Turquoise-browed Motmot Turning with Tail Fanned

The bird turns away from the camera with its wings lowered and central tail spread, revealing blue-green upperparts against the dry grass at Tárcoles River in Costa Rica. The turquoise crown stripe, blue-green wings and two racket-tipped tail feathers identify the Turquoise-browed Motmot of Costa Rica's Pacific dry country. The exposure of 1/4000 sec, f/5.6 and ISO 1000 freezes the decisive body position and separates the principal wing and tail feathers while retaining only fine traces of motion at the fastest edges; the photograph was made in natural light without flash.