Mordio's Photodex
A collection of wildlife photographs taken by an amateur photographer.
GOAL COMPLETE - Increase Number of Distinct Animals Captured in Photos. Progress: 51/50
New Goal (and probably new website) will come later!
Photos taken by Mordio Crow, Librarian of The Archive in the Seams
Disclaimers
Identifications are best effort and descriptions are for fun, not factual. Real information can be found on the links at the end of the read more for each entry.
Peach-Faced Lovebird (Skittle)
A flying lemon-lime flavored bird.
Sweet, yet viscous. Underestimate her bite at your own risk.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
A vibrant woodpecker that I see often. Watching them climb trees and peck away is really fun!
Eastern Gray Squirrel
A staple of northeast North America. Very good subject for a beginner photographer!
Mourning Dove
Easily identified by their distinct mourning calls and the sound of their wings in flight! These fluffy doves are very polite subjects.
White-Throated Sparrow
Personally, I think the yellow eyebrows are the more notable trait, even if they're harder to spot at a distance.
House Sparrow
The most widely distributed and most invasive bird in the world. Highly adaptable and can be found in most urban environments.
Northern Cardinal
The visually iconic bird that is the state bird of too many states!
House Finch
Bright little birds that spend a lot of time in my shrubs and on the cables. I see them mixed in with house sparrows quite often!
Gray Catbird
Elusive but always around! I was lucky to spot this one camouflage in the shade of the trees!
Downy Woodpecker
Caught this bird pecking at my trees just a bit before sunset. He just didn't want to hold still, so in 90% of my pictures his head was a complete blur.
Hairy Woodpecker
A woodland woodpecker with a large beak which it uses to really dig for insects deep in the trees it traverses.
Blue Jay
For such a large bird I was surprised how rarely they stayed still! It's like they knew I was trying to get a picture and were messing with me.
They are corvids, so maybe they were!
American Robin
Got lots of robins nearby, but they don't hang out in my yard this time of year! This picture was taken a second before the bird flew off!
Song Sparrow
This shot was of one foraging, rather than singing. It'd be nice to get a picture of one mid-song one day!
Black-Capped Chickadee
A bird whose call matches their name! These adorable little birds are one of my favorites for that reason alone.
Carolina Wren
This evasive and camouflaged bird was able to outplay and outwit this amateur photographer... for now. A very nimble hopping bird!
European Starling
These iridescent birds gather in large flocks especially on power lines near local parking lots.
White-Breasted Nuthatch
This little guy was just finishing up breakfast on a suet feeder when I arrived. Got a nice picture or two and then off they went!
Turkey Vulture
Not a clear shot, but still an easy ID from the colors and wingshape. There were a few circling, but often they were too backlit by the sun and covered by the canopy.
Low Quality Images Only
Red-Tailed Hawk
A bird of prey known for its vibrant red tail. A pair visited my yard to hunt!
Dark-eyed Junco
Tiny little fluff ball of a bird that I know is around, but is much more skittish than the sparrows making capturing it in a photo much tougher.
American Crow
I always hear them, and yet I have yet to get a good close shot of them! And we even share a name!
Why are you running from me?!
House Wren
This tiny, cryptid-quality photo was one of the first I took with this camera. I believe it is a young house wren.
Low Quality Images Only
Canada Goose
A common sight flying overhead or hanging out in a pond. Their distinctive shape and call make them easy to identify!
Belted-Kingfisher
A crowned royal overlooking his pond. I got to see him making a few rounds too, though I wasn't able to get a good picture in flight.
Mallard
Look at this handsome duck! Was very polite and quite photogenic.
Domestic Duck
Technically a breed of mallard, and not the best photograph, but this is my collection and if I want to count them as a distinct entry I will!
Eastern Bluebird
A flock of bluebirds was hanging out near the trail! They were very polite and the great lighting made for many good pictures!
Eastern Towhee
On one of my walks there were quite a few of these little guys out and about. They've got some great colors and contrast!
