I especially like photographing tiny birds that can be easily missed. Sometimes they can be glimpsed foraging in the canopy or going into hiding on a flurry of little wings; bird watchers often given them the generic label LBBs or Little Brown Birds. When these tiny birds are seen up close, or enlarged to several times their size on a screen, it is easy to see how exquisite they are. Perhaps LBB should really stand for Little Beautiful Birds.
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) – male
5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/500, f/5.6, +1 2/3 EV, ISO 400, focal length 400mm
The male Red-browed Finch above paused for a split second in the dip of the branch, I held my breath as he hopped towards the low spot, turning to face each direction, looking up and down, spinning around to face the other way before looking towards me for the briefest of moments. Did you notice that his right foot isn’t touching the branch? As soon as touchdown occurred he pushed himself into flight.
To give an idea of scale, the side of the branch with the lichen is the same width as my thumb – so, if you adjust the size of the image until the branch is thumb-sized you’ll be able to see exactly how tiny this little finch would be if it was sitting on your hand. I was rapt to load the image into Lightroom and see that it was sharp, well-exposed and that there is a catch light in the eye; it doesn’t always happen that way!
Red-browed Finch
Canon 5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/1000, f/5.6, +1 1/3 EV, ISO 1600, focal length 400mm
The image above is a juvenile Red-browed Finch that is just developing its scarlet eyebrow and the scarlet sides to its bill. As it grows its eye will also change to the reddish-brown eye of an adult. I like the way the narrow depth of field shows that the finch’s tummy feathers are soft, in the literal and photographic sense of the word.
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/640, f/5.6, +1 2/3 EV, ISO 640, focal length 400mm
This scratching shot made me smile, it was a clever bit of balancing.
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) – female
5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/400, f/5.6, ISO 200, focal length 400mm
The image above is a female Red-browed Finch. The eyebrow of the females tapers to a fine, ladylike point rather than the blockier eyebrow of the males.
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
5D Mk III, 100-400mm L IS USM, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO 1600, focal length 400mm
As Red-browed Finches prefer to be in small flocks I usually see several birds together but its not often they are on the same focal plane and facing the camera. I’ll have to experiment with a smaller aperture and see if I can get shots that include a row of these finches. The finch shot I visualise most often is a bird on a seedhead, with the grass stem bending gently as the late afternoon sun adds a warm glow to the scene.
Next time you’re in the bush and you see some LBBs remember that they could be LBBs.
Happy birding, Kim
PS The Equipment page has been updated to include the 5D Mark III and various other items.
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Gorgeous little birdies! I’m guessing Brown Thornbills are LBBs as well, if so I have some LBBs in my garden waiting for you to take their family portrait.
Brown Thornbills are the quintessential LBBs! I’m on my way 🙂
Let me know if they are still there.
I’m so glad I found your blog site–these images are stunning in their quality .To a birdo like me that is neither blessed with the talent or has the equipment to capture these images, I congratulate you.I can spend hours looking at photos such as these.
Hi Paul, what a lovely commment, thank you. I hope you visit again, happy birding!
wow Kim, they are all just so beautiful, thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Janelle. I appreciate your comment 🙂
lovely shots, where do you take them, you seem to get an amazing variety of birds, mine seem to be same old same old 🙂
‘Same old same old’! I saw a beautiful image you posted of a Variegated Fairy-wren, I would love to see one of these wrens again, let alone take photographs of one. I go all over the place, as often as possible, but get birds visiting the garden too. How about you Julie?
well I guess I do have a variety when I look at it, I stick around the boundary of my town, we have an abundance of wrens and honey eaters and pelicans, magpies and gulls and sea birds. other than that any others are a real search. My job takes me 600ks a day (one day on one day off) so I sometimes see other birds but often dont get time to photograph them
That’s a lot of driving! It must be hard if you have to drive past raptors hovering in perfect light but great that you have so many species around your town.
What a cute bird. Your Red-browed finch is adorable.. A great post and awesome photos. Well done, Kim!
I’m glad you like the little finches Eileen. Have a good weekend!
I like the “scratching shot” because it is unusual and a great achievement for both the balancing bird and the photo shooting Kim.
I like unusual ‘frozen’ moments too, I don’t often share them as they’re generally quite strange … actually Margot, I’m not sure whether the bird or I looked strangest when the shot was taken!
These photo’s give me such a thrill Kim especially the little fellow having a scratch just so perfect a shot,
I think, great work. Dona
Thank you Dona! I’m glad I included the scratching shot 🙂
Feathered Enchantment. Again. I know your LBB’s as LBJs (little brown jobs) but they are sooooo rewarding. And yes, beautiful. Thank you.
You have a magic way with words EC! I wonder if LBB vs LBJ is regional? I’ve come across both but LBB is much more common here.
Wow! Great post and excellent work capturing these beauties.
Thanks for your comments Dave, much appreciated.
Beautiful work as usual Kim, and the information is great too. LBB’s lovely stuff.
Cheers
Phil
Thank you Phillip, I’m glad you like the post, and LBBs too!