Bird of the Week – Resplendent Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal would be on anyone’s short list of the most beautiful birds in the world. It is also Guatemala’s national bird. Unhappily for photographers, it’s a skulky species that likes the very dark under-canopy in cloud forests. And, yes, that’s really the bird’s tail, extending down out of the bottom of the frame. Technical stuff: 600mm lens, f5.7, 1/30, ISO400. More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.
Bird of the Week – Green Heron
This Green Heron posed against a hillside of flowers. While Green Heron are fairly common in the Lower 48, this bird was photographed in Costa Rica, February 2013. This species hunts at the water’s edge, and is one of the few bird species that uses bait to attract prey. It’s coloration works surprisingly well as camouflage, especially from below. Technical stuff: 600mm lens, f5.7, 1/160, ISO400, tripod. More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.