Showdown at Cooper's Pond
between a Red-Bellied Woodpecker
and a Chipmunk
May 2016
 



Given the speed and the in-your-face behavior of a chipmunk, I would have expected a relatively small bird, such as a red-bellied woodpecker to give way to a chipmunk.

The reversed occurred.

Thus, enter the chipmunk while the red-bellied woodpecker was selecting food.

 
Red-bellied woodpecker and chipmunk
 
  The red-bellied woodpecker immediately assumed an action-threat posture.
 
Red-bellied woodpecker and chipmunk
 
  A microsecond later, the chipmunk fled for its life and . . .
 
Red-bellied woodpecker and chipmunk
 
  . . . left the woodpecker victorious.
 
Victorious red-bellied woodpecker
 
  It's difficult to anticipate animal behavior.

Photo note: I used a Pentax K3, with the SMC-DA* 60-250mm lens for these photos.




My Pennsylvania bird list

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