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
This adorable little guy outmaneuvered me... this time! This almost in focus picture is the best I got before he ran off.
Horse
Saw a horse at a farm along the trail! It's so much easier to take a clear picture when the subject is big, still, and close by!
Mute Swan
An elegant bird seen from a pretty large distance. I'm happy with this shot given the circumstances!
Northern Mockingbird
Little singing bird perched atop a tree! The spindly branch behind 'em makes it look like they have an antenna backpack or are broadcasting their song out into the world!
Rock Dove (Pigeon)
Many consider these birds pests but they're fantastic creatures! Look at the beautiful iridescence on its neck and that vibrant eye!
Tufted Titmouse
Skittish little guy who was scavenging in the leaves and branches. Had to be patient to wait for him to come out into the open!
Sharp-shinned Hawk
I've seen quite a few of these recently, but only this one stayed still long enough for me to get a picture!
Northern Harrier
A low-flying bird of prey that was scouting out a freshly cut field!
Cooper's Hawk
This judgmental looking bird was hunting some house sparrows, who managed to hide where the hawk couldn't quite reach!
Brown-Headed Cowbird
A surprise feeder visitor! Pics are all through a window, unfortunately.
Eastern Cottontail
The winter is thawing and with it the local rabbits have come out to gnaw on the lawn! I'm incredibly impressed by the camera/lens for being able to get these shots in absolutely terrible lighting.
Bald Eagle
A long-distance shot, so pretty blurry, but I'm still glad I was able to capture that distinctive appearance! Lucky!
Double-Crested Cormorant
Flyin' fast and flyin' low, I didn't have a lot of time to wait for a really clear shot. I saw a handful of these darting around.
Great Blue Heron
Barely got a picture before this one flew out of sight to not be seen again for the rest of the walk. I wish it was a better picture, but I'll take what I can get!
Tree Swallow
This whole session was shots of opportunity, but this tree swallow photographed from the window of a moving car is perhaps the most egregious of all I took that day.
Banded Woolly Bear
Putting the close-up capabilities of this lens to the test! I'm pretty happy with the detail on its fur given the short amount of time I spent taking pictures!
American Goldfinch
The tiniest tennis ball bird. I've seen them darting around now and again but was lucky enough to see them taking a break on a branch!
Chipping Sparrow
With its chestnut cap and black eyeliner, the chipping sparrow is back for the season! What a cute little sparrow!
Honey bee
Spring is here and with it, bees!
Northern Flicker
Not a very high quality photo, but good enough to ID. Unfortunately, this bird was only present a moment before he flickered away!
American Mink
Saw this guy dart through the brush early on in a walk and missed him, but then saw him at the end in nearly the same spot!
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
With its chestnut cap and black eyeliner, the chipping sparrow is back for the season! What a cute little sparrow!
Peach-Faced Lovebird (Skittle)
A tiny monarch of the household. Quite concerned with all of her subjects being in their appointed locations. Usually sweet and cuddly, but does have a mean streak. A fearless fighter who will attack creatures many times her size. Beware her bite which can break skin and leave scars.
Wikipedia
Audubon
House Sparrow
Adaptable birds that thrive in human-altered environments. Where we go, so do they--especially if there's crumbs of food to be found. I've even seen them lining up at a lunch truck for food! Despite their small size, they can be bullies which means they typically have a negative impact on native species.
The third picture shows off the sparrows being comfy in a human-made structure! It's not pictured, but there is a nest stuffed into a corner by a security camera not far from here!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Notorious for the skill with which they rob bird feeders despite wards and barriers used to deter them. They're persistent--and also the reason my yard has so many holes in it. But they've been very kind and sat still while I've been learning my camera settings, so they're not all bad.
Wikipedia
Mourning Dove
These can be seen sitting around all nice and fluffy during the winter. I've even seen them sitting inside bird feeders that are big enough to fit them! Despite being easy to spot and rather clumsy, they're everywhere!
Growing up, I always thought a mourning dove's call sounded a lot like what we would expect owls to sound like.
