nothing too serious, just the pressure of doing something new today and that always makes me tense. It turned out well though and I needn’t have worried.
I should probably mention that the “Flamibis” photo was taken at a bird zoo (Jurong Bird Park in Singapore) – not sure those birds are ever together in the wild.
“Flamibis” sounds like one of the few medical problems I DIDN’T have this year!!! Sure hope it’s not contagious….
Patty, I’m so sorry you’ve been beset my medical problems this year. As I’m learning, growing older isn’t for sissies. I wish I could include the “Flamibis” photo. You’d love it. The similarity to Ron’s Sandhill Crane is striking.
Love that you posted this! The four legs were immediately apparent, even though I couldn’t tell exactly what else was going on. Reminds me of a photo I took of a “Flamibis” – a similar situations where the bird had a Flamingo body and an Ibis head and neck. It didn’t hurt that a Scarlet Ibis was involved…
Your Flamibis sounds fascinating, Susan.
I’ll send you a copy. It’s not a great picture, but it’s still fun.
Ok Ron, you got me. You did set us up with “the-fattest-weirdest-sandhill-crane-I’ve-ever-seen” though. Of course, in the world of magic and magicians this is called misdirection, AKA Flim Flam!
Flim Flam Man, that’s what I am, Susan!
For a second there, I thought there’d been some hanky- panky between a crane and a wild turkey–and it “took” ! Sometime you just have to create your own
fun and amusement, and I’m glad that you do !
So you saw the “turkey-esque” likeness in that first photo too, Kris. Glad I’m not the only one!
You can’t fool me! That’s obviously a grossly obese, four-legged Sandhill…we have a lot of them here in the East. They get that way eating pizza and guzzling HUGE, illegal sodas….
Pictures don’t lie…
Now THAT made me smile, Patty.
Hi Ron, You could have saved that one for April 1st.
I thought about doing just that, Len. But in the end I just couldn’t wait that long…
Well, that first photo sure did trick the eye! Love it! A four legged colt with an eating disorder!!!
Thx for the fun!
Thanks very much, Deborah.
The first thing that caught my attention was the two dark legs, then I saw the other two and said to myself what is this – a bird with four legs? And for a silly split second I thought about those calves born with five legs, but I never heard it happened with birds…
Only then I got the answer. The juxtaposition is perfect.
Thanks.It was funny and hope you’ll have more mornings like these.
Thanks for the positive feedback, Jorge. To be perfectly honest I wasn’t sure how this kind of a post would be received so I’m glad to hear that you appreciated it.
Fun! Thanks. Missed the four legs, did spot that it was a colt.
Glad you enjoyed it, Richard. Thanks.
Love it! I was so concentrated on your description, I didn’t even notice the 4 legs. LOL Thanks for this tomfoolery.
Charlotte
I thought that might happen to some, Charlotte. I’m a sneaky rascal, huh?