Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Rarities

For most birders there is nothing that gets the blood pumping like a chance to see a rare or out-of-place bird. Word of such rarities travels quickly among birders, and the internet has been a major step forward in the sharing of such information.

With any report of a rarity, there is always a chance that the identification may be wrong. It is always desirable to document any suspected rarity, and quality photos have replaced the collection of the actual specimen in almost all cases. Photos of rarities are judged by different criteria than are "art' photos, where the primary intent is to produce pretty "eye candy." Photos of rarities are judged primarily on their information content, and only secondarily on their aesthetics. Field marks that allow the viewer to separate the identification of similar species are far more important that overall sharpness, freedom from grain, or catchlights in the eye.

I photograph rarities whenever possible. But if dragging along 20 pounds of camera gear is likely to lower my chances of seeing such a bird, I'll leave the camera behind until after I've seen the bird.

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Arizona Rarities

Black-legged Kittiwake
Black Rosy-Finch
Buff-breasted Sandpiper 1
Buff-breasted Sandpiper 2

Eared Quetzal
Elegant Tern
Eurasian Wigeon 7
Eurasian Wigeon 9

Northern Parula 1
Northern Parula 2
Northern Saw-whet Owl 1
Northern Saw-whet Owl 5

Pomarine Jaeger

Red-faced Warbler
Rufous-backed Robin 1
Rufous-backed Robin 3
Rufous-backed Robin 4
Rufous-backed Robin 5

Wood Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-billed Loon 1
Yellow-billed Loon 2
Yellow-billed Loon 3
Yellow-billed Loon 4
Yellow-billed Loon 5
Yellow-billed Loon 6
Yellow-billed Loon 7
Yellow-billed Loon 8

New Jersey Rarities

Clay-colored Sparrow

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Ruff 1
Ruff 2

Northern Wheatear

New Mexico Rarities

Golden-crowned Sparrow

New York Rarities

Great Gray Owl

Texas Rarities

Hybrid Yellowthroat 1
Hybrid Yellowthroat 2
Hybrid Yellowthroat 3