Gray Catbird {Dumetella carolinensis}

What a pose of the bird .It looks as if she( I see it as a "she"...) was observing the camera and standing with her tail, for the photographer...

 

Maybe you have learned the "birdish" language..;-)). as it is a real nice result ! The dark blue color is realy unusual and fits perfectly to the bar branches she is standing on. The shallow BG does not disturbe her beauty.

well done Len...!

Many thanks for your visit & imaginative take on this post.  I think I've uploaded the wrong (non-colour corrected version) file.  The blue cast is likely from the open sky above.  It is called a Gray Catbird after all.  The more one perseveres the luckier one is likely to be it would seem.  Simply standing still for a while in an area rich with birds yielded this result.  I think this one was a male but I'm no expert so you could be right.  Birdish language?  Well I have been referred to as 'cuckoo' from time to time. :-)  Best, LM.

I think I prefer the uncorrected version...the blue is stronger, and anyway- kuku ( the Hebrew version...;-)) is as well a kind of a "birdish dialect..."...;-))

We'll call your preference 'artistic license' as opposed to 'true to life'. Re: kuku,  English, Hebrew, whatever, the meaning is the same.  According to William Shakespear, '....a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.........'  :-)  Best, LM.

Your constructive comment \ critique will be gratefully received. LM.

I don't have an editorial comment regarding your status, but this image is excellent.  We don't have these birds so I can't attest to the correct color but the detail and profile portrait is well done... Mike

As I've said before, I was lucky to have this bird land on this bush about 10 ft. from me.  And I was ready for him. The 55-200 kit lens isn't exactly a 'birder's' first choice but it's all I have.  Doesn't do too bad if one isn't fussy about the necessary huge crops.  The results are fine for the web but make large prints a challenge.  Lucky I don't require too many large prints. :-)  Thanks for your insight.  Best, LM.