The Pileated Woodpecker has been one of the most difficult birds for me to get a good close photo of. I am getting closer as the years go by.
Here is one I photographed last year: Pileated Woodpecker
Getting Closer To The Pileated Woodpecker
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Steve,
I agree about the difficulty in getting close to Pileated Woodpeckers, they have a habit of going around to the other side of the tree trunk when people are near. Love how you got this one out in the open. I miss hearing them, we don’t have Pileated Woodpeckers here.
Excellent shot! And I agree 100% on the difficulty. Being big birds, I think Pileateds prefer big trees, and they prefer to stay way up high in them. On the few occasions I’ve managed to get close enough for a shot, I’ve ended up with a nice photo of a woodpecker fanny and little else.
Would you mind telling us if you attracted this one with something, or was it just a lucky day?
Hey Ken, It was just a lucky day. I was photographing other birds in a friends yard and this one showed up at a distance but never came near the feeders. I see or hear them all the time but like Mia stated in her comment, they know how to hide by moving around a tree. This one above seems to stay in this certain area so maybe I will be able to see if it nest this spring. Fingers crossed.
Good capture. They are such unique looking birds.
Agree. Are you physically getting closer; or using a lens to draw the bird in?
I am using a 500 mm lens on this photo but I want to get physically closer with out cropping so much.
What a pretty bird! Nice photo Steve.
Beautiful shot Steve..light in the eye
When we lived in the country in Eureka Springs, Ar. we had a resident Pileated and we never ceased to be thrilled when it would wing it’s swooping way across our yard onto a huge pine tree. Never even tried to photo capture it (am a terrible photographer as you well know) but photo memory lives on still 25 yrs later. Thanks for the great capture!
Here’s my smile for the day! Thanks!
Aahhh. . . your photo is the one I’ve been trying to get for myself for several years now. There are a number of pileated woodpeckers around me and someday . . .
Great image!
I find the speed I’m improving with my bird photography varies a lot by species.
Cheers,
Glen.