You Are What You Eat - Male House Finches: Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't get a proper diet before a molt tend towards Orange or even Yellow.

Here are three - one almost total red with orange hints in a few places, one almost all orange red and one orange with hints of yellow. I have posted one with more orange in the past and I have seen one that was all yellow but didn't get any images.

These were all shot yesterday with a 7DII+Tamron 150-600 G2 under cloudy bright conditions through a double pane glass door which affected the feather detail focus and contrast.
The hawks must have been elsewhere as I had tons of finches, sparrows, doves, some crows and one lone male Lesser Goldfinch in mating colors most of the day. Just as the camera achieved focus and before I could complete the press to take a shot he took off like a little yellow and black rocket and I never saw him again-just a few females/immatures in their olive, gray and black colors.
Today in the sun and warmer temps I am getting birds but not nearly in the numbers as yesterday.

1. Hmm? What Looks Good - checking out the menu before joining the mob
7DII, Tamon 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
tripod at 40' this one is almost pure red and for his next molt should be bright red if he keeps eating my bird seeds with vitamin enrichment

2. Very close, gathering seeds just out side the door at about 6+ feet
7DII, @ 375mm he was so close, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
back light-cloudy bright and front light from the reflection off the glass door so the IQ came out looking almost like a painting/illustration in a bird book
All orangish red, where ever he came from he lacked the proper nutrients for full on red, if he keeps eating the vitamin enriched bird seed I put out he will be red his next molt

3. This little guy is orange with hints of yellow, he had a poor diet but otherwise seemed healthy. If he hangs around eating my enriched bird feed he will be red his next molt.
7DII, 600mm, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-3200
at about 40' and the clouds had gotten thicker so less light

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Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

robertjerl wrote:

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't get a proper diet before a molt tend towards Orange or even Yellow.

Here are three - one almost total red with orange hints in a few places, one almost all orange red and one orange with hints of yellow. I have posted one with more orange in the past and I have seen one that was all yellow but didn't get any images.

These were all shot yesterday with a 7DII+Tamron 150-600 G2 under cloudy bright conditions through a double pane glass door which affected the feather detail focus and contrast.
The hawks must have been elsewhere as I had tons of finches, sparrows, doves, some crows and one lone male Lesser Goldfinch in mating colors most of the day. Just as the camera achieved focus and before I could complete the press to take a shot he took off like a little yellow and black rocket and I never saw him again-just a few females/immatures in their olive, gray and black colors.
Today in the sun and warmer temps I am getting birds but not nearly in the numbers as yesterday.

1. Hmm? What Looks Good - checking out the menu before joining the mob
7DII, Tamon 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
tripod at 40' this one is almost pure red and for his next molt should be bright red if he keeps eating my bird seeds with vitamin enrichment

2. Very close, gathering seeds just out side the door at about 6+ feet
7DII, @ 375mm he was so close, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
back light-cloudy bright and front light from the reflection off the glass door so the IQ came out looking almost like a painting/illustration in a bird book
All orangish red, where ever he came from he lacked the proper nutrients for full on red, if he keeps eating the vitamin enriched bird seed I put out he will be red his next molt

3. This little guy is orange with hints of yellow, he had a poor diet but otherwise seemed healthy. If he hangs around eating my enriched bird feed he will be red his next molt.
7DII, 600mm, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-3200
at about 40' and the clouds had gotten thicker so less light

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without t... (show quote)

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Great set
Good interesting photos
Interesting info on the birds
👍👍👍

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Nice set, Robert. Good captures of these various shades of red on these House Finches.

Will

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Architect1776 wrote:

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Toment wrote:

Great set
Good interesting photos
Interesting info on the birds
👍👍👍

Thank You
😁😁😁

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Soul Dr. wrote:

Nice set, Robert. Good captures of these various shades of red on these House Finches.

Will

Thanks a lot Will

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

robertjerl wrote:

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't get a proper diet before a molt tend towards Orange or even Yellow.

Here are three - one almost total red with orange hints in a few places, one almost all orange red and one orange with hints of yellow. I have posted one with more orange in the past and I have seen one that was all yellow but didn't get any images.

These were all shot yesterday with a 7DII+Tamron 150-600 G2 under cloudy bright conditions through a double pane glass door which affected the feather detail focus and contrast.
The hawks must have been elsewhere as I had tons of finches, sparrows, doves, some crows and one lone male Lesser Goldfinch in mating colors most of the day. Just as the camera achieved focus and before I could complete the press to take a shot he took off like a little yellow and black rocket and I never saw him again-just a few females/immatures in their olive, gray and black colors.
Today in the sun and warmer temps I am getting birds but not nearly in the numbers as yesterday.

