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Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker


Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3388 W: 343 N: 9479] (30805)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 300mm / F2.8 L USM, Digital ISO 400, 1.4 X converter
Exposure: f/4, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-25 2:35
Viewed: 282
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Thanks for the nice comments and words of my previous post.

Today’s shot is a picture of a quite rare woodpecker, The Eurasian Three-toed woodpecker.
It’s rare on TN too, I only find one picture of it
Sorry for the bad quality but I think it can be of some interest.
I only got two picture of this bird, my Canon 40d broke down and couldn’t release.
The shutter was broken and it had to send to Canon for repair.

This bird was very co-operative and let us come closer than 10m and my friend got a lot of great pictures, I was very jealous. I don’t think I ever will be this close to this very shy bird again. ;-(

It’s a migration bird, dressed almost in black/white and the male have a yellow spot on the head.

More info from Wikipedia.
The Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus, is a medium-sized woodpecker.
The adult is 21.5-24 cm in length. It is black on the head, wings and rump, and white from the throat to the belly; the flanks are white with black bars. The back is white with black bars, and the tail is black with the white outer feathers barred with black. The adult male has a yellow cap.
In North America, the Three-toed Woodpecker can be confused with the Black-backed Woodpecker, which it closely resembles. Identification is easier in Eurasia, where it is the only woodpecker with a yellow cap, the only one with three toes, and one of only two black-and-white woodpeckers that lack any red in the plumage. The Three-toed Woodpecker can be distinguished from the Black-backed Woodpecker by the ladder back.
The breeding habitat is coniferous forests across western Canada, Alaska and the midwestern United States, and across northern Eurasia from Norway to Korea. There are also populations in the Alps and the Carpathian Mountains.
Recent research suggests that the American and Eurasian forms should be split as separate species, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, P. tridactylus and American Three-toed Woodpecker, P. dorsalis.[1] The American form would then have two subspecies, P. d. fasciatus in Alaska, and the nominate form elsewhere.
Three-toed Woodpeckers nest in a cavity in a dead conifer or sometimes a live tree or pole. The pair excavates a new nest each year.
This bird is normally a permanent resident, but northern birds may move south and birds at high elevations may move to lower levels in winter.
Three-toed Woodpeckers forage on conifers in search of wood-boring beetle larvae or other insects. They may also eat fruit and tree sap.
These birds often move into areas with large numbers of insect-infested trees, often following a forest fire or flooding. In North America, this bird is likely to give way to the Black-backed Woodpecker where the two species compete for habitat.
The voice call of the Three-toed Woodpecker is a kik or chik.

Source and more info in different language here

Canon 300mm/F2.8 L, 1,4x converter, ISO 400, Raw-format, AV-mode, spot metering,
Converted in Canon DPP, Levels, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels, Smart Sharpen ,PP in PS CS4.
nglen, PeterZ, horias, ingridshaul, marianas, flashpoint, Gert-Paassen, Miss_Piggy, sandpiper2, roges, goldyrs, MMM, izler, Alex99, uleko, Noisette has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Miss_Piggy: Thanks Annaellis49 2 10-29 07:17
To nglen: Not memberellis49 1 10-25 04:41
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 34 N: 8586] (32012)
  • [2009-10-25 4:01]
  • [+]

Hi Gert. What bad luck with the camera just at this time as well. This did not stop you getting this fine close up of the Three-toed Woodpecker . A bird i had not heard of let alone seen so thanks for posting on TN. It seemed happy for you to be so close. Taken with good detail in the feathers.with natural colours. TFS.
Nick..

Ps Is your friend on TN.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2377 W: 94 N: 5465] (17432)
  • [2009-10-25 5:09]

Hello Gert,
It sure is a very interesting photo of this Tree-toed Woodpecker. I see you didn't try to use the shadow/highlight button in PS. Maybe the quality is getting a bit higher than, although I didn't find it bad at all. I like the sharpness and details, POV, composition and contrasting OOF BG.
Sorry for your camera.
TFS and regards,
Peter

Gert
Waw..I see for the first time this tree-toed woodpeckers on TN!
Congratulation MF!
Horia

Hi Gert,
Are you fishing for compliments? (Just Kidding!)

Before writing a critique I always look for photos and info on the Internet for comparison. You could make money with your photo of the The Eurasian Three-toed woodpecker. The available photos are just terrible...

The bits of bark flying - show AGAIN - how hard these little birds actually work!
I like the four feathers sticking up - is that a feature of this bird - or just happened?
You are quoting the voice call - I have never been able to make any sense of these description in Bird Books...

