Yesterday when I posted a slightly flawed photo of a Red-tailed Hawk readers encouraged me to “continue to give your ‘not quite perfect’ photographs the benefit of the doubt because of all the joy they bring.”
OK folks. Another one, by request.
1/2000, f/8, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
I encountered this Green-tailed Towhee in the mountains twelve days ago. I’ve been stalking them for several weeks now but they’re one of the most secretive and elusive songbirds in North America (to the point that very little is known about their life history and ecology) so all of my attempts to get close enough for detailed photos were foiled.
Until this bird came in almost too close. Close enough that I thought he was a little too tight in the frame vertically so I removed my teleconverter to give me sufficient wiggle room for a potential takeoff shot. I’m sure the reason he felt so brave was the same reason I’m frustrated with the photo – all those busy twigs in the frame. Birds usually feel less threatened when they have obstructions, often twigs or branches, between them and any potential danger so he felt plenty safe enough..
The twig I find most aggravating is the one going across his breast because at first glance it always looks like the shadow of a twig to me instead of the actual twig that it is. I see no particular logic explaining why a shadow would bother me more than having the actual object in front of the bird but it does. Makes no sense to me – it seems like it should be the other way around.
So, without encouragement from my readers to occasionally post ‘not quite perfect photos’ this one would never have seen the light of day, even though I enjoy it personally.
Besides, the Green-tailed Towhee is my spark bird and it seems to me that spark birds deserve just a little extra leeway.
After all, RHIP.
Ron
I’m even later to the soiree than Laura! 🙄 He’s a very handsome bird, with or without twigs. I find it so interesting that the Green-tailed Towhee (and probably the Spotted) would be so elusive, since their brethren, the California, are all over my backyard all the time. Always looking for food, it seems they don’t care about anything else, including me watching them. (Though I haven’t tried taking a picture; probably if I lifted a lens on them, they’d be gone in a flash.)
Interesting observation about the California Towhee, Chris. My only experience is with the Green-tailed and the Spotted and for me both have been very difficult to approach.
For whatever it’s worth (pretty much exactly what you paid for it, LOL!) the twigs don’t bother me much at all. In short, the beauty of the bird overtakes the flaws, so I really don’t see them much. My brain filters them out to concentrate on the beauty.
And this one is a BEAUTY!!
Sorry I’m late, but I was really way early–before you posted–had to do stuff, got distracted with stuff and then had to moderate the Cornell redtail hawk nest cam chat.
I just love your work It really doesn’t matter the species. You just know when and how to push that button! Have I mentioned that you ROCK?
Thanks very much, Laura.
I love the way it is posed in the v, and the clutter (as its natural and preferred habitat) is fine in my eyes.
Thank you so much for posting this less than perfect gem.
I suspect the triumervate of Patty, Marty and me would NOT be alone in wishing for a few hours/days to dumpster dive in your collection of discounted/disregarded images.
You are 100% right about dumpster diving in Ron’s delete bin.
Ha, it might take all three of you a month or more, Marty. In the last year or so my culling duties have been in no small part ignored to my files are embarrassingly loaded with junk. That’s the main reason I had to have a new internal hard drive installed.
Nice light and eye contact. the branches frame the bird focus point. Thanks for sharing it. The branch coming at the viewer out of focus is the one that bothers me more.
Both spotted towhee and green-tail are hard, they like to hang out in the bracken at the base of bushes.
Funny how people are different, April. I hardly notice the twig you mention but that one in front of his breast is another story.
Even with the busy twigs, I find this shot very appealing because of the “V” that cradles the bird. Even the wayward twig across the towhee’s chest brings my eye up to that beautiful rufous head! Plus, I like the way its little belly appears to hang over the twig; most apropos in this time of sheltering-induced baking (if one can find any flour, that is) and snacking!
Thanks, Marty.
Here it is almost noon and I’m trying to make some headway on one of my many projects before lunch but you’re talking about food and I’m hungry. I’m already drooling on my keyboard so to hell with the project. It’s lunch time!
You can always count on me!
So I had to look up RHIP. Can see why this bird is special to you and why it sparked your interest.
I imagine that Dr. Behle would have enjoyed this Green-tailed Towhee mixing it up with the twigs.
Doing a search reveals some astounding photos you have taken of this “secretive” bird.
I wonder if you had any revelations regarding this bird during your ornithology class.
Lyle, Dr. Behle was a character. On the surface he seemed almost a stereotypical college professor wrapped up in his own discipline at the expense of everything else. It was only some years later that I learned he was actually a well rounded individual with interests and skills in other disciplines and in world events.
