Male Pileated Woodpecker Parental Duties.

[Daniel Cadieux]

A number of folks have been watching a Pileated Woodpecker's nest that was built right by a busy local trail. There are three chicks in the nest (2 male and 1 female) although only two are visible here. They are poking their heads out way more but I liked the "shy" sneak peek here as they continued to beg after a feeding round - plus the head angle offered by the adult is not too shabby either.

Canon 7D + 500mm f/4 II, manual exposure, evaluative metering, 1/2000s., f/4, ISO 800, natural light, handheld, FF, basic raw tweaks plus local contrast and saturation adjustments (and dodge/burn), and toned down the adult's red head.

[Robert Kimbrell]

Super frame Daniel. Good exposure and color. I think the perspective of the chicks with no eyes showing works well, Shows just enough to tell the story that they want more food. Yes I like the head angel on the adult also.

[Marina Scarr]

Well done capturing this behavior on an obviously pretty high nest I do like the sneak peak of the young but you can still tell one is female and one male. The adult stands out nicely. Looking forward to seeing your images with all 3 chicks!

[dankearl]

Outstanding find....
I think a bit less of the tree and a bit more on the left would look nice.

[christopher galeski]

nice capture,good IQ,nice head angle on parent bird,good action.TFS.

[Lorant Voros]

Super nice photo; love the beaks sticking out of the nest hole. An image I would have liked to have with my woodpecker family in the garden, but the circus life didn't want me to be home. Well done.

[Karl Egressy]

It doesn't get any better then this, Daniel.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Wonderful capture and I love the angle, Daniel! The two hungry little beaks add so much to this image.

Great PP work, love the BG as well as colours overall, superb IQ - just awesome!!!

Warmest regards,

[Norm Dulak]

Absolutely splendid!

[Joseph Przybyla]

Nice image showing a caring behavior. A difficult exposure with the red, white and black, I would pray for shade or an overcast day. Thank you for sharing.

[William Dickson]

All been said. An absoloute fab cap

Will

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dan, excellent IQ, tack sharp, and the chicks beaks peeking out the nest waiting for food takes this over the top. Your comp is spot on.

[Bill Dix]

Great story-telling image, with perfect HA on the male. Good exposure, and nice PP work to compensate for what was apparently a harsh light. In an ideal world I would have liked just a sliver less tree and more on the left, but as this is full-frame, in-camera comp, it's very nicely done.

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the IQ, hungry beaks, exposure and details. I agree with Bill's composition suggestion but perhaps moving in that direction would have brought in some unwanted elements.
Very well done as always Daniel!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Great image Daniel with the symmetrical baby bills screaming for food.
A bit steep, but that's how it is.
Well done, TFS