Pileated looking for ants

Image Critiques Avian Critiques
1

Pileated Woodpecker on the Ground.jpg
Pileated Woodpecker on the Ground.jpg2000×1334 340 KB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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Description

I watched out the window as a male Pileated Woodpecker checked out the downed wood near my pond. The female comes regularly to our suet feeder, but never the male! Imaging my surprise when as I sat in my blind at midafternoon, the male came through again. This time he stopped at every downed tree and cut stump. Since he wasn’t “hammering at the wood” I assume that he was looking for ants and I have two photos showing his tongue sticking out.

Specific Feedback

This view shows off his crest and red chin strap well.

Technical Details

R5, 100-500 @ 500, 1/500 s, f/10, iso 3200 (cloudy), tripod. Cropped to 60% from the bottom and right. AI noise reduction in Lightroom.

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2 Likes
2

Very cool, Mark. Getting this close a shot of a Pileated is a real treat. The detail in the head is wonderful. Some of the bird doo on the rocks tends to pull my eye as does the partial purple flower in the upper right. A wonderful opportunity and you took great advantage of it.

3

Agree with Dennis about the minor distractions - but am jealous as I never got to saw this beauty! I guess you could crop a chunk off the right for a really close-up look. Super sharp portrait.

4

Your pond is quite a magnet. I need to build one!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a close up of one of these woodpeckers. Wonderfully detailed portrait. And yes, minor distractions could be removed. I also like Mike’s suggestion of cropping from the right to give another version of an excellent portrait.

5

Great look at this beauty Mark. Fine details and head position. Good advice above. I find these guys so interesting - a treat to see especially in an image this well done.

6

Mark, this is truly an amazing image. Detail in the bird is spot on. It has the immediate recognizable look of “Woody” . The only thought for change was mentioned about the bird discharges on the rocks. But that is all minor clean up. I really like this one as presented here… :+1:

7

I like this a lot, Mark. I have only seen these in trees, so this is an unusual setting. Wonderful detail in the bird, for sure.

8

Excellent close-up look at Woody. Kind of the holy grail of woodpeckers; lucky to have one in your backyard.