Made a quick birding trip to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh this morning to see what I could find.
Unfortunately I arrived a bit too late in the day because it was really hot out there in those open fields lol!
That being said I did manage to catch a few nice portraits of some handsome European Starlings.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Why would anyone want to photograph these birds?
They are known as common pests among many and to describe them as feeder bullies is an understatement.
Yet, if you really stop to pay attention to them, they are quite beautiful.
During the winter, their plumage is a dull brownish color with white spots. By summertime, they sparkle and shine.
When you catch them in sunlight, their feathers show shades of metallic greens, blues and purples. It’s an effect not unlike the color changing ink on a US dollar bill.
Scientists have discovered Starlings and other birds have an extra receptor that lets them see ultraviolet light. That means through the eyes of a bird, a Starling’s feathers are likely brighter and more color-saturated than how we humans see them.
Pretty neat, huh?
🙂
Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the fabulous full frame SLR, the @canonusa
#5Ds