I seem to be on a “chonky” subject streak lately including a chonky cowbird and green tree frog so I am continuing that streak with a chonky Carolina Chickadee.
One Chonky Carolina Chickadee – Canon R7, f9, 1/1250, ISO 800, -1.0 EV, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light
This Carolina Chickadee flew in and almost immediately fluffed up her or his feathers, giving them a chonky appearance. The fact that they looked right at me when they were all fluffed up made me laugh. I wanted to tell the chickadee that I couldn’t fluff up like they could!
The chickadee didn’t fluff up their feathers because they were cold, as they often do in winter. The heat index was probably already about 100°F at the time. I’m not exactly sure why the chickadee behaved as she or he did, I just know that I found it amusing.
I’ve been focusing on photographing the chickadees that come to the feeders, hoping to capture an image of a young one hatched this year. There are plenty of adults around, but I haven’t managed to photograph a single immature chickadee yet. Not yet, anyway. My fingers are crossed that I find one in my viewfinder soon.
I am enjoying observing the adult chickadees through my viewfinder, watching them in flight, and listening to their songs and calls. My photos of this species are quickly multiplying in my galleries too.
I really wish I could have understood what was happening in the mind of this chickadee; I’m sure it would have been fascinating. Whatever they were thinking, I was delighted to have them posing for me on a bright, sunny summer morning in Arkansas.
My time with this chonky chickadee was great fun!
Life is good.
Mia
Check here to see more of my Carolina Chickadee photos plus facts and information about this species.
The contrast and composition of this shot is truly spectacular. Of course the detail you captured is also worth the price of admission. Thanks Mia.
We have a couple of families in the yard again. They really like the bird baths. I find it interesting how the fledglings can only chirp the chicka part of the call. The dees seem to come much later! The research claims the number of dees represent how high a threat is, more dees more threat. I have noticed I am a 2 dee, cat 3-4 dee, stalking cat as many as 6 dees, hawks 4-8!
They’re so cute — and fast! We have a plethora of Mountain Chickadees up at camp and they are so much fun to watch. I wonder if he’s trying to allow a little breeze next to his skin or something along those lines.
I have been known to lift my t-shirt to catch a breeze, maybe it was doing the same thing.
I’m fluffy already 🤣
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could fluff up as birds do?