Resting Red-bellied Woodpecker
by Nava Thompson
Title
Resting Red-bellied Woodpecker
Artist
Nava Thompson
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A photo taken by Nava Thompson of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. This was made on a beautiful rough bark tree limb--in the winter--in NW Arkansas.....................Adults are mainly light gray on the face and underparts; they have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings and tail. Adult males have a red cap going from the bill to the nape; females have a red patch on the nape and another above the bill. The reddish tinge on the belly that gives the bird its name is difficult to see in field identification. They are 22.85 to 26.7 cm (9.00 to 10.51 in) long, and have a wingspan of 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in).......................Red-bellied woodpeckers are noisy birds, and have many varied calls. Calls have been described as sounding like churr-churr-churr or thrraa-thrraa-thrraa with an alternating br-r-r-r-t sound. Males tend to call and drum more frequently than females, but both sexes call. Often, these woodpeckers "drum" to attract mates. They tap on aluminum roofs, metal guttering, hollow trees and even transformer boxes, in urban environments, to communicate with potential partners. Babies have a high-pitched begging call of pree-pree-pree. They will continue to give a begging call whenever they see their parents for a while after fledging......................These birds mainly search out arthropods on tree trunks. They may also catch insects in flight. They are omnivores, eating insects, fruits, nuts and seeds. Their breeding habitat is usually deciduous forests. They nest in the decayed cavities of dead trees, old stumps, or in live trees that have softer wood such as elms, maples, or willows; both sexes assist in digging nesting cavities. Areas around nest sites are marked with drilling holes to warn others away.
Uploaded
February 8th, 2014
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Viewed 452 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/23/2024 at 3:15 AM
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Comments (23)
Dawn Currie
Thank you for submitting this fine image of this identified wild bird. It is now featured on the homepage of Wild Birds Of The World - A Nature Photography Group. Please take a moment to add it to the 2020 Thanks and Features Archive discussion for additional visibility.
Anita Faye
Nava, superbly lovely capture! Featured on Poetic Poultry! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/poetic-poultry-.html
Carolyn Derstine
What a wonderful, clear bird portrait, Nava! This is but one of many great images I saw when looking over your portfolio! :)
Kathy Braud
Great capture and lovely pose! A great diagonal line with the tree and bark. Love it! L/f
Debbie Portwood
What an absolutely fantastic close up shot! He is so beautiful with the red and black and white colors and patterns! Beautiful feather and eye detail! I even love the rough bark!! f.love!!
Nava Thompson replied:
Debbie---thank you ! I am late in this reply---and did not realize it. Appreciate your generous comments and the lvf!
Tony Clark
Great image!! I like the light on his back and the sky color. Looking at one of your chickadees to sketch right now.