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"Radiant Roadrunner." A roadrunner pauses to warm up in an early morning sunbeam. Behind the lens. Roadrunners sometimes stop running, rouse their feathers, and point their backs to the sun to absorb the radiant heat with the dark, downy feathers that are otherwise hidden. It's a great way to warm up on cool mornings when you can't hold a cup of coffee.
"Roadrunner Rouse." A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) rouses her feathers so she can preen and re-align each one into its proper place. Feather maintenance is absolutely critical for birds. Behind the lens. As a ground-dwelling cuckoo, the Roadrunner is the bird symbol of the American southwest. I still remember chasing these guys around as a small boy growing up in Texas. They never needed to fly to leave me in the dust.
"Sandhill Ballet." Sandhill Cranes pair for live, so you'll often see them flying in pairs or in small family groups. Behind the lens. While the little nervous Flycatchers (above) are hard to photograph in flight, Sandhill Cranes are big birds that slowly glide to a graceful landing. For me, watching groups of cranes arrive is much more spectacular than human ballet.
"Flying Tomato." The brilliant red plumage worn by the male Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is the source of his common name, "The Flying Tomato." Behind the lens. Typically, the smaller the bird the faster it flits about. Vermilion Flycatchers are small birds that sit on a perch and watch for flying insects. They never sit for long, and they are equally likely to launch in any direction. Since I don't use autofocus lenses, my efforts at catching a sharp, well-timed flight image of the "Flying Tomato" are, so far, fruitless.
"Greater Roadrunner." Male and female Greater Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) have similar plumage. Both have a crest that they raise and lower for added expression, and both have a bare patch of skin behind their eyes. Behind the lens. I've always thought that the Greater Roadrunner should be called the American Roadrunner, due to its range and its red white and blue patch of skin just behind each eye. There are also Lesser Roadrunners in Mexico and Central America.
"Sandhill Ballet." Sandhill Cranes pair for live, so you'll often see them flying in pairs or in small family groups. Behind the lens. While the little nervous Flycatchers (above) are hard to photograph in flight, Sandhill Cranes are big birds that slowly glide to a graceful landing. For me, watching groups of cranes arrive is much more spectacular than human ballet.
"Roadrunner Rouse." A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) rouses her feathers so she can preen and re-align each one into its proper place. Feather maintenance is absolutely critical for birds. Behind the lens. As a ground-dwelling cuckoo, the Roadrunner is the bird symbol of the American southwest. I still remember chasing these guys around as a small boy growing up in Texas. They never needed to fly to leave me in the dust.
"Greater Roadrunner." Male and female Greater Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) have similar plumage. Both have a crest that they raise and lower for added expression, and both have a bare patch of skin behind their eyes. Behind the lens. I've always thought that the Greater Roadrunner should be called the American Roadrunner, due to its range and its red white and blue patch of skin just behind each eye. There are also Lesser Roadrunners in Mexico and Central America.
"Flying Tomato." The brilliant red plumage worn by the male Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is the source of his common name, "The Flying Tomato." Behind the lens. Typically, the smaller the bird the faster it flits about. Vermilion Flycatchers are small birds that sit on a perch and watch for flying insects. They never sit for long, and they are equally likely to launch in any direction. Since I don't use autofocus lenses, my efforts at catching a sharp, well-timed flight image of the "Flying Tomato" are, so far, fruitless.
"Radiant Roadrunner."

A roadrunner pauses to warm up in an early morning sunbeam.

Behind the lens.

Roadrunners sometimes stop running, rouse their feathers, and point their backs to the sun to absorb the radiant heat with the dark, downy feathers that are otherwise hidden. It's a great way to warm up on cool mornings when you can't hold a cup of coffee.
A roadrunner pauses to warm up in an early morning sunbeam. Behind the lens. Roadrunners sometimes stop running, rouse their feathers, and point their backs to the sun to absorb the radiant heat with the dark, downy feathers that are otherwise hidden. It's a great way to warm up on cool mornings when you can't hold a cup of coffee." href="javascript:openLB(2387933258,'',XLarge,'',512,768);">"Radiant Roadrunner." A roadrunner pauses to warm up in an early morning sunbeam. Behind the lens. Roadrunners sometimes stop running, rouse their feathers, and point their backs to the sun to absorb the radiant heat with the dark, downy feathers that are otherwise hidden. It's a great way to warm up on cool mornings when you can't hold a cup of coffee.
"Radiant Roadrunner."

A roadrunner pauses to warm up in an early morning sunbeam.

Behind the lens.

Roadrunners sometimes stop running, rouse their feathers, and point their backs to the sun to absorb the radiant heat with the dark, downy feathers that are otherwise hidden. It's a great way to warm up on cool mornings when you can't hold a cup of coffee.
See photo in original gallery.
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