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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/1000 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), is a bird in the pheasant family (Phasianidae). It is native to Caucasus and Russia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe (where it is naturalized), it is simply known as the “pheasant”. “Ring-necked Pheasant” is a collective name for a number of subspecies and their crossbreeds. As of 2005, it has the smallest known genome of all living amniotes, only 0.97 pg (970 million base pairs).

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/1000 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

It is a well-known gamebird, among those of more than regional importance perhaps the most widespread and ancient one in the whole world. The Common Pheasant is one of the world’s most hunted birds;[2] it has been introduced for that purpose to many regions, and is also common on game farms where it is commercially bred. Ring-necked Pheasants in particular are commonly bred and were introduced to many parts of the world; the game farm stock, though no distinct breeds have been developed yet, can be considered semi-domesticated. The Ring-necked Pheasant is the state bird of South Dakota, one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/1000 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Green Pheasant (P. versicolor) of Japan is sometimes placed as subspecies within the Common Pheasant. Though the species produce fertile hybrids wherever they coexist, this is simply a typical feature among Galloanseres, in which postzygotic isolating mechanisms are slight compared to most other birds. The species apparently have somewhat different ecological requirements and at least in its typical habitat the Green outcompetes the Common Pheasant; its introduction to Japan has therefore largely failed.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/1000 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

source: In English Common Pheasant In Norwegian Fasan In Swedish Fasan

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/1000 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The pictures are taken on Öland, Sweden.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/160 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I have changed my home/front page. What do you think of it?

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/80 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

We are all a bit under the pair lately. The bathroom is still without shower and sink (will be finished on Tuesday). We all have the cold and the weather is cold and windy. My car needs a trip to the garage (on Monday).

The birds are singing so we are looking forward and hopefully most of this is in better shape by the end of next week.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/100 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

We have started feeding the little birds.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/8 1/1000 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Here are some birds at Odense Zoo, Denmark.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5,6 1/500 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3,2 1/160 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Have a lovely weekend!

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I was able to stand only 3-4 meters from it and therefore I did get some good pictures.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The three Western European Columba pigeons, Common Wood Pigeon, Stock Pigeon, and Rock Pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the Common Wood Pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size at 38–43 cm, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast.

Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about 6 months old (about 3 months out of the nest) they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds.

Its flight is quick, performed by regular beats, with an occasional sharp flick of the wings, characteristic of pigeons in general. It takes off with a loud clattering. It perches well, and in its nuptial display walks along a horizontal branch with swelled neck, lowered wings, and fanned tail. During the display flight the bird climbs, the wings are smartly cracked like a whiplash, and the bird glides down on stiff wings. The noise in climbing flight is caused by the whipcracks on the downstroke rather than the wings striking together. The Common Wood Pigeon is gregarious, often forming very large flocks outside the breeding season.

source: In English The Common Wood Pigeon In Norwegian Ringdue In Swedish Ringduva

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/6,3 1/640 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Bullfinch, Common Bullfinch or Eurasian Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.

This bird breeds across Europe and temperate Asia. It is mainly resident, but many northern birds migrate further south in the winter.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5,6 1/500 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Mixed woodland with some conifers is favoured for breeding, including parkland and gardens. It builds its nest in a bush, (preferably more than 4 metres tall and wide),mature stands of scrub, or tree, laying 4-7 eggs. The food is mainly seeds and buds of fruit trees, which can make it a pest in orchards. If wild bird cover is planted for it, Kale, Quinoa and Millet are preferred, next to tall hedges or woodland.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

This species does not form large flocks outside the breeding season, and is usually seen as a pair or family group.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5,6 1/500 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Bullfinch is a bulky bull-headed bird. The upper parts are grey; the flight feathers and short thick bill are black; as are the cap and face in adults (they are greyish-brown in juveniles), and the white rump and wing bars are striking in flight. The adult male has red underparts, but females and young birds have grey-buff underparts. The pleasant song of this unobtrusive bird contains fluted whistles.

