Yellow-Billed Oxpeckers

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

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Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

There are two species of oxpeckers in sub-saharan Africa - this yellow-billed one, and one with an all-red beak. Both are the same size and brown colouring.
You’ll often find these on the larger animals, but the illgel hunting of the big 5 has severely reduced the oxpecker population.
Oxpeckers eat the parasites on the animals, and often go deep into ears and noses.

Specific Feedback

all welcome

Technical Details

D850
500 mm

Exposure Time: 1/800 sec
F Number: f/8
ISO Speed Ratings: ISO 400
Metering Mode: Spot
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

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2

Very nice, Sandy. I like the two standing up and the one actually getting to work is a bonus. I could ask that they were all in exactly the same plane, but that’s going a little far. They’re all acceptably sharp for viewing at any sensible distance.

What’s the critter they’re on?

3

I’d like to say an extremely rare black and white antelope - but, sadly, it’s just one of the farmer’s cows…

4

Very nice look at the trio and nice action on the left one. Like the background as well.

5

Hi Sandy
Very interesting photograph, it looks like the two one the right announcing the last call for lunch. Nice work.
Peter

6

Hi Sandy, I like the mirrored open beak poses of the two birds with the other one digging in for a meal. As Dennis states, getting them all in one focal plane would have been nice but not a deal breaker. Nice BG complimenting the brownish birds with a touch of green with the vegetation.