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Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
MaryO


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Collection: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Sigma 100-300mm F/4.0 EX IF HSM for Nikon
Location: Springfield, VA
Date: Jan 24, 2009
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/640
Galleries: Nature, Birds
Date Uploaded: Jan 25, 2009

Viewed: 326
Comments: 11
Favorites: 0

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers look remarkably alike in the bird books, and for the longest time I would look at a somewhat large Downy and wonder if it was a Hairy. Then a month or so ago I saw my first Hairy at the bird feeders and it was unmistakably much larger than all the little Downys. The bill also looks a little longer proportionally, though I could be imagining that ;-) This is a male Hairy; here's a female Downy for comparison.



I have actually seen both at one time in my yard but not when I had the camera handy with a wide enough lens to capture both.

PP - converted from RAW, cropped, cloned out bright branch, levels, white balance, color-shifted greens greener and red redder, desaturated black and white on bird, colored trees a little less green, dodged eye and head, 2nd layer (merged in multiply mode), added creative border, resized, sharpened with slight noise reduction.

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AuthorThread
01/28/2009 03:51:58 PM
Very nice image indeed.. I nver know difference either and sometimes the kid is hanging around believe they stay with the parent for quite a while..

  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2009 02:38:21 PM
This is somewhat like the British Greater Spotted Woodpecker, which is quite a shy bird, and not all that common. I have only potted one a few times, and have never got a photo, let alone a good one like this. Interestingly, the same bird is quite widespread in Germany where my brother lives, and much less shy of people.

This is a really good photo - good detail and texture on the plumage, excellent clarity, an interesting pose (clearly he has attended the Woodpecker Modelling School), and enough of the environment to provide the context, which can add much value to wildlife photographs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/28/2009 01:07:38 PM
WOW- I know the difference- the Hairy is downright HUGE- this is beautiful Mary---I'm jealous !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2009 06:17:34 PM
Cooool! What a capture! Pretty composition and colors too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2009 09:28:24 AM
lovely shot this one...

i never photographed a woodpecker...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/27/2009 12:47:04 AM
Wow, that's great. I really like the greens!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2009 09:54:53 PM
Sharpness on the subject, with good isolation and great bokeh make this a sweet shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2009 08:45:37 PM
Nicely captured Mary. Very good details and your background is again beautifully muted.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2009 08:24:12 PM
great shot Mary
and wow so crisp
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2009 08:23:39 PM
Beautiful shot, beautiful bird. I love the dof.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
01/25/2009 08:15:49 PM
Another great shot, such a pretty bird. :O)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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