1. Hmm? What Looks Good - checking out the menu before joining the mob
7DII, Tamon 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
tripod at 40' this one is almost pure red and for his next molt should be bright red if he keeps eating my bird seeds with vitamin enrichment

2. Very close, gathering seeds just out side the door at about 6+ feet
7DII, @ 375mm he was so close, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
back light-cloudy bright and front light from the reflection off the glass door so the IQ came out looking almost like a painting/illustration in a bird book
All orangish red, where ever he came from he lacked the proper nutrients for full on red, if he keeps eating the vitamin enriched bird seed I put out he will be red his next molt

3. This little guy is orange with hints of yellow, he had a poor diet but otherwise seemed healthy. If he hangs around eating my enriched bird feed he will be red his next molt.
7DII, 600mm, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-3200
at about 40' and the clouds had gotten thicker so less light

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without t... (show quote)

Nice set Robert

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

robertjerl wrote:

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't get a proper diet before a molt tend towards Orange or even Yellow.

Here are three - one almost total red with orange hints in a few places, one almost all orange red and one orange with hints of yellow. I have posted one with more orange in the past and I have seen one that was all yellow but didn't get any images.

These were all shot yesterday with a 7DII+Tamron 150-600 G2 under cloudy bright conditions through a double pane glass door which affected the feather detail focus and contrast.
The hawks must have been elsewhere as I had tons of finches, sparrows, doves, some crows and one lone male Lesser Goldfinch in mating colors most of the day. Just as the camera achieved focus and before I could complete the press to take a shot he took off like a little yellow and black rocket and I never saw him again-just a few females/immatures in their olive, gray and black colors.
Today in the sun and warmer temps I am getting birds but not nearly in the numbers as yesterday.

1. Hmm? What Looks Good - checking out the menu before joining the mob
7DII, Tamon 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
tripod at 40' this one is almost pure red and for his next molt should be bright red if he keeps eating my bird seeds with vitamin enrichment

2. Very close, gathering seeds just out side the door at about 6+ feet
7DII, @ 375mm he was so close, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
back light-cloudy bright and front light from the reflection off the glass door so the IQ came out looking almost like a painting/illustration in a bird book
All orangish red, where ever he came from he lacked the proper nutrients for full on red, if he keeps eating the vitamin enriched bird seed I put out he will be red his next molt

3. This little guy is orange with hints of yellow, he had a poor diet but otherwise seemed healthy. If he hangs around eating my enriched bird feed he will be red his next molt.
7DII, 600mm, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-3200
at about 40' and the clouds had gotten thicker so less light

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without t... (show quote)

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Nice shots!

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Nice photos that show why even birds need a healthy diet!!

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

robertjerl wrote:

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without the proper supplements in their diet. So male House Finches (and other finches) that don't get a proper diet before a molt tend towards Orange or even Yellow.

Here are three - one almost total red with orange hints in a few places, one almost all orange red and one orange with hints of yellow. I have posted one with more orange in the past and I have seen one that was all yellow but didn't get any images.

These were all shot yesterday with a 7DII+Tamron 150-600 G2 under cloudy bright conditions through a double pane glass door which affected the feather detail focus and contrast.
The hawks must have been elsewhere as I had tons of finches, sparrows, doves, some crows and one lone male Lesser Goldfinch in mating colors most of the day. Just as the camera achieved focus and before I could complete the press to take a shot he took off like a little yellow and black rocket and I never saw him again-just a few females/immatures in their olive, gray and black colors.
Today in the sun and warmer temps I am getting birds but not nearly in the numbers as yesterday.

1. Hmm? What Looks Good - checking out the menu before joining the mob
7DII, Tamon 150-600 G2 @ 600, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
tripod at 40' this one is almost pure red and for his next molt should be bright red if he keeps eating my bird seeds with vitamin enrichment

2. Very close, gathering seeds just out side the door at about 6+ feet
7DII, @ 375mm he was so close, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-2000
back light-cloudy bright and front light from the reflection off the glass door so the IQ came out looking almost like a painting/illustration in a bird book
All orangish red, where ever he came from he lacked the proper nutrients for full on red, if he keeps eating the vitamin enriched bird seed I put out he will be red his next molt

3. This little guy is orange with hints of yellow, he had a poor diet but otherwise seemed healthy. If he hangs around eating my enriched bird feed he will be red his next molt.
7DII, 600mm, 1/1000 @ f/6.3, ISO-3200
at about 40' and the clouds had gotten thicker so less light

Birds cannot make red for their feathers without t... (show quote)

Beautiful 💞❤️💞❤️💞

nokk Loc: usa

gorgeous birds. never knew that about the coloring, thanks for the info.