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Downy Woodpecker


Downy Woodpecker
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-01-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/125 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-12-04 8:35
Viewed: 1079
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Back in January, in the garden, a Downy Woodpecker.
(Picoides pubescens, 16 cm)

From: www.birds.cornell.edu

The smallest and most common American woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker is found throughout most of North America from Alaska to Florida. It lives in a variety of habitats from wilderness forests to urban backyards, and comes readily to bird feeders.
Description
Small woodpecker.
Black and white plumage.
Plain white back.
Small, pointed bill.
Size: 14-17 cm (6-7 in)
Wingspan: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)
Weight: 21-28 g (0.74-0.99 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male with red patch on back of head, female with black patch.
Sound
Call note a sharp "pik." Also a harsh rattle or whinny.
Conservation Status
Widespread and abundant. May be slightly increasing in some areas.
Other Names
Pic mineur (French)
Cool Facts
The Downy Woodpecker is a frequent member of mixed species flocks in winter. The woodpecker is less vigilant looking for predators and more successful at foraging when in such a flock. It will readily join chickadees or other birds mobbing a predator, but it remains quiet and does not actually join in the mobbing.
Male and female Downy Woodpeckers may stay in the same areas in winter, but they divide up where they look for food. The male feeds more on small branches and weed stems, and the female feeds more on large branches and the trunks of trees. Males appear to keep the females from foraging in the more productive spots. When the male is removed from a woodlot, the female shifts her foraging to the smaller branches.
The Downy Woodpecker uses sources of food that larger woodpeckers cannot, such as the insect fauna of weed stems. It will cling to goldenrod galls to extract the gall fly larvae. The woodpecker prefers larger galls, and uses the exit tube constructed by the larva to extract it.
The Downy Woodpecker varies gradually across its range. Larger birds are found in the north and at higher elevations, while smaller birds live in the south and at lower elevations. Western woodpeckers tend to have less white in the wings and less black on the outer tail feathers.
eqshannon, siggi, CeltickRanger, jaycee, crs, Jamesp, cataclysta, ferranjlloret, techranger, angela926, eng55, pierrefonds, loot, meyerd, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: Never too late!EOSF1 1 05-05 12:45
To marmottelolo: 50DEOSF1 1 01-07 13:55
To marmottelolo: 50DEOSF1 1 01-07 13:55
To PeterZ: Thanks Peter!EOSF1 1 01-07 12:43
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1399 W: 3 N: 30] (504)
  • [2008-12-04 8:40]

merhaba mario
wonderful capture of this cute woodpecker
POV, BG, DOF, colours, sharpness and details are great
TFS
regards
izler

Hello neighbour Mario,
I'm glad to be your neighbour on this special day for me. You were one of the photographers who was a great example for me during the last two years. I've learned a lot from you. Thank you.
This is such an example of photo. Excellent in all aspects. Very beautiful!!
Kind regards,
Peter

Before reading I was going to ask about the red patch...I can see it but barely and wondered if it meant something, which is does...Another fine image Mario...digging into the archives eh? No Sorrels for this time of year:-)?
Bob

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2008-12-04 9:07]

Hello Mario,
Great close up, very good sharpness and excellent shallow depth of field, great colors and details.
Best regards,
Siggi

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3210)
  • [2008-12-04 9:24]

Merhaba Mario,
Harika bir kare sunmuşsun bu akşam.Artalan ve ve detaylar enfes. Eline sağlık.

