Sometimes it is one shot, Sometimes it is the sequence

Nikon D5500, with 70-300 DX series lens,
ISO 1600, F/6.3 1/500 

This is one of 19 images, shot in a matter of seconds, from this bird at rest and perched, to flying, landing and returning to rest.  If I had limited myself to one or two images, I would have missed the feathers standing up on top of her/his head.  Probably the best of the blast.  I hear from of the photo philosophers berating the machine gunning of images, and at times it is a little silly.  But for a moving changing subject, it can make the difference between a good image, and just another image.  This is also an example of how modern automatic settings make a difference.  At times like this you don't have time to think about shutter speed, aperture, or focus, you have to just push the shutter, and doing this results in images that would likely get away, if you paused to make the fine adjustments.  Digital makes it practical to shoot 19 images of one bird.  With film that would have been a major commitment of resources, halfway to needing to reload.