Birds are really fun creatures to work with because no two are ever the same. They don’t look nor behave the exact same as another. At times they can be very frustrating to work with and others an absolute delight. But in order to capture the correct biology of each species, gesture is a very important element. Subtle variations in leg positions, head tilts, or body angles combined with front, side or back light can tell very different stories. When working with birds it’s almost impossible to not get shots that have one of these elements looking not as good as can be.
The three images I posted all are somewhat comical but not as biologically accurate. They don’t represent how the species lives. Are they bad images? No, they just tell a different story. Finding the humor in nature is as sought after as the portrait shot is. What is important is to note the difference in your own images so that you know which ones are best going to fit which audience.
Images Captured with Nikon D5, 600 f/4, TC-17EII, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film