Male Brewer’s Blackbird shaking after preening – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It was a slow morning at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday bird wise. I was able to photograph a few blackbirds, starlings and a Great Blue Heron that was way too close when it lifted off but other than those birds everything else was too far away or too skittish.
A male Brewer’s Blackbird had been preening on a fence post when he started to shake his feathers and that action sure showed his iridescent plumage off nicely. I can see the purples, greens and some blues in his feathers because of the angle of light. The blue color in the background is the surface of a pond and the brownish tones at the top of the frame are some out of focus leaves and grasses.
Nothing fancy, just a bird doing what comes naturally to birds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Brewer’s Blackbird photos plus facts and information about this species.
all sleekness and shine on top, and fluffy feathers below. Really interesting detail that will cause me to look more closely at these “common” birds that I see daily.
Thanks, Mia!
It may be ordinary to them, but it is still extraordinary. And beautiful.
I love the feather detail on the stomach & the iridescence on the head …it looks like a piece of sculpture … beautiful!
Great action shot! Beautiful colours.