I have a few photographs similar to this one where the bird’s wing is covering its beak. This isn’t meant to take away, it is meant to intrigue. The important part is that the eyeball is still visible. This type of photograph presents much differently than one with the wings sticking back and you can see exactly what is happening.

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I particularly like this photograph.

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Hummingbirds didn’t seem to care for this particular flower as much as others that were around so getting quality photographs that feature this flower was challenging.

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The male Red Headed Barbet is commonly referred to as an angry bird because it looks like the main red bird from the game Angry Birds. This photograph represents that quite well, especially squaring off against the Ecuadorian Thrush.

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Yep, it’s one of those again. You are wondering why this bird is called a Red Headed Barbet when it clearly does not have a red head. I know, these people that name birds need to get there stuff together. But once again, this is the female Red Headed Barbet and they look like this, with an orange and blue head.

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Another example of a photograph that I took at a feeder setup but I would bet that no one else took a photograph like this one. Again, I’m not saying it’s better or worse. I’m just saying that these feeders are set up in a certain way to get certain types of photographs and that is most people’s focus. Just not mine. If Elias, Dennis, Ritessh, or Kyle has a photograph similar to this one please let me know and I’ll update this post.

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I know exactly what you are thinking, “Why is this bird called a One Colored Becard when it is clearly not just one color.” Instead of making you look that information up I will just tell you: The male One Colored Becard is just one color. It is gray. It is basically a few shades of gray. Maybe one day I will show you what a male One Colored Becard looks like, but not today.

This photograph is of a female One Colored Becard and this is how they look. I would say there is an argument to be made that the female One Colored Becard is better looking than the male. Especially as it is perched in front of this nice and blurry dark green background. I told you, I take those kinds of photos too. Look, they are stunning. But I also like to take photos of little House Wrens poking their heads out of little holes.

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I think this is a photograph that has a unique style. I took this photograph while in Ecuador with a group of guys that were bird photographers. I also happen to like photographing birds. But I prefer to photograph birds in a different way from everyone else. Most bird photographers prefer a certain style of photograph. They prefer the bird in a certain way and with a certain type of background. I like taking this style of photograph as well, but I also like to think outside the box and present subjects in more unique way whenever creativity strikes.

The photo Southern House Wren 01 came about because my photography group was at some bird feeding stations that are set up specifically for bird photographers. The photographers are in a blind, which is a fancy term for a little hut. In front of the photographers is a series of perches for the birds to land on. In order to coax the birds to the area, food of some sort is used. If Hummingbirds are the target, there will be Hummingbird feeders. Sometimes fruit is used. Sometimes there are moth traps, which are white sheets that have a light shining on them throughout the night. That’s what was used at this particular blind.

I don’t really like going to feeders for photography, especially not ones that utilize moth traps, but I’ll get into those ethics some other time.  I will say that using the word “coax” was intentional, but at the same time it’s for a good cause.

But I also don’t like photographing at feeders because it is aimed at getting those particular types of shots I was talking about earlier. The nice portrait shots with the clean backgrounds. While at the feeders, throughout my trip, I at least tried my best to get photos that might be a little different from everyone else’s. It’s nothing against them or their style, I just like being different and that comes through in my art and photography.

So at this particular moth feeder I saw this little Wren jumping about while I was observing the area and thinking about what unique shots I could take. One time, I saw the Wren in this little corner under a log. It was actually a little hard to see because it was very early in the morning. You could only see the Wren when it peaked out at a certain angle. I noticed the behavior and told myself that if I ever see movement in that little hole I’m going to get ready to take a photo if the Wren peaks out again. And sure enough, I noticed that little Wren in that little hole and I shot it. You can see it right there in my photograph Southern House Wren 01. That little Wren poked its head out so that just enough light captured it before it ran back inside and I captured the moment that that happened.

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A portrait of an Andean Guan. This shoot was early in the morning and it was fairly cold. So cold that as the Guan was vocalizing I could see its breath in the air. Unfortunately it did not come through in the photographs. Next time I'll try to remember to take video.

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