At the local nature center there were at least a dozen mourning doves scattered in the sun-lit trees sitting nice and fluffy in the sunlight. Looked to me like they were pretty comfy and enjoying themselves!
Wikipedia
Audubon
White-Throated Sparrow
These little sparrows have greatly enjoyed the leaves I left behind in my yard this winter. Every day that the weather allows them, they're out there kicking at the leaves and ground to forage for food! I wonder if they would ever group up and all kick a predator to try to drive it off. Probably not, but... it would be pretty impressive if they did.
Wikipedia
Audubon
Song Sparrow
This little guy was one of the first birds I caught a picture of! He was foraging in my yard on a summer's day while I sat only a few meters away out in the open! A brave lad, to be sure, though he did eventually notice me and hurled himself from the yard, pictured on the right.
Wikipedia
Audubon
Northern Cardinal
I can hear these birds squeaking around my house constantly, but it's relatively rare that they enter my sight long enough for me to grab my camera and snap a shot. I sometimes see one foraging on the ground alongside a handful of sparrows. I wonder how well they get along?
Wikipedia
Audubon
House Finch
House Finches are sometimes more common than House Sparrows in my area! They have a couple favorite spots in my neighborhood and can often be seen perching on cables.
The one in the last image is really vibrant! I think it's still a House Finch, but he's far and away brighter than all the rest I've seen!
Wikipedia
Audubon
American Crow
There's always a handful of crows hanging out in the parking lots nearby or on the rooftops of local businesses. Once it gets warmer, I'll go get lunch from one of the eateries and have lunch outside while I wait for my shot.
The second shot was taken at some incredible distance and the last two in the rain. Given the circumstances of each, I'm amazed they came out as well as they did!
Wikipedia
Audubon
American Robin
I spotted this one way up in a tree while taking pictures of some Mourning Doves, who were much more numerous. Unfortunately, either I spooked her or she was just about done because she flew off a second later!
I've seen robins hanging out in my front yard before though, usually when it's warmer, so I'm sure I'll get more pictures eventually.
Look at her feathers! It's like she's wearing a pair of poofy pants.
Wikipedia
Audubon
House Wren
This was actually the first bird I photographed. It was just outside my window on a branch, but I was afraid to open it and scare it off so these were taken through glass and a screen! Not only that, but I didn't know the camera settings well!
But while the quality is bad, I still think these tell us some things about the bird. The bright beak and the way it was waiting there cheeping made me think it was a young one. And while the third picture obscures the other bird's face and the main one is facing away, I think that's its parent checking on it! Very cute!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Downy Woodpecker
This woodpecker really stretched my lens and abilities to get a picture of at all! Most of my shots were blurry beyond use, and he was so high up that I couldn't really get a clean shot without branches in the way.On his way out of the yard though, he flew down and stopped on a low one for a few seconds before heading off. I didn't get the red tuft on the top of his head, but with the brief window I had I'm happy with that parting shot!Wikipedia
Audubon
Hairy Woodpecker
My father's keen eyes spotted this woodpecker through some dense trees and I was able to catch a shot as it climbed up! Note the particularly big beak, which sets it apart from the similar looking woodpeckers in the region. I like the way the branches repeatedly frame the woodpecker in the first shot, though it does make the image very busy.
Wikipedia
Audubon
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
This woodpecker in the first two photographs was a really good subject. I got to watch it climb a tree at a local nature center and then hang out at the top for a long while. It was rather shy and often just out of sight but the shots I did get of it came out very well! I love the way the lighting and composition came together. Thanks!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Dark-Eyed Junco
These tiny birds are always around my house, but they were evasive and difficult to photograph. The snow brought them out into the open! Not only that, but they came and perched pretty close to my window while I had my camera out!
The one in the first two pictures in particular was a great subject and came right down like she was curious about me!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Carolina Wren
Photographing this bird was a chase! Well, kind of. I kept my distance and used my lens at max reach while moving quietly to keep from disturbing it. I like to think I did an okay job as it was hopping around pretty contentedly and never flew off.
