Baird's Sparrow

This was only my second encounter with this species -- the first on the Arizona wintering grounds in December of 2014 -- so I was stoked to immortalize this individual as he/she belted out breeding song on the North Dakota prairie. Though the subject responded well to playback, the habitat didn't offer much in the perch department. This shrub was barely a foot tall, and I had to get really low to create separation between the bird and the background. The foliage is a bit assertive/present, but I thought it made for a really natural looking frame (versus an obvious set-up). Can't beat the full song though!

White Lake NWR, Slope County, North Dakota, 6/16/21
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/3200 at f/7.1, ISO 1000