European Starlings
Sturnus Vulgaris14 total reviews
Comment from Mark Lovegrove
Great shot here Bob of these two European Starlings and interesting notes as well. Great natural colours and exposure. Great focus, texture and clarity. I would crop out right bird just to the left of it as it does nothing to keep it. Also the white in the background is a bit distracting and I would change to match. Well done and thanks for sharing :-)
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Great shot here Bob of these two European Starlings and interesting notes as well. Great natural colours and exposure. Great focus, texture and clarity. I would crop out right bird just to the left of it as it does nothing to keep it. Also the white in the background is a bit distracting and I would change to match. Well done and thanks for sharing :-)
Comment Written 07-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Hi Mark.. Thank you for the in depth review... Bob
Comment from JirinaInspire
Pleasing photography of these two birds as they are sitting close to each other; one being a little more sociable than the other.
Natural colors and nice to view.
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Pleasing photography of these two birds as they are sitting close to each other; one being a little more sociable than the other.
Natural colors and nice to view.
Comment Written 07-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Hi Jirina.. I'm glad you liked the post. Thank you, for the excellent review and rating!... Bob
Comment from Susan F. M. T.
Bob,
A beautiful picture of these Starlings that are regular visitors to my garden. They have beautiful iridescence on their plumage that you have shown.
Beautiful composition framing and lighting taken with superb camera techniques and sharp focus.
Susan
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Bob,
A beautiful picture of these Starlings that are regular visitors to my garden. They have beautiful iridescence on their plumage that you have shown.
Beautiful composition framing and lighting taken with superb camera techniques and sharp focus.
Susan
Comment Written 07-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Hi Susan.. This is the first year I have had so many. I let them feed for a time then I shue them away. They seem to know when to go. Thank you for the fine review and rating. I'm glad you liked the post ... Bob
Comment from CREZart
Very nice capture of these Starings. I photograph them quite often. That does not mean I am a big fan :) Probably would say they are my least favorite bird in my area. I like the nicely blurred background with no distractions. Focus is spot on. Well done, Bob
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Very nice capture of these Starings. I photograph them quite often. That does not mean I am a big fan :) Probably would say they are my least favorite bird in my area. I like the nicely blurred background with no distractions. Focus is spot on. Well done, Bob
Comment Written 06-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 26-Feb-2025
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Hi Cindy.. Not alone, most people myself included find to be a nuisance. However, I do like the light refraction from their feathers. Thank you for the fine review and rating. I'm glad you liked the post ... Bob
Comment from avmurray
I don't know how many times I have tried to photograph these birds, but so far without a good result. You on the other hand have pictured them so well, and I especially like that we see the two of them from different angles. The white spots in the background are a bit distracting, but since it is nicely softened the birds are still standing out from it in a excellent way.
The photo is sharp showing such clear and well defined details in the feather of the two Starlings, and the exposure is very good.
The format is very good and the birds have got a fine placement within the frame. I think this is a lovely and well taken photo Bob, and with a very good DOF.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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I don't know how many times I have tried to photograph these birds, but so far without a good result. You on the other hand have pictured them so well, and I especially like that we see the two of them from different angles. The white spots in the background are a bit distracting, but since it is nicely softened the birds are still standing out from it in a excellent way.
The photo is sharp showing such clear and well defined details in the feather of the two Starlings, and the exposure is very good.
The format is very good and the birds have got a fine placement within the frame. I think this is a lovely and well taken photo Bob, and with a very good DOF.
Comment Written 06-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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They are among the shyest birds to photograph, Annie. The closest I have been able to get is about 8 meters. My camera position is just short of this. But sometimes it all works out. From shoot I got several good takes this one included. thanks for the great review and rating... Bob
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You are more than welcome Bob.
Comment from alaskapat
Ahh the starling, we have had them make their nests in our eves. It was fun to watch the mother go back and forth feeding them all day.
This looks like it could be an adult and a young one but it could just be the way they are posed .the one on left appears larger.
These are well captured and I appreciate that you got two in frame, they are well focused. Clear and well exposed, the one on left offers a nice side profile view , its details are well defined, I appreciate the clear beak and the little glint in the eye. I wish the bright spots were not there . These are actually quite beautiful when the light hits them just right they have amazing colors.
Your notes are very informative and appreciated,
These are the only Shakespeare birds we have in Alaska that I know of.
Well composed and presented!
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Ahh the starling, we have had them make their nests in our eves. It was fun to watch the mother go back and forth feeding them all day.
This looks like it could be an adult and a young one but it could just be the way they are posed .the one on left appears larger.
