Sir Lancelot

[Patrick Sparkman]

I was out photographing the birds in our backyard this weekend, and got this male Red Bellied Woodpecker gleaning suet off a tree.

I knew these guys had long tongues, but never knew they had a barbed lance on the end. Makes sense, so that the bird can spear grubs in the holes they peck open.

I wish the head angle was slightly more to the camera, but I like the tongue on this one. Also, I finally have a shot showing why they are called "red bellied".

Canon 1D IV, 800 f5.6 IS, ISO 800, 1/1600 at f8.0 set manually.

[arash_hazeghi]

very nice!

[Craig Brelsford]

The shot is both attractive and illustrative. I'd have left a little more room at the bottom.

[Jim Coda]

Nice color and BG Patrick. Its feet seem huge in relation to the body. I agree with Craig re more room at the bottom.

Jim Coda
http://jimcoda.wordpress.com
http://www.jimcoda.com

[Pieter de Waal]

Great action captured Patrick, something new for me. Nice and sharp with clear feather pattern and good colour. I might consider lightening the eye slightly.