Female Pine Grosbeak in autumn plumage
Female pine grosbeak feeds on seeds in a willow tree, arctic, Alaska. Canon 1D Mark IV, 500mm f/4L IS, 1/640 sec @ f/4, ISO 800.
The female pine grosbeak has a beautiful, rusty brown/orange color in autumn, which seems to blend in perfectly with the dried leaves of the willow bush in which she seeks food. The male, in spring plumage, is quite dramatically displayed in brilliant red. While at a rest stop along a highway, I noticed this bird feeding in the trees and hand just enough time to grab my 500mm and get a few shots hand held, before she flew off. Birds, while they are not the great money makers in general in the world of stock photography, sure are fun to watch and photograph.
