Isn't this a little cutie? That's a red-bellied woodpecker sitting on my glove as I took his photo. I don't know what possessed him to perch here. He didn't seem ill. Nor did he want to leave. He acted a bit "frozen" in the maybe-she's-a-predator kind of way. In any event, as I went to put more food out for the birds this afternoon, I suddenly had a woodpecker in my hand. They sure can grip with those super feet of theirs. I finally set the woodpecker in the feeder and went back inside. But for a few moments--well, it's not every day I have a woodpecker in my hand.
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12 comments:
Whoa!! What an amazing thing to experience!! It would be goosebumps for me.
Such a deal!!!
What an amazing photo and moment. From what I understand red bellieds are usually shy so contratulations!
All: It was goosebumps for me too. If I didn't have the photos, I'm not sure I would believe it even now. RBW's are normally very shy. In fact, I've never gotten a good photo of one because they don't like me to be at the window with my camera. This one might be a younger one. He didn't seem quite normal, at least his reactions certainly weren't. Maybe he was just new to the neighborhood. He got swooped a time or two by the other male that is a feeder regular.
Carolyn H.
Wow,how lucky you are!He does look a little rattled,wonder what he`s thinking?!Great pic,thanks for sharing,phylliso
Maybe there was an Accipiter close by. The birds at our Audubon feeders all scatter except for the woodpeckers which just freeze in position. Maybe he saw you as a safe haven.
Dave
I can't add anything to what's alreadt been said, but just wanted to express my amazement too! Wow. What a moment.
Wow! What a memorable experience!
Oh lucky you, maybe he was just lonely.
All: Yes, it was quite a memorable few moments to have a red-bellied woodpecker in my hand. I think the bird looks a little ragged, but it was alert enough and didn't seem to have any obvious injury or wounds. I think it was confused, though, perhaps thinking I was a predator. There's not much else that can explain its "freeze" instead of flight. I've been looking for it since then but it's kind of hard to tell one male red-bellied woodpecker from another. I have 2-3 other photos and will likely post at least once more as soon as I'm back with hi-speed internet.
Carolyn H.
Very cool. Bound to be a top nature moment of the year.
So happy for you that you had your camera handy. It's a wonderful photo.
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