Golden Crowned Sparrow Eating a Bitter Cherry

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In the early part of January pickings must be a little thin for Sparrows.  This one has resorted to a Bitter Cherry for lunch. The bird only pecked on the berry a little bit at a time, taking long pauses to look carefully for dangers such as a photographer with a very long lens. The fruit must have been long past ripe although repeated freezing sweetens it. This is a female Golden Crowned Sparrow in her winter plumage.

The camera recorded the following information in the original image file:

Nikon D1X
   10/01/2003 12:08:01.6 PM
   Color
Data Format:         RAW (12-bit)
Compression:         None
Image Size:          Large (3008 x 1960)
Lens:                80-400mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length:        340mm
Exposure Mode:       Aperture Priority
Metering Mode:       Multi-Pattern
   1/2000 sec - f/9
Exposure Comp.:      -1 1/3 EV
Exposure Difference: 0 EV
Flash Sync Mode:     Not Attached
Sensitivity:         ISO 320
Color Mode:          Mode II (Adobe RGB)
Hue Adjustment:      3
White Balance:       Direct sunlight
Tone Comp:           Less Contrast
Sharpening:          None