{"id":113829,"date":"2023-06-18T01:20:46","date_gmt":"2023-06-18T07:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=113829"},"modified":"2023-06-18T14:09:58","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T20:09:58","slug":"red-headed-woodpecker-with-mayfly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/06\/18\/red-headed-woodpecker-with-mayfly\/","title":{"rendered":"Red-headed Woodpecker With Mayfly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today I am sharing a Red-headed Woodpecker with a mayfly in its bill that I took yesterday at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fws.gov\/refuge\/sequoyah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge<\/span><\/a> in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-113830 size-full\" title=\"Red-headed Woodpecker adult with a mayfly\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188.jpg\" alt=\"Red-headed Woodpecker adult with a mayfly, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma\" width=\"900\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20900%20643%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27900%27%20height%3D%27643%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-200x143.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-250x179.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-400x286.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-600x429.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-768x549.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188-800x572.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188.jpg 900w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Red-bellied Woodpecker adult with a mayfly \u2013 Canon R7, f11, 1\/1000, ISO 1000, +0.7 EV, Canon RF 800 mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Today is also Father&#8217;s Day so you might be wondering why I chose to share a Red-headed Woodpecker on such a special day.<\/p>\n<p>Well, the short answer is this &#8211; all male woodpeckers in North America, no matter thier size or coloration, are great dads. Some help incubate, some don&#8217;t, but all of them help rear their young.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Back to this Red-headed Woodpecker&#8230;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yesterday <a href=\"https:\/\/stevecreek.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Steve<\/span><\/a> let me use his 800mm lens attached to his Canon R7 and I was blown away by the images that combination created.<\/p>\n<p>One of the first birds I had in my viewfinder after the lens swap was this woodpecker. I was tickled by seeing and photographing this species since my only images of them until yesterday were purely documentary.<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t know whether this is an adult male or female. Red-headed Woodpeckers are monomorphic which means both sexes look exactly alike.<\/p>\n<p>It was a thrill for me to take many images of this handsome black, white, and red woodpecker and it seemed important to me to share this photo today<\/p>\n<p>Life <em>is<\/em> good. Happy Father&#8217;s Day!<\/p>\n<p>Mia<\/p>\n<p>Check back later for my Red-Headed Woodpecker photo gallery in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/woodpeckers\/\">Woodpeckers<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today I am sharing a Red-headed Woodpecker with a mayfly in its bill that I took yesterday at Sequoya National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":113830,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,13973,14001,13974],"tags":[4004,6577,10494,1130,6583,10076,14002,4104,4106,14003,4018,165,4777,2146],"class_list":["post-113829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-oklahoma","category-red-headed-woodpeckers","category-sequoyah-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-adult","tag-branches","tag-cottonwood","tag-food","tag-leaves","tag-mayfly","tag-melanerpes-erythrocephalus","tag-perched","tag-prey","tag-red-headed-woodpecker","tag-sky","tag-spring","tag-woodpecker","tag-woodpeckers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/red-headed-woodpecker-adult-mayfly-mia-mcpherson-9188.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-tBX","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":142167,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/03\/29\/red-headed-woodpecker-nesting-season-is-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":0},"title":"Red-headed Woodpecker Nesting Season Is On!","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Five days ago I was very happy to photograph and take Red-headed Woodpecker videos at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge on a bright morning in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-headed Woodpecker at their nesting cavity, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-headed-woopecker-nesting-cavity-mia-mcpherson-0949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-headed-woopecker-nesting-cavity-mia-mcpherson-0949.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-headed-woopecker-nesting-cavity-mia-mcpherson-0949.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/red-headed-woopecker-nesting-cavity-mia-mcpherson-0949.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":147597,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/05\/30\/spring-red-headed-woodpecker\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":1},"title":"Spring Red-headed Woodpecker","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker was perched on a branch when I photographed it on May 21st at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Spring Red-headed Woodpecker adult, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-headed-woodpecker-branch-mia-mcpherson-6894.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-headed-woodpecker-branch-mia-mcpherson-6894.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-headed-woodpecker-branch-mia-mcpherson-6894.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/red-headed-woodpecker-branch-mia-mcpherson-6894.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":143033,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/23\/the-demise-of-a-red-headed-woodpecker-nesting-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":2},"title":"The Demise Of A Red-headed Woodpecker Nesting Tree","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a short and sad story about the demise of a Red-headed Woodpecker nesting tree at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-headed Woodpecker perched above of their nesting cavity, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/red-headed-woodpecker-nest-tree-mia-mcpherson-2458.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/red-headed-woodpecker-nest-tree-mia-mcpherson-2458.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/red-headed-woodpecker-nest-tree-mia-mcpherson-2458.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/red-headed-woodpecker-nest-tree-mia-mcpherson-2458.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":114563,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/07\/20\/red-headed-woodpecker-photos-from-sequoyah-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":3},"title":"Red-headed Woodpecker Photos From Sequoyah NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"These Red-headed Woodpecker photos were taken last month at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. I had one great day with this species in two spots on the refuge.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Red-headed Woodpecker in Oklahoma, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/red-headed-woodpecker-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-9310.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/red-headed-woodpecker-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-9310.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/red-headed-woodpecker-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-9310.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/red-headed-woodpecker-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-9310.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":137622,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/11\/30\/male-pileated-woodpecker-up-a-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":4},"title":"Male Pileated Woodpecker Up A Tree","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this week, I was happy when I took my first acceptable images of a male Pileated Woodpecker in a tree at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Oklahoma&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Oklahoma","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/oklahoma\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Pileated Woodpecker in a tree at Sequoyah NWR, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pileated-woodpecker-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2762.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pileated-woodpecker-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2762.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pileated-woodpecker-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2762.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pileated-woodpecker-male-sequoyah-mia-mcpherson-2762.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":129109,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/05\/30\/male-red-bellied-woodpecker-inside-a-nesting-cavity-in-oklahoma\/","url_meta":{"origin":113829,"position":5},"title":"Male Red-bellied Woodpecker Inside A Nesting Cavity In Oklahoma","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On my third visit to Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge I was thrilled to spot a male Red-bellied Woodpecker inside of a nesting cavity.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Birds&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Red-bellied Woodpecker in a nesting cavity, Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/red-bellied-woodpecker-nesting-mia-mcpherson-1415.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/red-bellied-woodpecker-nesting-mia-mcpherson-1415.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113829"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113829\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}