Black Back Woodpecker

[Corey Hayes]

Taken in Algonquin Provincial park Ontario Canada.

I am told this is pretty rare, so I guess I got lucky, I have another good shot also that I will post later.

7D, ISO 800, F5.6, 1/250
500mmF4

I had to re size the file for here but I have a large version on my Flickr page if interested.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54773292@N07/

[Randy Stout]

Corey:

Your bird is sharp and well exposed. Somewhat of an exposure challenge because of the dark bird and brighter trunk.

I would be tempted to clone stamp out the white band by his back, take a tiny sliver off the top of the frame, and another tiny sliver off the left side to reduce the impact of the trunk a bit.

Cheers

Randy

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice shot.
Great pose, excellent details, and great comp.
Well done.

[Steve Canuel]

Nice looking bird, don't think I've ever seen one of them. Like the pose and the tree trunk.

[Shawn Zierman]

Sweet subject, handsome male, yellow crown shows well. I like the seperation between the bird and poplar(?).
Exposure looks great, nice detail in the blacks....Background control issue noted.

[dankearl]

Terrific photo of a woodpecker I will probably will never see!
I also would attempt to get rid of the white band, although with or without.
a beautiful photo.
The tree bark is a real plus, full of character and light and texture.

[Nick Palmieri]

Nice job on the bird. Agree that the bright strip in the BG is a bit distracting.

[Bill Dix]

Wonderful capture of this hard-to-find bird. You even got his yellow cap. Nicely exposed and a great pose. I'd second Randy's suggestions, and might be tempted to tone down the bright areas on the trunk.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Yes, the Black-backed Woodpecker is pretty much sought after. We have had one in Ottawa in a recently burned forest that has gotten lots of attention (one female). You got a beautiful male here, love the yellow forehead. I'm OK with the comp but I agree with trying to tone down or fully eliminate the white band, as well as a couple of whitish areas just creeping into the frame at right edge. I like the subdued light, and the texture of the tree trunk.

[Corey Hayes]

Thanks guys I will edit it tonight then re-post.

[Corey Hayes]

Hey Guys here is an updated version.

I changed the crop a small amount and removed that branch in the background as while I tried to tone down the white on the tree.

Look better?

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent find and great picture, Corey. It is rare. The Three-toed Woodpecker is even more rare. I saw this species up in Algoquin about four times out of 35 trips but never have seen the the Three-toed.