Green Kingfisher in FlightWhy is a Green Kingfisher green? I cannot pretend to know the real answer to that question, but I can make a good guess. These misproportioned birds spend their lives perched on scrags along small streams and ponds waiting for their prey to swim by. Their color would allow them to blend in perfectly with the backdrop of the forests where they live. To a fish swimming through the Kingfisher would be invisible. The same holds for protection against prey. Blending in with their background might provide the camouflage they need to avoid being attacked. Is this the answer? I have no idea. But it's the one I am going to stick with.

Capturing a Green Kingfisher in flight was mostly luck. I set my shutter speed to 2000 to freeze fast motion and set my aperture to 11 to grab as much of the scene as possible and then hoped I would be quick enough on the shutter to get a good shot. On the hundreds of photos I took of the bird there were only two of it in flight. This is the better of them. Perhaps if I had more time with the bird, days or weeks, I could learn its behavior. But this is a sensitive species, and I will need to be content with my one visit (well, maybe one more). Indeed not enough visits to learn its behavior.

The Green Kingfisher flies from perch to perch rapidly and low to the water. My dream shot would be to have one flying towards me, hugging the path of the water. Maybe someday.

I am thankful beyond words for the blessing of spending time with this bird. God is a masterful creator, and He did well with this stunning bird. I am as grateful to have been loaned the gift to share these wonders with any who are interested. I remain His scribe.
Shoot Date: January 25, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Manual ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at f/11 0 EV
Lens: EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM @ 800 mm
ISO: 1000

Why is a Green Kingfisher green? I cannot pretend to know the real answer to that question, but I can make a good guess. These misproportioned birds spend their lives perched on scrags along small streams and ponds waiting for their prey to swim by. Their color would allow them to blend in perfectly with the backdrop of the forests where they live. To a fish swimming through the Kingfisher would be invisible.  The same holds for protection against prey. Blending in with their background might provide the camouflage they need to avoid being attacked. Is this the answer? I have no idea. But it's the one I am going to stick with. 

Capturing a Green Kingfisher in flight was mostly luck.  I set my shutter speed to 2000 to freeze fast motion and set my aperture to 11 to grab as much of the scene as possible and then hoped I would be quick enough on the shutter to get a good shot. On the hundreds of photos I took of the bird there were only two of it in flight. This is the better of them. Perhaps if I had more time with the bird, days or weeks, I could learn its behavior. But this is a sensitive species, and I will need to be content with my one visit (well, maybe one more). Indeed not enough visits to learn its behavior. 

The Green Kingfisher flies from perch to perch rapidly and low to the water. My dream shot would be to have one flying towards me, hugging the path of the water. Maybe someday. 

I am thankful beyond words for the blessing of spending time with this bird. God is a masterful creator, and He did well with this stunning bird. I am as grateful to have been loaned the gift to share these wonders with any who are interested. I remain His scribe. 

Green Kingfisher in Flight
©RGallucci Photography
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Shoot Date: January 25, 2019
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Manual ¹⁄2000 sec at f/11 0 EV
Lens: EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM @ 800 mm
ISO: 1000