Montezuma Oropendola Fanning Its Yellow Tail in Flight

A Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) crosses above a twisting canopy branch at Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica, with its wings and broad tail spread into opposing fans. Seen from below, the bird's dark chestnut body, black wings and vivid yellow outer tail feathers form a graphic pattern against the pale sky. The large tropical icterid normally flies with slow rowing wingbeats; here, a 1/4000-second shutter at f/4 and ISO 6400 isolates a single airborne phase and resolves the backlit primary and tail feathers without flash.