Barn Swallow

Incoming Lunch (Birds in B&W)

There were three recently fledged Barn Swallows on a branch extending from the shore to slightly over the water. There were numerous begging sounds drawing our attention to them. As we watched, an adult repeatedly came in to feed the youngster it thought was the hungriest.

The removal of the color significantly helps this photo. In the color version, the details of the breast feathers seen through the wings are not noticeable. Instead, the breast feathers become blended in behind the slightly fanned brownish primaries in the foreground. The change to black and white allows the breast feathers to be more obvious.

The outline of the youngster’s wings is more evident as well as the feathers on its back and throat. The other two siblings off to the left and slightly out of focus blend in more in this photo leaving the point of action the major focal point.

Eyeshine is visible in the two interacting birds. The adult has food in its mouth.