That said, it was hopping around quite a bit so manual focus was a bit tough and autofocus had trouble finding it with its natural camouflage. I didn't get a clear, in-focus picture of its face.
I also saw an evasive bird skittering near my garage which I believe was a carolina wren, but much like this one it was too good at dodging photographs.
Wikipedia
Audubon
European Starling
The iridescent sheen of a starling is a lot of fun! I often see them congregating in large numbers on my way to work, but I'm not carrying my camera then. Every once in a while they visit my trees, so maybe I'll be able to get a picture of a swarm in my yard someday.
Wikipedia
Audubon
Red-Tailed Hawk
The local Red Tailed Hawk was hanging out in an empty tree when I was out on a morning walk! It was pretty high up there, so my angles weren't great, but the first picture really shows off that vibrant red tail that gives it its name!The second and third are more recent photos of a juvenile in my backyard! A second hawk (perhaps its parent?) killed a squirrel and then left this one to eat what it left behind. The button below leads to more pictures, but be warned they contain images of a dead squirrel.Wikipedia
Audubon
Red-Tailed Hawk Feeding
After perching for a while, the juvenile jumped down to the squirrel killed by the other hawk and tried to carry it away. Its first attempt ended in failure, it wasn't able to get enough height and it hit the wire fence!The second attempt went better--that's the one I was able to get some (albeit motion blurry) pictures of. From there, it carried the squirrel up to a tree where it spent quite a while examining it and calling out before finally digging in. Unfortunately there were many branches in the way so there's not a lot of clear pictures, but I'm still happy with the overall story of this set!Wikipedia
Audubon
Turkey Vulture
This bird's distinctive flight silhouette made it easy to pick out even through the tree's branches. I grew up seeing these flying often in the skies while we were on drives and my father ID'ing them. Suffered from many of the same problems as the red tailed hawk photos, but this one at least got some of the feather colors better.
Wikipedia
Audubon
White-Breasted Nuthatch
I was sad that this guy was only around for a few seconds! I visited a local nature center's feeders where they have a little building with speckled windows to let people watch birds at their feeders. I got this from inside, but after a few bites the nuthatch finished their breakfast and flew on their way!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Belted Kingfisher
Saw this guy in a marsh swooping around. He didn't come too close, so I really felt like I was stretching my reach, but got some pictures that showed off his colors! The second one has a surprise guest!
I've only seen a handful of Kingfishers so this was an exciting encounter!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Domestic Duck
I spotted these three hanging out in a pond not far from a handful of mute swans. Unfortunately, the ducks swam right out of sight early on and this was the only shot I got.
Audubon doesn't list domestic duck as a distinct species which makes sense, as they are breeds of mallard. Wikipedia does though, so I'm cheating a bit and counting them as separate too.
Wikipedia
Eastern Towhee
This was one of the first birds I saw on this particular outing--one dashed across a meadow and into some brush. I was there for a couple of minutes trying to get a picture through the grass and twigs and left disappointed... only to encounter many more across the day! Lucky!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Golden-Crowned Kinglet
Clear enough to be identified, but not sharp in the shot. This little guy was mobile. The autofocus struggled with the small target and the amount of branches and my manual focus skills weren't up to the task when I also had to keep re-aiming and changing zoom. Still, the photo is clear enough to ID him!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Horse
Spotted grazing behind a fence near the trail, I took a couple quick pictures then went on my way. It was refreshing to take a photo of something big, near, and slow moving for a change!
Wikipedia
Northern Mockingbird
This bird was heard before being seen! The distinct call made us search the field until we spotted it hop up onto the top of a tree. You can kind of see it's beak parted mid song! I am continually impressed by the R7 + the RF100-400's reach. This photo isn't winning any awards, but it's enough to ID the bird when it was just a round orb to my naked eye.
