{"id":24569,"date":"2015-05-26T04:26:42","date_gmt":"2015-05-26T10:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=24569"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T19:42:00","slug":"western-kingbirds-in-all-kinds-of-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/05\/26\/western-kingbirds-in-all-kinds-of-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Western Kingbirds in All Kinds of Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"StormyStormy sky over Layton – May 25, 2015 – HTC One M8 cell phone image
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I think I am a little addicted to bird photography. Why else would I head out in all kinds of weather from freezing to scorching, from fog to snow to rain and anything between bad light to excellent light?<\/p>\n

Some might say I am obsessed and perhaps I am. There are days when I feel like I chase the light or just make do with what ever light I have.<\/p>\n

Yesterday was one of those days where I saw dark foreboding clouds before even arriving on Antelope Island<\/span><\/a>, felt the rain on my skin and then eventually the clouds started to dissipate and the sun peeked out and lit up the views and my subjects.<\/p>\n

These Western Kingbird images were all taken yesterday in various lighting.\u00a0 The good, bad and maybe the ugly but I made do with the light I had.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Kingbird under stormy skies\u00a0 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/500, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m really enjoying the high ISO capabilities of the Nikon D810 because I can crank the ISO up and as long as I get my exposure right the noise is minimal if present at all.<\/p>\n

I really needed the higher ISO yesterday morning when the sky was forbidding and gray as I photographed this Western Kingbird perched on a sagebrush with its back to me.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Kingbird wing lift in low light\u00a0 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

And again later when this kingbird decided to lift its wings after spending time preening itself on a dead greasewood branch.<\/p>\n

The wing lift happened very quickly so I needed the shutter speed I had to capture it all. I have a great series of this bird lifting its wings but liked this one with the wings nearly fully extended.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Kingbird on Antelope Island under gray skies\u00a0 – Nikon D810, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There were at least four different kingbirds in the area and they were moving about quite often so I kept my ISO high to keep my shutter speed high enough to capture the action.<\/p>\n

This kingbird spit up a pellet while I photographed it and I was able to capture that behavior but I’ll post that image on another date.<\/p>\n

\"WesternWestern Kingbird as the sky begins to lighten\u00a0 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the sky began to lighten and I used a lower ISO to capture as much fine detail as possible. I just love the creamy yellows of kingbirds against their soft gray plumage and the soft light I had when I took this image showed it off well.<\/p>\n

\"AntelopeAntelope Island Visitor Center under clearing skies – May 25, 2015 – HTC One M8 cell phone image<\/span><\/p>\n

There were still some storm clouds to the southeast when I took this image of the Antelope Island Visitors Center but at least I could see blue sky through the fluffy clouds!<\/p>\n

\"SingingSinging Western Kingbird in good light\u00a0 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

By the third or fourth visit to the area where the Western Kingbirds<\/span><\/a> were located the sun was shining and the light was great. I felt like singing along with the kingbird to celebrate the clearing sky.<\/p>\n

So, there you have it, Western Kingbird images in all kinds of light.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good. Really good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Western Kingbird photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By the third or fourth visit to the area where the Western Kingbirds were located the sun was shining and the light was great. I felt like singing along with the kingbird to celebrate the clearing sky. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":163114,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,1022,26,534],"tags":[4004,2519,11480,4021,3808,4884,3791,3772,4204,156,4104,2817,4057,609,4183,298,4411],"class_list":["post-24569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-utah","category-western-kingbirds","tag-adult","tag-artemisia-tridentata","tag-big-sagebrush","tag-bird-photography","tag-flycatcher","tag-flycatchers","tag-kingbird","tag-kingbirds","tag-light","tag-low-light-2","tag-perched","tag-sage","tag-sagebrush","tag-stormy-skies","tag-tyrannus-verticalis","tag-tyrant-flycatchers-2","tag-western-kingbird"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-wing-lift-mia-mcpherson-5044.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-6oh","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24963,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/06\/01\/western-kingbirds-on-the-wing\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":0},"title":"Western Kingbirds On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I had fun photographing Western Kingbirds again yesterday on Antelope Island State Park and hours later I was still hearing their calls in my mind.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Kingbird on the wing, in flight from one perch to another, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-8052.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-8052.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-8052.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-lift-off-mia-mcpherson-8052.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15568,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/08\/06\/western-kingbird-nesting-failure\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":1},"title":"Western Kingbird nesting failure","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In June I published several posts about a pair of Western Kingbirds nesting on Antelope Island State park but unfortunately that nesting attempt failed.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Perched Western Kingbird, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/western-kingbird-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-3594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/western-kingbird-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-3594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/western-kingbird-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-3594.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/western-kingbird-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-3594.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113327,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/08\/my-first-of-year-western-kingbird-images\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":2},"title":"My First Of Year Western Kingbird Images","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On my last trip to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I was tickled to take my first of year Western Kingbird photos when I was heading back to the interstate.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"First of year Western Kingbird on a barb wire fence, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/western-kingbird-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-2541.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/western-kingbird-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-2541.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/western-kingbird-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-2541.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/western-kingbird-adult-spring-mia-mcpherson-2541.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":128683,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/23\/spring-eastern-kingbird-photos-from-tishomingo-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":3},"title":"Spring Eastern Kingbird Photos From Tishomingo NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Since my arrival in Oklahoma, I've had fun taking Eastern Kingbird photos at the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge. I've seen dozens of these kingbirds there.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Eastern Kingbird perched in a mulberry, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/eastern-kingbird-tishomingo-nwr-mia-mcpherson-0547.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51727,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/04\/20\/our-western-kingbirds-have-returned-to-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":4},"title":"Our Western Kingbirds Have Returned To Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I did see a Western Kingbird two days ago but the only photos I have of that bird were taken on a barbed wire fence and I have more of those type of images than I know what to do with and nothing about those images were appealing, unique or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Kingbird adult on nest, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-nest-mia-mcpherson-2271.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-nest-mia-mcpherson-2271.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-nest-mia-mcpherson-2271.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-nest-mia-mcpherson-2271.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15193,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/06\/12\/portrait-of-a-male-long-billed-curlew-and-a-western-kingbird-display\/","url_meta":{"origin":24569,"position":5},"title":"Portrait Of A Male Long-billed Curlew And A Western Kingbird Display","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I had Western Kingbirds and Long-billed Curlews in my viewfinder on Antelope Island State Park.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Western Kingbird courtship display, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-mia-mcpherson-2776.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-mia-mcpherson-2776.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-mia-mcpherson-2776.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/western-kingbird-adult-mia-mcpherson-2776.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24569"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173934,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24569\/revisions\/173934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/163114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}