Pecking Order

[churly]

Something quite different from all of the great landscapes we have been seeing.
 
I've been watching juncos engage in dominance skirmishes which generally last less than a half of a second and don't seem to result in any damage.  These were all taken at ISO 3200 in low light at 1/3000 which isn't actually fast enough so they have some technical issues but they are interesting records of what is going on during these short interactions.
Chuck

[Bob_B]

Nice. The second one should be called "Ninja Juncos"  .

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Great set, Chuck.
The first one says it all, IMHO.

Eric

[Paulo Bizarro]

Good series.

[SanderKikkert]

Good stuff, I think the moments caught mitigate the importance of any technical aspects being perhaps a little less than optimal. I love this sort of photography, see this behaviour all the time in our garden too, with doves, sparrows and especialy the starlings.

Best Regards, Sander

[sdwilsonsct]

Great set, Chuck.
The first one says it all, IMHO.

Yes, good catch.

[thierrylegros396]

Great set, Chuck.
The first one says it all, IMHO.

Eric

+1

Clearly the best for me.

Thierry

[mseawell]

Can't we all just get along?  Nice captures!

Mark

[Rajan Parrikar]

Echoing others - first one is the best.

[churly]

Thanks everyone for your comments.  I favor the first as well.  I was at the edge of my ability and my equipment's capability on these but it fun to try to anticipate the action.  Despite the behavior that I highlighted, I find these little snow birds delightful.  They thrive in a heavy snow storms and I've seen them rolling in the wind across a snow drift only to stand up again and start feeding without a pause.  To hold one in your hand during a rescue from the living room or of a new fledgling from a window well is for me a peak experience.
Chuck

[polaris-14]

Beautiful series! I really like #2, but I can't help but bothered by the softness (focus?) in that picture. So, it has to be #1.  But I hear you, these are beautiful images on their own rights.