These are well captured and I appreciate that you got two in frame, they are well focused. Clear and well exposed, the one on left offers a nice side profile view , its details are well defined, I appreciate the clear beak and the little glint in the eye. I wish the bright spots were not there . These are actually quite beautiful when the light hits them just right they have amazing colors.
Your notes are very informative and appreciated,
These are the only Shakespeare birds we have in Alaska that I know of.
Well composed and presented!
Comment Written 06-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Yeah the poly iridescence of their feathers is what draws me to photograph them. With their eyes set low and just behind the beak they look like they are scowling at you. Besides their voracious appetites, aggressive and highly territorial behavior being blessed with a genetically acquired permanent menacing scowl doesn't help their popularity... Bob
Comment from Jewell McChesney
Caption:
"I expect your response to my decision immediately. 3,2,1 ...shoot!"
What a great photo of these two Starlings and detailed story to go along with it. Interesting facts you shared. It is a perfect capture of these two in this position. Good stuff.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Caption:
"I expect your response to my decision immediately. 3,2,1 ...shoot!"
What a great photo of these two Starlings and detailed story to go along with it. Interesting facts you shared. It is a perfect capture of these two in this position. Good stuff.
Comment Written 06-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Hi Jewell.. Thank you I'm glad you liked the post. When I reviewed this file I came across this one and I had a flash back to an old 1950's - 60's comedy variety show hosted by a vaudevillian turned actor/tv host name of Red Skelton. He did a skit involving two Seagulls named Gertrude and Heathcliff and the motif he painted is reflected in this shot... Bob
Comment from Shadow catcher
Starlings are actually very pretty birds, I love their markings, and when the light is right, they have a beautiful iridescence; I see some in your photo. This is a great capture of the pair, made even more enjoyable by your informative notes!
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Starlings are actually very pretty birds, I love their markings, and when the light is right, they have a beautiful iridescence; I see some in your photo. This is a great capture of the pair, made even more enjoyable by your informative notes!
Comment Written 05-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Hi LeeAnn.. Thank you I'm glad you liked the post. The varied reflectivity of their feathers has always drawn me to them as well. However, I have to say that I am 50/50 about them overall. Voracious, highly territorial and aggressive as they are I have found this flocks Achilles Heel - sound. Specifically, the Human voice. Now when they arrive, I allow them the amount of time it takes for me to turn on the recording of a well-known British actor reading Shakespeare aloud! They are quick to flight when he gets to reading what Hotspur says about starlings in Henry IV. Works like a charm. But no good deed goes unpunished - One of the local female House Sparrows has built a nest on top of and between the roof overhang. Hmmm, do I sense a future photo op? Time will tell... Bob
Comment from Maureen Woychyshyn
A wonderful visual presented here with these beautiful starlings. Did you know that our sparrows from Canada originally came from Britain. We never had any. And now there's millions of them. Composition shades, tones, and presentation is very well done. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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A wonderful visual presented here with these beautiful starlings. Did you know that our sparrows from Canada originally came from Britain. We never had any. And now there's millions of them. Composition shades, tones, and presentation is very well done. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 05-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Hi Maureen.. Your Sparrows just like our Starlings, Cormorants, Owls, Nightingales, Larks and some 60 other non-native bird species were all released by the afore mentioned special interest group. The 'Bard' references the Sparrow in Hamlet; "There's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow". Glad you liked the post and thanks for the rating... Bob
Comment from MKFlood
the bird on the left is saying "but honey..." and the one of the right replies "nope! im not talking to you"..he replied back.."i wasn't doing anything!" and she quickly snaps back "oh yeah and why were you in that Robin's nest? hmmmmmm?"..lol..oh i could go all day long with this story..maybe call it "Bad Bird Day"..lol. cool capture. the angle of the shot of these 2 birds perched on the wood is great. the capture of the light is great. the clarity is great. the presentation is balanced and eye appealing to the viewer. good eye and great job overall.
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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the bird on the left is saying "but honey..." and the one of the right replies "nope! im not talking to you"..he replied back.."i wasn't doing anything!" and she quickly snaps back "oh yeah and why were you in that Robin's nest? hmmmmmm?"..lol..oh i could go all day long with this story..maybe call it "Bad Bird Day"..lol. cool capture. the angle of the shot of these 2 birds perched on the wood is great. the capture of the light is great. the clarity is great. the presentation is balanced and eye appealing to the viewer. good eye and great job overall.
Comment Written 05-Feb-2025
reply by the author on 22-Feb-2025
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Yeah!! MK so could - scratch that - I and did. The story telling ability of this shot is what made me post this one. Can you make the connection - this is a shot of Red Skelton gone Elizabethan? Thanks for the great review, loved it... Bob