The little yellow wig shows up well and the white eyeliner attractive.

You are a "Natural": thanks to the layout, everything is just in the right place!
You call this a bad photo - my best photos do not compare!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday,
Warm Regards
Ingrid

Hej Gert,

Now that is a good looking little fellow!
Characteristic woodpecker profile, with the strong pointed beak...
Pin sharp details and a fine 3D feeling, and I notice how he uses the tail as support when working..!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Gert
Woody-woodpecker...show...hahahaaaaaaa!
I remember the great Walt Disney cartoon!
Congratulation!
Great capture...and rare!
Mariana

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1566] (6115)
  • [2009-10-25 10:06]

Hello Gert
Wonderful capture, not a common species for me. I saw this bird for a few times in my life.
Thanks for sharing.
Razvan

ciao Gert!
ottimo ritratto di Picoides tridactylus mostrato con ottimi dettagli in questa bella presa verticale

complimenti e buona settimana
sERGIO

Hello Gert

what a very good presentation from this bird with good pov and dof.Well done

Gert

quite rare! congrats Gert, This is a good picture , love the catch light and the uniform lighting. What's that white in the BG ( Is that a sky )! Its little bright!
TFS,
gouthamramesh.com

Hallo Gert
We have been away for 3 weeks and I missed out on some lovely images which is a pity, but this most beautiful Woodpecker with its prominent markings is a sheer delight to look at. The yellow "cap" is lovely and adds to the beauty of this striking bird. Although you mention that the quality is not the best I cannot find fault and is it really a pleasure stopping by and appreciate such a lovely image after an absence from the site. It was also great to see that you have done some postings in the time we have been gone. We saw quite a number woodpeckers during our time in the Kruger and was fortunate to capture some stunning shots of the Crested Barbet in different poses. Thanks for sharing and best regards.
Anna.
I'll be posting some great images of our Kruger National Park vacation soon

Hi Gert

Bad luck about your camera, but this is still quite a good shot of your rare woodpecker. I had a similar experience with a rare honeyeater, except my batteries went flat, so no shots and there was the bird only a few metres away. Ahh, but the shot is in my memory. Good sharpness and composition.

Chris

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 590 W: 0 N: 497] (3004)
  • [2009-10-28 6:35]

Hi Gert,

Vackra makro, klar med några mycket vackra detaljer och färger.
Excellence och beskrivningen, mina gratulationer.
En trevlig dag,
Adrian

I've always told you I know nothing about the technicalities of photography, Ellis! But yes, I do know what's beautiful...And this is really beautiful!
Two shots you say, I wonder how your other shot looks like!
Know you, it has to be awesome!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 932 W: 0 N: 1984] (8901)
  • [2009-10-28 10:03]

Hi Gert
First time I see that specie.Godd POV and excellent timing i like to see those wood chip flying around.Sharp image whit good detail.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 3 N: 30] (504)
  • [2009-10-29 2:48]

hello gert
whats a beautiful woodpecker and its great photo
i like composition, POV, BG and details
TFS
regards
izler

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3581 W: 143 N: 5669] (18529)
  • [2009-11-01 7:36]

Hi Gert.
What a funny haircut at this cute bird. Nice Y-composition of the shot and refined exposure of the image. Even dark colour tones are reproduced precisely. Details of the trunk and bird are excellent, however, I like most of all delicate, elegant BG. It is clean, smooth and very pleasant for look and performs a role of an amazing BG perfectly. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2983 W: 162 N: 911] (2687)
  • [2009-11-02 8:42]

Hello Gert,
What luck to see this beautiful Woodpecker and to capture it so well!! You can see it's busily pecking away! Fine details and colours. The white background confuses me, it surely can't be snow in May?
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3800 W: 190 N: 11298] (34839)
  • [2009-11-05 8:03]

Hej Gert,
Though it is not technically perfect, as you say, I would be very pleased to take such a shot of the the Three-toed Woodpecker.
The pose and POV are perfect and the sharpness pretty good against the very light BG.
Thanks and best wishes,
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Ulla såg en snöflinga men nu är det 7 grader och mörkt!

Hello Gert
superb capture of this Woodpecker in his usual pose on a tree stem
great details on his beautiful plumage
very good POV and nice white BG
Have a great WE
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1365 W: 56 N: 4667] (16040)
  • [2009-11-07 6:09]

Hello Gert.
Lovely portrait of this woodpecker. The exposure is just right and the details are very sharp. Great POV and composition. TFS.
Best regards Siggi

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