Feb 19, 2021 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2021, Downy Woodpecker, In Search of Snowbirds, Nikon 1 V3
Northern Illinois | 1/27/2020 11:15 am Local Time | Light Snow 30°F Light Winds
In Search of Snowbirds | Female Downy Woodpecker The Downy Woodpecker is smallest woodpecker in North America. These small birds dart around quickly. They don’t sit still for very long. This images shows their relative size against the tree.
The Back Story This image was a simple click along my usual trail through the wood. Just before a crossing over a small stream, this woodpecker was going up a tree truck. Always keep the camera ready to make that simple click.
Quick Facts…
| Female Downy Woodpecker … checkered black-and-white, head striped. Males red patch on of head.
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| Habitat | Forests, woodlots, willows, river groves, orchards, shade trees, etc. favors deciduous trees. |
| Range | Year around in Northern Illinois |
| Nest | Nest is a cavity in dead limb or dead tree. |
| Diet | Mostly insects. Beetles, ants, caterpillars, etc. Also eats seeds and berries. Seeds at bird feeders. |
| Behavior | Forages on trunks and major limbs of trees as well as minor branches and twigs. |
| Size | Length: 5.5-6.7 in | Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz | Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in |
Feb 5, 2020 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Backyard Winter Birds, Daily Image 2020, Downy Woodpecker, Nikon 1 V3
Backyard Winter Birds | Female Downy Woodpecker The Downy Woodpecker is really cute as they rapidly move up and down a tree. Capturing a close up becomes really difficult even with a long lens. Like many species of woodpecker, they have a rise and fall flight style. In the warmer months, they are really noisy with their shrill call and tree pecking. For the whole story with all images, see Backyard Winter Birds | a 7 Image Story.
Feb 2, 2020 | 7 Image Stories, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Backyard Winter Birds, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Nature, Nikon 1 V3, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Robins, Starling
Backyard Winter Birds | a 7 Image Story Each winter the snow provides contrast and background for backyard birds. Even though the same bird species tend to feed at the backyard bird feeder each winter, it’s still a challenge to get nice images. The Nikon 1 V3 with the AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR lens attached via the FT-1 Adapter really helps get close-ups with it’s 2.7 crop factor. My Nikon 1 V3 for Birds | a 7 Image Story post goes into some depth on using the Nikon 1 V3 for bird photography.
Robin Enjoying Snowfall Some Robins are hardy birds. They were my mom’s favorite bird. She called them Little Robin Red Breasts. She always thought spring would soon be upon us, if she saw a Robin in late winter. In those days, we did not see Robins stay all winter like we do now.
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker Seems like the red-bellied woodpecker should be called a red-headed woodpecker. Notice the rose coloring on a red-bellied woodpecker’s breast. When this species was first named, the red-headed woodpecker name was already used to name a different bird. The flighty Red-bellied Woodpecker brings bright colors and exciting action to bird feeders. Around here, only one bird, the Blue Jay, will chase the it from the feeder. They are attracted to bird feeders, near wooded areas, containing a bird mix including suet or sunflower seeds.
European Starling Eating Snow The Common Starling’s winter coat displays many colors as the winter light shines through it. Their feathers make a winter day more colorful. They are loud, boisterous, loud birds that travel large flocks.
Female Downy Woodpecker The Downy Woodpecker is really cute as they rapidly move up and down a tree. Capturing a close up becomes really difficult even with a long lens. Like many species of woodpecker, they have a rise and fall flight style. In the warmer months, they are really noisy with their shrill call and tree pecking.
Male Dark-eyed Junco Dark Eyed Juncos are common around here. They seem to like the nearby woodland areas as well as the bird feeder. Mostly, they feed on the ground under the bird feeder, then make their ticking calls as they fly up into the woods or bushes.
Blue Jay Profile The Blue Jay, a common songbird, is familiar to many in northern Illinois. Native to North America, at least some Blue Jays stay around all winter. They are very aggressive and sometime attack other birds. Still, they are beautiful against the snow. They mainly feed on nuts and seeds so they show up every day to the bird feeder; particularly, when snow covers the ground. Blue Jays are well known for their intelligence and tight family bonds. Thousands of Blue Jays migrate in flocks along the Great Lakes each year, but little is known about their migration. Young jays are more likely to migrate than adults, but adults also migrate. No one has determined why they migrate, when they migrate, or why some migrate while others do not.
Backyard Winter Birds | Male Cardinal Male Cardinals cheer us up during the winter months with their brilliant red body. Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they stay breathtakingly beautiful against winter’s snow. Northern Cardinals tend to sit low in shrubs and trees or forage on or near the ground, often in pairs.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Backyard Winter Birds.
Click any image below for a slide show.
Mar 22, 2015 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Birds, Daily Image 2015, Downy Woodpecker, Nikon 1 V1, Wildlife
Downy Woodpecker These little birds can move up and down a tree very quickly. They’re cute, but not so easy to capture an image without a long lens.
Apr 8, 2014 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2014, Downy Woodpecker, Nikon 1 V1, Walkabout, Wildlife
Downy Woodpecker Today’s walkabout was much nicer with a 50+ temperature. The only wildlife around were birds. This woodpecker was the most active bird along the walk.
