Hunting Birds with Green

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." William Shakespeare

There are 8 birds fairly common to North America that have the word "green" in its English name and all of them can be found in Texas:
Black-throated Green Warbler
Green Kingfisher
Green Heron
Green Jay
Green Parakeet
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-winged Teal
Violet-green Swallow

On this trip, however, we only saw 3 of these, the Green Kingfisher, Violet-green Swallow and Green Heron. But are these green birds really green as their name implies? See below...

Black-throated Green Warbler

Green Kingfisher

Green Heron

Green Jay

Green Parakeet

Green-tailed Towhee

Green-winged Teal

Violet-green Swallow

Well, at least some visible part of each bird is green!

This was the second time only that I saw the Violet-green Swallow and the first time that I was close enough to see the green. They are beautiful birds and it was fun to watch them feed and then visit the Ocotillo to rest.

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF28-105mm F/3.5-4.5 II USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds

Think Green

It's March! and here in Michigan, I can start seeing green again. I am tired of the gray-brown trees, the blanket gray skies, the white - now dirty - snow, and the deep black pot holes in the road. Yesterday, I saw my first patch of dull green grass (GREEN!), St Patrick's day fun and green clothes comes mid-month, but, the first leaves on the trees are still more than 2 months away in Michigan. So, soon I will be on the road again, south to Texas, to escape the last cold windy efforts of old man winter and to see the first spring green things in Texas. That way I get to experience spring twice, first in April in Texas and then at home in Michigan in May.

The first color I want to see is green: green leaves, green grass, green plants, green birds. Green birds you ask? Yes, and red, yellow, blue, purple, all the colors of the rainbow too. What green birds? Most hummingbirds have green plumage but it is surprising how many ducks have some brilliant green feathers. When I see these ducks, I always try to capture the light shining so that those green feathers are highlighted.

Think Spring! Think Green!

The references and gear I used for this blog are:
Camera: Canon EOS 10D
Lens: Canon EF100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Steiner 10x42 Predator Binoculars
The SIBLEY Guide to Birds