Greater Roadrunner, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California.
I photographed this guy this morning at first light. I watched him catch a kill a small bird – it was a bit gruesome, but at the same time a bit fascinating, these birds are some hunters. You can see the residual feather on the end of his bill.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Great capture, beautiful light, awesome pic (as always). What lens did you use? 300mm??
Very, very nice. Love the texture of the feathers.
Thanks a lot guys!
Good question Rolf, I was going to start providing that information. It was with a 600 and and 2x converter, Canon 1Ds III, at f/8, 320 of a second and ISO 640.
Ron
The color in this shot is awesome!
Whoa that is cool Ron. Hope you got some of the killing.
Wow-stunning light on this! I’ve never seen a roadrunner in the wild.
Beautiful capture Ron
When living in Borrego, as a kid, we saw these cool birds.. I had no idea they ate other birds! Very nice shot.. FYI: I lived on the DiGiorgio Ranch, I am sure it is not by now.. The photos are fantastic eye candy!! Keep you eyes peeled for arrowheads, they used to be aplenty around Coyote Creek/Canyon.
Thanks a lot everyone!
@ Mark This would have been an interesting place to grow up. We are camping on DeGiorgio Road, but I’m not familiar with where the ranch is located. I didn’t know these guys feed on birds either – it took the bird and repeatedly slammed it on the ground and then ate it. I will have to watch for arrowheads – never seen one outside a museum.
Awesome Ron! What lovely light too… I never seem to see them in that nice a light
Beautiful light and details!
Hey Ron
Awesome! Never even seen one myself, great shot.
Travel safe,
Cheers
Carl
Beautiful light, great bird and razor sharp…. sweet shot, Ron!
Thanks!
Awesome photo! Is this an adult or a chick?
Thanks Adrian! This was an adult.
Richard – forgot to response to your question – I did get a few of the kill, but it was much further away, and I had the 100-400 on at the time, so they are pretty much useless.
This is such a beautiful shot, Ron — the colors are awesome in that morning light! It must have been fascinating to see it in the hunt. I had never thought of them as being predatory like that, but just looking at that bill it makes sense.
Thanks Pat!