source: In English Eurasian Bullfinch In Norwegian Dompap In Swedish Domherre

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EXIF: Sigma 135 mm f/4,5 1/160 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The weather is snowy and it is white clouds and boring lights. I am going a trip to my sister in the weekend so maybe there will be some pictures from the south of Norway next week.

source: In English Eurasian Jay In Norwegian Nøtteskrike In Swedish Nötskrika

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/250 ISO-640 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

This is my second series of pictures of the Great Tit. The first one you can see here:
The Great Tit.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/125 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/125 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/250 ISO-640 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/2,8 1/100 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3,5 1/200 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

All the pictures except the last is from October 2009. The last pictures is fresh from today.

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EXIF: Sigma 300 mm f/5,6 1/50 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I was out a little bit today trying to take some pictures of the birds. The light is better, but not great and it was snowing. This is my best shot today.

Have a great weekend.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3,2 1/160 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus, is a 10.5 to 12 cm (4.2 to 4.8 inches,) long passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and western Asia in deciduous or mixed woodlands. It is a resident bird, i.e., most birds do not migrate.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3,5 1/200 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The azure blue crown and dark blue line passing through the eye and encircling the white cheeks to the chin give the Blue Tit a very distinctive appearance. The forehead and a bar on the wing are white. The nape, wings and tail are blue; the back is yellowish green; the under parts mostly sulphur-yellow with a dark line down the abdomen. The bill is black, the legs bluish grey, and the irides dark brown. Young Blue Tits are noticeably more yellow. This is a common and popular European garden bird, due to its perky acrobatic performances when feeding on nuts or suet. It swings beneath the holder, calling tee, tee, tee or a scolding churr.

The song period lasts almost all the year round, but is most often heard during February to June.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3,2 1/160 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Blue and Great Tits form mixed winter flocks, and the former are perhaps the better gymnasts in the slender twigs. A Blue Tit will often ascend a trunk in short jerky hops, imitating a Treecreeper. As a rule the bird roosts in ivy or evergreens, but in hard weather will shelter in a hole. Blue tits are very agile and can hang from almost anywhere.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/100 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Blue Tit populations often decrease considerably during harsh winters or after poor breeding seasons where the weather is cold and wet, particularly if this coincides with the emergence of the caterpillars on which the nestlings are fed.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/80 ISO-640 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

source: In English Blue Tit In Norwegian Blåmeis In Swedish Blåmes

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/80 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I am still struggling with poor light so I am looking forward to days with more sun and fun.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/160 ISO-640 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Great Tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe in any sort of woodland. It is resident, and most Great Tits do not migrate. In the past this species was considered a ring species with several subspecies covering a wide distribution, but these have now been separated.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/60 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Great Tit is easy to recognize, large in size at 14 cm, with a broad black line (broader in the male) down its otherwise yellow chest. The neck and head are black with white cheeks and ear coverts. Upper parts are olive. It has a white wingbar and outer tail feathers. Young birds are duller.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/250 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The Great Tit has a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. It is found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, and then across the Middle East, Northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and parts of central Asia as far as Japan. Another band of distribution occurs through Iran into northern India into Southeastern Asia, whilst another population lives in southern India. The species also occurs over much of China, Korea and Japan, and in Indonesia down into Borneo and as far as the Lesser Sundas.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/3 1/60 ISO-400 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Great Tits are cavity nesters, breeding in a hole that is usually inside a tree, although occasionally in a wall, rock face, and they will readily take to nest boxes. The number in the clutch is often very large, but seven or eight white spotted red eggs are normal, with bigger clutches being laid by two or even more hens. The bird is a close sitter, hissing when disturbed.

The nestlings are unusual for altricial birds in having plumage coloured with carotenoids similarly to their parents. In most species it is dun-coloured to avoid predation. The nape is yellow and attracts the attention of the parents by its ultraviolet reflectance. This may be to make them easier to find in low light or a signal of fitness to win the parents’ attention. This patch turns white after the first moult at an age of two months, and diminishes in size as the bird grows.

source: In English Great Tit In Norwegian Kjøttmeis In Swedish Talgoxe