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Passerini's Tanager Pair-Bonding

Image # 1D2_05046

Arenal Observatory Lodge

 

Canon 600L/f4 IS with 1.4x II Teleconverter

ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250 second

Manual Exposure

Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

 

This was another highlight for me. As I mentioned, there weren't too many birds showing up at the feeders, but I spotted the female Passerini's Tanager in some bushes a fair ways off. I took a few shots of it, and then was taken by surprised as the male flew in. I 'put the pedal to the metal' so to speak, and fired off close to a dozen frames as they interacted. The male had come in with a small branch with a couple of leaves on it, and passed it off to the female. I don't know if this is a known part of a courtship ritual, but suppose that this is possible. If anybody has any more information about this behavior, please email me.