John Avise has a non-faux-duck submission today, but there’s a theme. His IDs and text are indented, and click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Black-and-White Birds in Color
Most birds have superb color vision, so perhaps it is not too surprising that evolution under sexual selection has imbued various species with a rainbow of bright plumages. Nevertheless, I think that some of the most strikingly beautiful (or at least most striking) avian species are those with plumages patterned solely in black and white, sometimes also with shades of grey. To see what I mean, check out these color photographs of a diverse array of black-and-white birds from around the world. Essentially the only colors in these pictures come from the backgrounds.
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans (California):
Clark’s Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (California):
Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (Michigan):
Downy Woodpecker female, Picoides pubescens (Michigan):
Black-and-White Warbler, Mniotilta varia (California):
Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (California):
Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia (Colorado):
Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica (Norway):
Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis (Finland):
White Wagtail, Motacilla aloba (Norway):
Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibican (Australia):
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys (Australia):
Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (South Africa):
Blacksmith Lapwing, Vanellus armatus (South Africa):
Pied Crow, Corvus albus (South Africa):
Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae (Antarctica):
Lovely pictures. And then there are the birds that are only black or white.
Wonderful photos as always – and I love the way John always manages to find an overarching theme.
Beautiful pictures. I must say, “shrike” has always been one of my favorite words – it sounds like something fierce and fast and dangerous. I’ve never seen a picture of a shrike before, though, and it’s really quite beautiful in its minimalist way. And I guess, in their bailiwick, they ARE fierce and fast and dangerous.
Very nice John! And a nice travelogue! 🙂
Fascinating! Excellent photography.
Natural beautiful colors. This is indeed a reminder that God who had created everything is master piece genius
You get one chance to convince us that these birds were created by God instead of being products of evolution. If you fail, you’re banned.
🙂
Good one! Tell us another! 😀
Does god have eyes??? What colour? Black & white? 🤣
Absolutely gorgeous photos–and I love the black/white theme, also the fact that the birds are from around the world.
Interesting that some birds are B&W like old movies, and others are dressed up like carnival lights. 😕
My favourite would be the Great Northern Diver… if anyone has pictures I would love to see them here!
For photos of this species, see the WEIT post for the Common Loon (also known as the Great Northern Diver). It was our “Faux Duck o’ the Week” for December 20, 2020.
Speaking of poetry (above), and of Australian magpies, I give you NZ poet Denis Glover’s “The Magpies””:
When Tom and Elizabeth took the farm
The bracken made their bed
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Tom’s hand was strong to the plough
and Elizabeth’s lips were red
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Year in year out they worked
while the pines grew overhead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
But all the beautiful crops soon went
to the mortgage man instead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Elizabeth is dead now (it’s long ago)
Old Tom’s gone light in the head
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
The farm’s still there. Mortgage corporations
couldn’t give it away
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies say.
I LOVE this poem– puts life and all human endeavors in perspective.
Great set of photos! I have only seen three of them in my area. It’s nice to see birds from other parts of the world.
Glad you liked it, John. Love your photos.
Nice set. I prefer to think of them as duotone.
Any chance some of them are differentially reflecting UV light, which at least some birds can perceive?