Brown Headed Cowbird 6-3-2014

Setting up near the feeder during early summer offers endless opportunities for close-up bird photography. This male brown-headed cowbird swooped right into the weathered cedar hopper, grabbing sunflower seeds straight from the trough. Keeping the lens pre-focused on the wooden perch let me snap the shutter just as it paused between bites.

The tight crop showcases the rich cocoa-brown plumage covering the head and neck, shifting cleanly into glossy black feathers along the back and chest. Several small seeds rest inside the open black beak, while the bird’s sharp talons grip the worn wooden frame. The muted green background isolates the bird cleanly within the feeder structure.