Red-winged Blackbird male – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Yesterday while taking the auto tour route at Bear River National Wildlife Refuge I heard a Red-winged Blackbird loudly singing the songs of spring. The light was terrible yesterday so I looked around in my files for a male Red-winged Blackbird to share this morning and came across this one taken at Bear River NWR a few years ago.
I’ve mentioned before that black birds are difficult to expose properly and that often times I need to use exposure compensation to make sure the blacks aren’t too dark or they won’t show fine detail but when I took this image the light was just right and I didn’t need to adjust my exposure to get it right. I love it when that happens!
Fairly soon I’ll be seeing many more of the male Red-winged Blackbirds perching at the top of rushes and cattails singing springtime serenades for the females and flashing their brilliantly colored epaulets! For black birds they are kind of flashy.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-winged Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
Awesome post Mia, can’t wait to see the Black birds:)
They will be there soon Susan! Thanks for commenting.
Absolutely LOVE their songs. They are a a real summer bird sound for me – June in the willows!
I love their songs too!
Mia, we all posted about Red-wings at the onset of March! That made me smile. I, too, saw them calling out from their cattails last week, which, in turn, inspired me to go through my blackbird photos.
Isn’t it great fun to see a bird and go back through files and view them again? I do that often.
I love reading your blog and seeing your images Ingrid! Thank you for visiting & commenting on mine.
Red-winged Blackbirds are a favorite of mine. Love their song and what it heralds.
Thanks Kathleen!
No spring birds this far north yet but I woke to birds singing this morning and it was wonderful! You got an amazing shot there, it is nice when that happens!
Thanks Sherry, spring is creeping up on us!
This is marvelous. Yesterday, I too was out and watched the first arrival of the red-wings… I think their song arrives a moment or two before they do! We all heard it and rushed outside to see. I got some photos but none close up enough to see the actual birds ….
It must be spring. The skunks are out too. One got under my friend’s car and let loose… Who can get upset? It’s spring after all and the long winter is over… (until next Wednesday when we’re expecting more snow!)
I’ve been seeing signs of skunks too Merrill, mostly along the roads. I think it is super when we start hearing the sounds of spring birds, I am waiting for the call of the Long-billed Curlews. That sound amazes me.
Perfection Mia.
Thank you Bob, you are so kind.
You know what I love about this photo Mia? (Besides your skilled exposure showing detail in the bird) The posture of this bird is so interesting. I just love images like these.
Bryce, I love the posture of this bird too, it makes me think it is wondering what it will do next. Thanks for your comment.
Mia
Yet another great shot! I find that RWBA’s are quite under-rated, especially the females, which have an especially beautiful and delicate colouring in the spring.
BTW, I have an equipment question: I noticed you shot this photo with a 1.4 TC at 400mm and it is still quite crisp. Would you recommend it to other (birder) photographers? I would like to exchange with you about this issue if you have a few moments.
Pierre
Pierre,
I love the 200-400mm VR lens and get really sharp images even with the TC on at 400mm. I’d recommend this lens to other bird and wildlife photographers.
I enjoy both the male & more subtle female Red-winged Blackbirds too. Thanks for commenting.
That’s a great shot Mia!
Thanks Matthew
he is very nice, the colored spot is amazing too
well captured mia ☺
Thanks Eric!
How was it there? We are going today.
Very nice photo of the bird. I love them. But like you say…I can’t get a good pic of them and my lens doesn’t reach as far.
It was slow at the refuge Judy, I see that it was slow for you too. But it won’t be long before it is hopping with birds!
On the south side of the auto tour route where the blackbirds perch on the rushes you should be able to get images of them when they are calling on territory soon.
Amazing photo Mia, I can’t wait until the blackbirds arrive. Hopefully only in a few short weeks.
I hope the blackbirds return to you soon Susan! Thanks for commenting.
Mia, beautiful exposure. I don’t forgive myself for ignoring this charmer when I was in Florida. I suppose I learned my lesson now. I ignored him to go after the Anhingas and the Great Blue Herons.
Maria, I hope you get a chance to photograph Red-winged Blackbirds soon.