Male Northern Flicker in a forest – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
This morning I am sharing a few male Northern Flicker images that I took seven years ago at the edge of a mountain forest in the Targhee National Forest in Idaho.
It was so much fun to photograph this male red-shafted Northern Flicker as he excavated the nesting cavity in a Quaking Aspen. He flew in and out quite often which gave me the chance to take a variety of images of him in different poses.
Male Northern Flicker peeking out of his nesting cavity – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 800, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
One of the issues of photographing this male Northern Flicker and the other birds that nested in this tree was the lighting conditions. Because of the surrounding trees and mountain peaks there was only good light on this tree for about an hour to an hour and a half each morning. The rest of the day the nesting cavity and tree was in the shade.
Northern Flicker male clinging to his nesting cavity – Nikon D810, f8, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light
If I hadn’t been paying attention to the sights and sounds of the area where this tree was located a year before these images were taken I wouldn’t have found this nesting tree. I also wouldn’t have seen and photographed the other birds that nested in this aspen. Paying attention to the sights and sounds while in the field is critical when looking for birds to photograph.
I keep hoping I will locate nesting Northern Flickers closer to home than Idaho. I know I have the skills to find them.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Flicker photos plus facts and information about this species.
This nesting tree was chopped down by someone after I took these images.
Beautiful photos. Not sure where you live but I live in Mesa, AZ I have Gilded flickers here but I took a Northern Flicker in Astoria, WA. I love to take photos of any of the flicker or woodpecker family. They are such upper class birds, don’t you think? Great pics. Great photographer.
Thank you Mia. I have never seen a northern flicker before and I must say it is the most beautiful bird.
Stunning. And echoing Marty’s wish.
It’s the contrast in lighting between the foreground and background that makes these shots extra special for me. Hope some Northern Flickers are close by so you can find them. 🙂
Beautiful, I love the light. I have been watching for them to return to trees usually nesting in. So far they are not, the trees are not healthy and mostly dead this year. My guess they have found a new tree.