Wikipedia
Audubon
Rock Dove
Went into the city and brought the camera specifically to get pictures of rock doves. I'm glad I did! They are perfectly content to get up close and there's so many that I had my pick of subjects! Here we have two with very different feather patterns, both of whom were picking through a local park.
The stability of a bird's head really shows in the first picture, where the head and eye are so sharp but the rest of the body (and especially its foot) still has motion blur!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Eastern Cottontail
One of the neighborhood rabbits came out in the rain and was nibbling on the front lawn! The first time I've had a chance to photograph one this spring!It's amazing what modern cameras, lenses, and post-processing can do. It was evening, raining, and still the pictures came out pretty clear! Can't wait to get a picture of this guy in good lighting to compare it with.Wikipedia
Tree Swallow
This low quality photo was taken from a moving vehicle. It was a busy road, not much space to pull over, and we weren't going to take the footpath around so I could get a shot. I'm happy enough with this since it let me see the colors clearly, which made me lean tree swallow for this ID. Hopefully another time I can go by on foot and confirm!Wikipedia
Audubon
Double-Crested Cormorant
I saw a few of these darting low across the water. Most were pretty far from me, but I think I got this ID right thanks to this relatively clear photo. We were on a short walk when I grabbed this, but maybe another day I can set up and wait for a clearer picture.Wikipedia
Audubon
Banded Woolly Bear
This guy was crossing a side walk! Picked 'em up and put 'em on the side of the path and he immediately went into the crack to hide. When I walked back by later he was gone!The RF100-400 isn't a macro lens, but this is good detail on such a little guy!Wikipedia
American Goldfinch
This pair of goldfinches was picking through the budding branches! I had a tougher time capturing the male since he was more embedded and further away, but I'm very happy with how clear the picture of the female one is!Look at that coloration, the perfect camouflage for this time of year! And they need it too, a hawk had just taken out a squirrel in this same area only minutes before!
Wikipedia
Audubon
Chipping Sparrow
Winter is thawing and the chipping sparrows are returning! Unfortunately, these pictures were through a window. It was up close and I didn't want to scare it off by opening them. But I'm sure I'll be able to grab clearer ones in the future. I quite like the cute pose of the second picture!Wikipedia
Audubon
American Mink
When I saw something brown dart along the riverline a moment I wasn't sure what it was. No one else noticed it, and a warbler was flying by overhead so I looked away and photographed the bird and when I looked back this mink was gone.An hour or so later when we walked by the area, we saw it again a bit up the path! Not long after the second photo was taken, it slid into a hole and vanished!
Wikipedia
Honey bee
A lone honey bee by the roadside clinging onto a dandelion. It was a pretty chilly day for such a little creature, but spring is here and the time of the bee is once again approaching!
Wikipedia
These are all hobby photographs taken by me, Mordio Crow!
When I'm not writing code for work, I mostly do creative writing, draw the occasional doodle, and run tabletop RPGs. Sometimes I even stream ttrpgs or video games!If any of those other things interest you, all of my links are at mordiocrow.ink!
Camera Info
These photos were all taken with a Canon R7. The lens varies, but so far it's been either the kit lens--the RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM or the RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM. Mostly it's the RF100-400, but some of the really early ones I only had the kit lens for, and sometimes Skittle is too close for the 100-400.
Inaccuracies
Did I mis-ID an animal? Politely correct me via my tumblr or email at [email protected] and I'll try to verify. Not all of my photos are great and a lot of birds can be tough to ID, so I appreciate helpful corrections.
What's the "Goal" for?
I love pokemon snap. Grew up playing it a lot as a child and the switch one was a fun recent addition! Setting goals like get N pictures and then you can think about buying yourself a new lens or piece of software is a way for me to make sure I'm actually enjoying the hobby instead of enjoying getting shiny toys.Besides, the reason I bought a camera is because I had a lot of fun on a trip with family trying to identify birds that my siblings took pictures of. Aiming my camera at an unfamiliar bird and then using the picture to ID them is a lot of fun to me! So setting goals based on birds identified makes sense!
What are Birds?
