The Stand Off: Pileated Woodpecker [Male]

[Ted Willcox]

Pileated Woodpeckers use old nesting cavities as overnight roosting sites. The Pileated pictured here is perched at the hole of one such cavity. Unfortunately, for him another Pileated is already ocupying the cavity, hence " The Stand Off ". The feather on the tip of the beak is the result of a scrap they had just prior to this image being taken. I chose to leave it there, as I believe, it adds impact to the image.Enjoy!
Canon EOS-1D MARK III Camera
Canon 600 F4 IS Lens
Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tripod Wimberly Head
1/60 at F5.6
ISO 1000
5:48 PM
Early evening shade

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose, light, details and BG. I might raise the color temperature a few degrees and increase contrast a tad.

[carole wiley]

I agree as noted above. I love the pose, never seen one of these in person and this is very unusual. Thanks for the background, I didn't know that.

[Maxis Gamez]

Another vote for more contrast. Not an easy subject to photograph at eye level.

Keep them coming!

[david cramer]

Great pose! I agree with the above suggestions.

[Ed Erkes]

Wow!! I really like this a lot!!

[Fabs Forns]

What a pose you caught! Never seen the wings from this angle.

[Rob Lavoie]

What a great pose, well done

[Randy Stout]

Ted:

Very nice photo. I have spent many hours taking pictures of a nesting Pileated in my back yard, and have never seen that wing position before either. Mine always push away from the tree and then spread their wings. They always drop a few feet before flapping away.

Please share any more from that encounter if you could!

Randy

[Mark Schmitt]

Did a good job on this. 1/60 and still good resolution and clarity: low noise considering the ISO of 1000! Any post processing? I've yet to get an image of one of these. Well done.

[Ted Willcox]

Thanks for the interest and comments. I increased the contrast a tad and brightened the back ground, it looks great! I love it!
Yours in Wildness
Ted