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Iridescence · **4 Likes**

Iridescence by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

Charlie Victor · 10-13-2019, 06:31 AM

A beauty, well-captured! What kind of bird is it? The blue eye stands out; I've never seen anything like it!
Best.

RobG · 10-13-2019, 06:54 AM

Originally posted by Charlie Victor

A beauty, well-captured! What kind of bird is it? The blue eye stands out; I've never seen anything like it!
Best.

Thanks! It's a male Satin Bowerbird. They are endemic to eastern Australia. The females and young males are green. The males only turn this dark blue colour when they mature at about the age of five years. They were the first animal other than humans to have been found to steal things that weren't food; there was an article in Scientific American about it. The males build structures called bowers around which they collect trinkets - blue ones, if they can get them. They will steal the trinkets from each other to have the best collection to attract the ladies. I've also watched a Bowerbird paint the sticks in his bower, and others have observed them using bark as a brush to do this.

---------- Post added 14-10-19 at 12:55 AM ----------

Satin Bowerbird by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

**PJ1** · 10-13-2019, 06:55 AM

A very interesting eye. Good capture. Didn't pick it as a satin bowerbird. Thought it was a NZ bird.

Last edited by PJ1; 10-13-2019 at 06:56 AM. Reason: Added info

**manishved** · 10-13-2019, 07:54 AM

Great shot!!!!

**pichaser** · 10-13-2019, 07:56 AM

This one is hard to ignore . TFS

**foxandcrow** · 10-13-2019, 10:55 AM

Really nice shot amazing eye color.

Dewman · 10-13-2019, 11:00 AM

Rob, I'm not familiar with that particular lens, but if this is any indication of it's sharpness, I'm VERY impressed. I'm a die-hard sharpness chaser and this really snaps my shorts. Bravo.

RobG · 10-13-2019, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by PJ1

A very interesting eye. Good capture. Didn't pick it as a satin bowerbird. Thought it was a NZ bird.

Alas, I didn't get many photos of birds in NZ. I was really hoping for a decent photo of a Tui, but they like to hide in amongst tree branches. I'll just have to go back again!

Originally posted by manishved

Great shot!!!!

Thank you!

Originally posted by pichaser

This one is hard to ignore . TFS

Thanks!

Originally posted by foxandcrow

Really nice shot amazing eye color.

Thanks - it's hard to catch them in the sunlight, but cool if you can!

Originally posted by Dewman

Rob, I'm not familiar with that particular lens, but if this is any indication of it's sharpness, I'm VERY impressed. I'm a die-hard sharpness chaser and this really snaps my shorts. Bravo.

Thanks - what's especially impressive is that this is the DFA 150-450 combined with the HD DA 1.4 teleconverter, and it's still sharp. It makes hand-holding the combination a challenge though!

I'm really looking forward to the next flagship APS-C camera, because the DFA 150-450 has more resolution than the K3 can capture, but I don't really want to lose effective focal length with full frame.

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10-13-2019, 06:31 AM	#2
Charlie Victor Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Durban Photos: Albums Posts: 1,227	A beauty, well-captured! What kind of bird is it? The blue eye stands out; I've never seen anything like it! Best.

10-13-2019, 06:54 AM	#3
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,905 Original Poster	Originally posted by Charlie Victor A beauty, well-captured! What kind of bird is it? The blue eye stands out; I've never seen anything like it! Best. Thanks! It's a male Satin Bowerbird. They are endemic to eastern Australia. The females and young males are green. The males only turn this dark blue colour when they mature at about the age of five years. They were the first animal other than humans to have been found to steal things that weren't food; there was an article in Scientific American about it. The males build structures called bowers around which they collect trinkets - blue ones, if they can get them. They will steal the trinkets from each other to have the best collection to attract the ladies. I've also watched a Bowerbird paint the sticks in his bower, and others have observed them using bark as a brush to do this. ---------- Post added 14-10-19 at 12:55 AM ---------- Satin Bowerbird by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

10-13-2019, 06:55 AM	#4
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,486	A very interesting eye. Good capture. Didn't pick it as a satin bowerbird. Thought it was a NZ bird. Last edited by PJ1; 10-13-2019 at 06:56 AM. Reason: Added info

10-13-2019, 07:54 AM	#5
manishved Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N. Calif Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,652	Great shot!!!!

10-13-2019, 07:56 AM	#6
pichaser Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,782	This one is hard to ignore . TFS

10-13-2019, 10:55 AM	#7
foxandcrow Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,995	Really nice shot amazing eye color.

10-13-2019, 11:00 AM	#8
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	Rob, I'm not familiar with that particular lens, but if this is any indication of it's sharpness, I'm VERY impressed. I'm a die-hard sharpness chaser and this really snaps my shorts. Bravo.

10-13-2019, 02:52 PM	#9
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,905 Original Poster	Originally posted by PJ1 A very interesting eye. Good capture. Didn't pick it as a satin bowerbird. Thought it was a NZ bird. Alas, I didn't get many photos of birds in NZ. I was really hoping for a decent photo of a Tui, but they like to hide in amongst tree branches. I'll just have to go back again! Originally posted by manishved Great shot!!!! Thank you! Originally posted by pichaser This one is hard to ignore . TFS Thanks! Originally posted by foxandcrow Really nice shot amazing eye color. Thanks - it's hard to catch them in the sunlight, but cool if you can! Originally posted by Dewman Rob, I'm not familiar with that particular lens, but if this is any indication of it's sharpness, I'm VERY impressed. I'm a die-hard sharpness chaser and this really snaps my shorts. Bravo. Thanks - what's especially impressive is that this is the DFA 150-450 combined with the HD DA 1.4 teleconverter, and it's still sharp. It makes hand-holding the combination a challenge though! I'm really looking forward to the next flagship APS-C camera, because the DFA 150-450 has more resolution than the K3 can capture, but I don't really want to lose effective focal length with full frame.

Nature Iridescence

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