This is a male long-tailed meadowlark that I photographed on Carcass Island in the Falkland Islands. The blurred out yellow in the background is the gorse flowers that were growing all over the island when I was there. The female long-tailed meadowlarks are less colorful in appearance than the males, but they excel in other areas, such as nest building. They construct their nests in the tall grass, close to the ground. This allows them to exit the nest by first descending to the ground and then walking six or so feet before taking to the air. They arrive back at their nests in the same manner — landing in the grass six feet out and then hoofing it the rest of the way. They do this so that would-be predators can’t find their nests. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/1000th of a second
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This is a male long-tailed meadowlark that I photographed on Carcass Island in the Falkland Islands. The blurred out yellow in the background is the gorse flowers that were growing all over the island when I was there. The female long-tailed meadowlarks are less colorful in appearance than the males, but they excel in other areas, such as nest building. They construct their nests in the tall grass, close to the ground. This allows them to exit the nest by first descending to the ground and then walking six or so feet before taking to the air. They arrive back at their nests in the same manner — landing in the grass six feet out and then hoofing it the rest of the way. They do this so that would-be predators can’t find their nests.
Smart bird
What a beautiful bird. It has stunning colors and I dig its profile!
Thanks Sue. Yes, quite the point to that beak.
—– Safe beneath the wind
—– This elegant passerine
—– Aware but at ease .
Wow, stunning picture, love the red bird over gold background!
Thanks Angelina, I worked for that background.
Interesting birds work as pair to protect their young
Aunt Sue