Redheads Have More Fun
by Nava Thompson
Title
Redheads Have More Fun
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of a Redheaded Woodpecker--sitting in a Bradford Pear tree in NW Arkansas........................................Adults are strikingly tri-colored, with a black back and tail and a red head and neck. Their underparts are mainly white. The wings are black with white secondary remiges. Adult males and females are identical in plumage.[4] Juveniles have very similar markings, but have an all grey head.[4] Non-birders may often mistakenly identify Red-bellied Woodpeckers as Red-headeds, whose range overlaps somewhat with that of the Red-headed woodpecker. While red-bellied woodpeckers have some bright red on the backs of their necks and heads, red-headed woodpeckers have a much deeper red that covers their entire heads and necks, as well as a dramatically different overall plumage pattern...........................................These are mid-sized woodpeckers. Both sexes measure from 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in) in length, with a wingspan of 42.5 cm (16.7 in).[5][6] They weigh from 56 to 97 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz) with an average of 76 g (2.7 oz).[7] Each wing measures 12.7�15 cm (5.0�5.9 in), the tail measures 6.6�8.5 cm (2.6�3.3 in), the bill measures 2.1�3 cm (0.83�1.2 in) and the tarsus measures 1.9�2.5 cm (0.75�0.98 in).[8] The maximum longevity in the wild is 9.9 years...................................They give a tchur-tchur call or drum on territory.................................These birds fly to catch insects in the air or on the ground, forage on trees or gather and store nuts. They are omnivorous, eating insects, seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally even the eggs of other birds.[4] About two thirds of their diet is made up of plants.[4] They nest in a cavity in a dead tree, utility pole, or a dead part of a tree that is between 8 and 80 feet (2.5 to 25 m) above the ground.[4] They lay four to seven eggs in early May which are incubated for two weeks.[4] Two broods can be raised in a single nesting season.[4] Northern birds migrate to the southern parts of the range, with most having arrived on the breeding range by late April, and having left for winter quarters by late October;[9][10] southern birds are often permanent residents.................................Conservation[edit source | editbeta]The Red-headed Woodpecker is a once common but declining bird species found in southern Canada and east-central United States. Consistent long-term population declines have resulted in Red-headed Woodpecker�s threatened status in Canada and several states in the US. This has led to an immediate need for conservation, which, so far, has been the focus of limited studies. Throughout most of its range it inhabits areas that have been heavily altered by humans. Factors suggested for Red-headed Woodpecker declines include: loss of overall habitat and, within habitats, standing dead wood required for nest sites,[11] limitations of food supply,[12] and possible nest-site competition with other cavity nesters such as European Starlings or Red-bellied Woodpeckers.[13][14] Unfortunately few of these factors have been substantiated....................................Of the 600 Canadian Important Bird Areas only seven report the Red-headed Woodpecker in their area: Cabot Head, Ontario on the Georgian Bay side of the tip of Bruce Peninsula; Carden Plain, Ontario east of Lake Simcoe; Long Point Peninsula and Marshes, Ontario along Lake Erie near London, Ontario; Point Abino, Ontario on Lake Erie near Niagara Falls; Port Franks Forested Dunes, Ontario northeast of Sarnia on Lake Huron; Kinosota/Leifur, Manitoba at the northwest side of Lake Manitoba south of the Narrows and east of Riding Mountain National Park; and along South Saskatchewan River from Empress, Alberta to Lancer Ferry in Saskatchewan.....................
Uploaded
August 26th, 2013
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Viewed 538 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/27/2024 at 5:44 AM
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Comments (47)
Don Columbus
Congratulations Nava, your work is Featured in "Birds In Focus" I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
Don Columbus
Congratulations Nava, your work is Featured in "A Birding Group - Wings" I invite you to place it in the group's "2017 Featured Image Archive" Discussion!! L/Tweet
William Tasker
Maybe, but I sure have fun looking at your spectacular photography! Your beautiful image has been featured by Wild Birds Of The World L/F
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Anita Faye
Nava, lovely treatment, beautiful capture! Featured on Poetic Poultry! http://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
Jim McCain
Nava Jo, all your photos are marvelous but had to comment on this for now. Great shot of a pretty elusive species plus the title is a hoot ! :) F/L
Nava Thompson replied:
Jim---I agree---had not seen one in years--this was a rare shot for me--at a close range. Thank you!
Mother Nature
What a treat to see this! We haven't had a Red-headed Woodpecker here in over 45 years! Beautiful and a V/F:>)
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you! I remembered seeing one--and drawing and coloring one when I was about 5 years old. Never saw one again until about two years ago at a long distance--and then--this one came into my yard! :) Thank you for the f/v
Will Borden
Nava~~an incredibly beautiful woodpecker photo! Wonderful imagery!!! F&V!
Nava Thompson replied:
Will---thank you very much for the great comments! We do not get this one very often. Thank you for the f/v :)
Hanne Lore Koehler
FANTASTIC capture, dear Nava!!! Beautiful light and focus! Love your cation, too! V/F
Nava Thompson replied:
Hanne--thank you---I guess that leaves us out--I don't think either one of us have red hair---but we are still having fun anyway. :) Appreciate you stopping by and the f/v!
Meryl Goudey
Humorous title for such a pretty creature! Looks gift wrapped!!v/f
Nava Thompson replied:
Thank you Meryl---you always have something cute to say :) thanks for the f/v