Adult Black-billed Magpie close upAdult Black-billed Magpie close up – Nikon D810, f16, 1/160, ISO 800, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It isn’t often that I am able to be so close to a Black-billed Magpie as I was yesterday morning on Antelope Island State Park but when I am that close I will take advantage of the situation. I only have a few portraits of an adult Black-billed Magpie and yesterday I was able to add several of them to my portfolio.

Some people find Black-billed Magpies to be nothing more than pests and annoyances. Not me, I think all members of the corvid family are fascinating, intelligent, and fun to observe and photograph.

Portrait of an adult Black-billed MagpiePortrait of an adult Black-billed Magpie – Nikon D810, f16, 1/80, ISO 320, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This magpie was so close I felt I needed as much depth of field as possible and since the magpie was being cooperative I experimented with my ISO and aperture to get the sharpest images I could with as much detail as possible.

I will say that I don’t like passing up opportunities to take portraits of any bird or animal when I have the chance because portraits give us a chance to view the eyes closer and see more facial details than we can with full body images.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Black-billed Magpie photos plus facts and information about this species.