Cassin’s Finch with a Mountain Mahogany seed – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Cassin’s Finches are year round residents in Utah but I don’t see or photograph them nearly as often as I would like. In September I saw several Cassin’s Finches high in the Stansbury Mountains of the West Desert where most of them were tucked into Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany trees where I couldn’t get a clear view or photos of them.
This male Cassin’s Finch did pop out into the open with a mahogany seed in his bill and even though he was in the shade I took a few photos of him. I do wish that he had been in better light so that the colors of his feathers would have been brighter.
Had I been alone that day I might have parked by that mountain mahogany all morning long just for the opportunity to photograph the finches and the other birds that were flying in and out of it in better light.
Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany trees (Cercocarpus ledifolius) have evergreen leaves and their seeds have feathery plumes that can be as long as 7mm. They are slow-growing and long-lived trees. One of the oldest specimens of Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany was more than 1,350 years old when it was cut down.
This species of mountain mahogany is found primarily in the Western U.S. and some parts of Mexico. I love seeing the mountain mahogany trees and the birds that use them for shelter and that eat their feathery looking seeds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Cassin’s Finch photos plus facts and information about this species.
I am a tree AND a bird lover so this post speaks loudly to me.
I mourn for the cutting down of a 1500 year old tree too.
Beautiful bird in a beautiful setting.
I will have to look for the mahogany when I am out. I get Cassin’s finches sometimes in my yard hanging out with the house finches.