Black is beautiful. When it comes to black in wildlife, that saying is spot-on. The American black bear (Ursus americanus) you see above was photographed at Big Bend NP, near one of the park’s busiest and most popular trails, the Lost Mine Trail. Just as we were pulling around a sharp curve, it was on the other side of the road, minding its own business.
Another roadside attraction, this moose was having dinner right by the Million Dollar Highway, between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado. According to Wikipedia, the moose (Alces alces) is the world’s tallest, largest, and heaviest “extant species of deer and the only species in the genus Alces,” falling second only to the American Bison. That should be enough reason for you to keep your distance from it!
A Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is another beauty with a distinct black-and-white face. The bill is also deep black.
A Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) dragonfly is a beauty one cannot miss. They stand out with those black wing sections and black legs. The yellow and brown body stripes indicate this is a juvenile.
One last example I want to show is the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). This butterfly is black with iridescent-blue hindwings. These butterflies are found in North America and Central America.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Bear, Big Bend NP, Butterfly, Colorado, Moose, Pipevine swallowtail, Sunday Stills, Texas, Widow Skimmer, Wildlife, and Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
Posted for Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Into the Black.
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Amy
These black diamonds are precious and very well captured in photos!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much. I appreciate your feedback.
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, you had me with the black bear and then I saw the fantastic moose image! These are all amazing wildlife photos.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Beth. Bears are becoming very common at Big Bend NP.
Vicki
Great series of images.
I’m really impressed you got so close to a moose. They’re enormous from what I’ve read and seen in photos. I wouldn’t like to be confronted by one when out hiking.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Vicki. I was actually not very close. I used the super-zoom on the Nikon P950 to get up close. I keep my distance from wildlife.
Toonsarah
All these animal portraits are beautiful but I have to highlight the bear, heron and butterfly in particular!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Sarah.
solaner
Very nice 👍
The swimming moose is absolutely gorgeous.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, André. We watched that moose for some time from the edge of the road. It was right by the highway.
philosophy through photography
Absolutely stunning! 🖤 Each shot captures the wild’s mysterious elegance perfectly.
Nature really knows how to flaunt black in all its glory!
You brought this to life, Egidio.
Egidio Leitao
You know how to motivate and elevate my day. Thank you.
philosophy through photography
Happy to hear that, Egidio! 😊
Glad it brightened your day.
Terri Webster Schrandt
Whoa, amazing shots of these nature’s beauties, Egidio! Great shot of the moose! Love the skimmer!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Terri.
shoreacres
Black bears increasingly are being spotted in east Texas, as well. The consensus is that young bears are wandering in from Louisiana.
Egidio Leitao
That makes more sense for me than in the Chihuahuan Desert around Big Bend.