Oh I do love Golden-headed Cisticolas. For years they were my nemesis bird but more recently I’ve been lucky enough to capture shots of them that warm the cockles of my heart.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
I absolutely love the shot above. The cisticola stands out so beautifully against the blurred background of saltbush. I love the richness of their golden colouring and the way the black details add such a striking contrast.
Golden-headed Cisticola are tiny birds weighing a meagre 10g and measuring about 10cm from the end of the bill to the tip of the tail. They feed on insects and seeds and are generally difficult to spot, except during the breeding season when male birds often perch and sing to define and defend their territories.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
The two in-flight shots have to be among the most comical images I’ve captured. I was crazily lucky to capture this bird as it flew high above the grasslands before diving back into the long grasses as part of its display flight during the breeding season.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 800
Canon 5DsR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
I didn’t think I’d ever share these shots but they are pretty interesting and funny. I could probably have cropped them a bit closer but somehow these crops seem truer to the actual experience.
Happy birding
Kim
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Seeing those teensy birds in flight is a riot. It looks like the second photo is the first one tipped over!!!
Haha, it does, but it isn’t 🙂
I remember you spending so long trying to get pictures of cisticolas! These are gorgeous!
Thank you Alyssa, it took me sooo long!
Yet MORE feathered enchantment.
And, I have to ask, what is your nemesis bird of the moment? I am sure there is one, and equally sure you will triumph. Again.
Oh it’d be emu-wrens EC, I would love to find some and photograph them. I saw a beautiful Southern Emu-wren and photographed it ages ago but I’d love to see them again, along with some Mallee Emu-wrens. They are exquisitely beautiful.