I’m sure he’d be delighted to know that it was his Ornithology class that affected my life’s work and my life’s joys so much.
Nope, I uncovered no “revelations” about the species while I was studying them. Hell, all I had was a cheap pair of binoculars and I was always on foot in the sagebrush so I almost never even got close to them.
They were frustrating way back then and they still are. Maybe they piqued my interest because of that rather than in spite of it.
Some days are just luckier that others…I would love to see one of these birds! That green tail and rufous head are special as is the eye color. I think it is a great catch…you background colors really add. They sound about as secretive as our (Rufous-sided) Eastern Towhee. It is ‘A Good Day’ when one catches one.
Kathy, I think towhees almost by definition are wary and secretive. Even our Spotted Towhees are very difficult subjects for me, which is the main reason I’ve only rarely posted any photos of one.,
I love the photo and would love to get a chance to see a Green-Tailed Towhee in person. I feel that the branch going across the chest and ruffling the feathers is wonderful in this picture. I guess if I were going to nitpick, the out-of-focus bud in foreground would bother me more.
Thanks, Joanne. I always welcome constructive “nitpicks”.
Ron,
I remember your “spark bird” stories of this species. I like the branch–understanding the drawbacks–because he looks like he is resting an arm on an object like we rest our arms on the door of our cars with the window down. Maybe he likes his perch like we liked out muscle cars back in the day.
Thanks for not being perfect!
Stephen
Ha, not “being perfect” is my typical modus operandi, Stephen.
And you’re right about it almost looking like he’s resting his “arm” on that branch.
Ron. You got a catch light and the branches twigs make a wonderful bframe for his questioning look at you.
I’ve never seen one so your photo makes up for that.
Thank you. Diana
I noticed that framing too, Diana. And liked it. I actually have another photo taken with a smaller lens that doesn’t cut off the tips of the two framing twigs at the top of the photo. I almost posted that one.
Almost only counts in slow dancing and horseshoes. 😉 I’d love to see that shot for comparison. 🙂
“Almost only counts in slow dancing and horseshoes.”
And hand grenades, Marty. Don’t forget hand grenades.
I lied. I just went back and looked at that other shot and only one of the two vertical twigs wasn’t cut off. The one on the left was a long one.
“And hand grenades, Marty. Don’t forget hand grenades.”
I was trying to be demure. 😌
And failing! 🤪😂
I love this shot. The way some of his breast feathers drape over that, to you, annoying branch …
Good! Thank you, Jamila.
Always enjoy your picture and the verbiage as well. Those pesky twigs have messed up more shots than I can count, but without them I guess we wouldn’t have shots at all.
Yup, twigs come with the territory in bird photography and generally that’s a good thing, though they can sure be aggravating at times. Thanks, JB.
The clutter doesn’t bother me a bit tho know what you mean! 😉 After all, it isn’t for a bird “portrait” competition and, for me it gives “context” 🙂 They are subtly pretty birds – of course, we don’t have them here! Then the question becomes how do they navigate out of such places? 😉
Thanks, Judy. I’ll bet they’re found in your general area. You’re within their range and there’s lots of the shrub-steppe and open areas of montane forest habitat in MT that they prefer.
Finding and getting close to them is another story.
More “paying attention” in order methinks……. 😉
Nice photo Ron. If you are taking bird photos there will be twigs and branches for sure. The other day I was trying to get good photos of a couple beautiful Western Tanagers, but they were constantly on the move and each move seemed to be to a spot with even more twigs and branches. Heading out in a few minutes and hopefully I can find them at just the right spot. I agree with Dick though that I do enjoy a picture of a bird in its natural environment even with some clutter.
Lucky you, Everett. I’ve only seen one Western Tanager so far this year and he gave me no chance for decent photos.
Stunning! Blue background, rusty cap, green tail….WOW
Thanks, Lynnette. I had a great subject but not much luck with some of the other photography gods.
WOW! Many thanks for this post. Makes me feel right at home! You are an artist as well as a biologist, but I love shots that show the subject in its natural environment even with all the clutter. Yes, I would prefer images without the clutter, but when clutter comes with the subject, so be it. Many thanks for showing this picture, it gives me solace!
Thanks, Dick. I can provide you all the solace your little heart desires!
Many thanks, but I’m just doing fine with all of my own clutter! You have a ton more pictures to choose from than I. The biologist in me wants to put some of my cluttered images up, but the wee artist in me says don’t you dare!
“Don’t you dare” is often the best advice. .This morning I ignored it… 🙂