Hüseyin

Olá Mario

Uma bonita imagem...lindo pássaro que parece pousar para você. Belas cores, textura e composição.
Parabéns pelo registro.
GA
Vera

bonjour mario
toujours aussi bon!
j'espere bien avoir un jour la chance de pouvoir attirer un pic au jardin.
avez vous essayé le 50D?
laurent

salut Mario

belle image du Pic Mineur, avec un excellent POV et cadrage,
excellente netteté et détails du plumage de l'oiseau et de la branche,
et pour le background, tu es passé maître, TFS

Asbed

Hi Mario, fantastic bird in a wonderful diagonal composition, splendid light and beautiful colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, lovely blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-12-04 12:51]

Hi Mario,

This Downy Woodpecker is marvelous! I love the pose and the expression on his face. The blacks and whites are just perfect. I am very envious. I've been teased by a young Northern Flicker for the last two weeks. He flys up on the roof and whistles, then flys to the oak tree and whistles, and as soon as I am ready to shoot a picture he whistles and flies away. Happens every single morning. Grrrrr

Jane

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2008-12-04 21:34]

Hello Mario,

This bird is shown in a very fine manner in your photo. I like the good light you have used showing well plumage pattern and colors. In the same time the bird stays nicely against the well lit background. Fine details can be seen also on the perch beneath the bird. All together makes the photo look absolutely natural.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-12-04 23:38]

Hello Mario

Great shot - a lovely pov - plus great detail and colours.

JAmes

Hi Mario
Another cute woodpecker in your gallery. I like yellow-pink-golden background ;-) Your photo is nicely composed with great contast and perfect sharpness
TFS
Krzysztof

Hello Mario,
interesting species, good composition and POV
Salut.

I love the woodpeckers and this is a very nice capture of one of the same. Good composition and detail. TFS Mario... :)

Larry

Hello Mario,
Great capture, excellent sharpness and depth of
field, fantastic details, lovely light and beautiful
colors.
TFS
Angela

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-12-05 22:07]

Hello Mario, Well shot with superb focus. Fine sharpness and lovely composition. TFS Ganesh

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-12-06 13:50]

Hi Mario,
a great photo of this Downy Woodpecker.
Very good detail in the feathers.
Excellent composition.

Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 545 W: 0 N: 735] (3213)
  • [2008-12-07 3:11]

Hi Mario
very nice light and colours and great focus and details.
well done.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1138 W: 32 N: 1161] (3574)
  • [2008-12-11 2:25]

Hi Mario,
Very nice capture of this woodpecker.POV,exposure,details on plumage and composition are wonderful.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

Hello Mario,
Beautiful capture & sharpness of this unique bird. I like it's moustache. TFS.
Regards-Subhash

Bonjour Mario,

Ce pic mineur sur la branche semble être figé sur place. La prise de vue permet d'observer les détails et les couleurs des plumes de l'oiseau. L'image est claire et nette. La lumière a un bel effet sur les couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5451 W: 594 N: 3650] (10031)
  • [2008-12-25 21:48]
  • [+]

Hi Mario

A stunning capture of this little Downy Woodpecker. I just love the complimentary BG and the colours and contrasts are just great. The sharp details and excellent lighting control ensured this image is a pleasure to behold.

Well done MF and TFS.
Regards
Loot

PS. I am rather pushed for time this year so please pardon me for my short comment. It is more important that I want to thank you for the wonderful friendship you extended to me in the past. Also, I want to wish you and your loved ones a joyous Christmas and a wonderful New Year. May this Christ-fest and the imminent 2009 bring you everything that is beautiful and admirable, provide all your needs with blissful abundance, present you with that which is edifying and inspiring, grant you blessed peace and harmony, and bestow upon you a myriad of worthwhile pleasures and breathtaking moments with close friends and dear family.

Bonjour.
Trés belle image.
Mes meilleurs voeux.
Bonne année.
antonio.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2009-01-02 10:05]

Hello Mario , Great capture , perfect ,And A Very Good 2009 for you and the famely , Greetings Teunie .

Hi Mario,

a very good portrait of a small member of the woodpecker guild. The composition is as usual with you quite striking. Great job, Mario.

M best regards
Dietrich

Hello Mario!
Beautiful capture of this woodpecker. I like pose and delicate BG. Good contrast and details too :)
Greetings and all the best in 2009!
Radomir

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