Winter 2008 Bird ID Thread.

[Singletracklovr]

Thanks Paul and Alex, you guys are the best...
I did not want to get the name wrong in my user gallery. They are so small compared to the woodpeckers that like to punch holes in the side of my house. heehee
I'm still trying to get a good shot of that event. When the pecking starts they hear the door open and off they fly.
-Bob

[billy320]

is this a carolina wren ?

[paulnj]

is this a carolina wren ?

sure is a carolina wren

[billy320]

Thanks, I wasn't sure the book I have show a bird with a stubbier beak

[billy320]

[paulnj]

looks pine siskin to me, but very abnormal. Maybe a leucistic one?

[billy320]

The sun was behind him/her

[A.M.D.A.]

Looks Pine siskin... backlit, which makes the brown seem lighter.

[billy320]

I was using the EC-20 2x teleconverter, I was using it with a 300mm I have it set at 5.6 appature when shooting birds but I lose that and it goes to 7.0 and I lose the sharpness is there any other setting I can use to shoot birds ?

[Loupey]

I was using the EC-20 2x teleconverter, I was using it with a 300mm I have it set at 5.6 appature when shooting birds but I lose that and it goes to 7.0 and I lose the sharpness is there any other setting I can use to shoot birds ?

Actually, with a 2x TC, your f/5.6 becomes f/11 - and no faster - as dictated by physics.

I'm assuming you mean a 70-300mm? That class of zooms don't generally do well with 2x TC's. But if I had to I would do this:

Set to 300mm, add the 2x TC, NEVER shoot wide open. That means shooting at f/16 at the fastest - see why this combo isn't very user-friendly?

[paulnj]

Agreed loupey.

maybe he's using a 300f4 and it goes to F8 with the TC ?

[billy320]

I am using the 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 ........ and yes it starts a F 8

[Loupey]

I am using the 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 ........ and yes it starts a F 8

OK, then your combo starts out at f/8 at 140mm and becomes an f/11 at 600mm.

FWIW, I use my 2x with my 300mm f/4 prime all the time. But I know that this lens is sharpest stopped down 1 stop so I always shoot this rig f/11.

[billy320]

Thanks Loupey

I guess it will take time to get used to it, your site is great some really nice pictures

[A.M.D.A.]

Ron Kruger says it's a female mallard. But I'm not 100% sure, I'm leaning toward female pintail mostly because the lack of a black facial stripe, and bill colouring. Paul...?

[paulnj]

Ron Kruger says it's a female mallard. But I'm not 100% sure, I'm leaning toward female pintail mostly because the lack of a black facial stripe, and bill colouring. Paul...?

That is indeed a female northern pintail.

[billy320]

I ma having a little dispute with a friend of mine I say this is a Female Hairy Woodpecker he says it a Downy Woodpecker

[A.M.D.A.]

Female downy.

If you go to page 2 in this thread, there are some tips for telling apart downy/hairy, and identifying sex too.

[paulnj]

dark bars under the tail are a dead give away as to Downy .

[billy320]

[Rivman]

Looks like a Swan of some sort, not sure of exact type?
Some more feeder activity, practice with the XSi and the 55-250 mm lens
- these have been Id. in earlier posts.
Comments welcomed ! :thumbsup:

[OldClicker]

Mute Swan. - TF

[Singletracklovr]

I have another I can't seem to find in my book.


This guy/gal was hanging out in a flood area from a beaver dam. There were hundreds of Redwing Blackbirds in the area as well.
A larger photo can be viewed in my gallery.

[Singletracklovr]

Ron Kruger says it's a female mallard. But I'm not 100% sure, I'm leaning toward female pintail mostly because the lack of a black facial stripe, and bill colouring. Paul...?

I believe hen mallards have an orange bill with black in it and there usually is a bandit stripe across the eye.
Alex my photos aren't in the same caliber as yours but here's two mallard hens, I shot, showing the bill and eye stripe.

another

[A.M.D.A.]

Thanks for the ID, Paul. Bob – thanks for the photo comparison. Mallards/pintails do look a bit different.

I have another I can't seem to find in my book.


This guy/gal was hanging out in a flood area from a beaver dam. There were hundreds of Redwing Blackbirds in the area as well.
A larger photo can be viewed in my gallery.

European starling.