Pileated Woodpecker
Trading Places
Feb. 10, 2013
 



Pileated woodpeckers are a treat to see, and a male pileated has made my suet feeders a regular stopover, giving me any number of photographic opportunities.

The male hairy woodpecker is a fair-size bird but looks minute next to the male pileated woodpecker.

 
Hairy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker
 

Admittedly, there were a few comings and goings, but at one point I managed to photograph the hairy woodpecker and the pileated woodpecker trading places on the larger suet holder.
 
Pileated trading places with hairy
 

Although the large suet block is mostly eaten, the pileated appears thoroughly at ease with it.
 
Pileated woodpecker on landing
 

Incidentally, I had never noticed the lighter patch on the back of the pileated's tail until the above photo.

Later that day, I put in a fresh suet block, which seems to have pleased the pileated.

Photo note: I used a Pentax K20D, with the SMC-DA* 60-250 mm lens, for the photos, taken on Feb. 9, 2013.




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