{"id":59785,"date":"2019-08-29T04:08:15","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T10:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=59785"},"modified":"2023-09-05T08:55:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T14:55:00","slug":"photographing-a-male-downy-woodpecker-in-a-chokecherry-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/29\/photographing-a-male-downy-woodpecker-in-a-chokecherry-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographing A Male Downy Woodpecker In A Chokecherry Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MaleMale Downy Woodpecker clinging to a chokecherry tree – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

While photographing an American Goldfinch yesterday I noticed a flash of black and white as a bird flew into a nearby chokecherry tree and when I moved my lens and focused on it I was pleased to see that it was a male Downy Woodpecker<\/span><\/a>. For a bit the woodpecker was hidden behind the leaves of the chokecherry so I continued photographing the goldfinch while keeping an eye on the woodpecker.<\/p>\n

When I noticed the Downy Woodpecker moving towards the front part of the tree I changed my focus to it and waited to see if he would come out into the open and when he did I was ready to takes images of him. This is my favorite from the series because of the clear view of the entire Downy.<\/p>\n

\"DownyDowny Woodpecker male foraging in a chokecherry – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

But I liked the peek-a-boo look I seemed to be getting from the Downy Woodpecker in this frame along with how the woodpecker was framed by the chokecherry tree.<\/p>\n

I believe the black growth and the rusty area of the branch near the woodpecker’s face is caused by Black Knot, a fungal disease, the rusty-colored area at the bottom of the poopy looking section of the branch would be the spores.<\/p>\n

\"MaleMale Downy Woodpecker in a chokecherry – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/800, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, I like the pose of the Downy, the light and the composition but I really wish that the out of focus leaf wasn’t blocking a clear view of the top of the bird’s head. The thing is that my subjects are wild, free roaming birds in natural settings so there are times when I am not going to have everything go my way, lots of times. That’s just the way it is.<\/p>\n

Last week while I wasn’t paying attention I passed the 3000 post mark here at On The Wing Photography, today’s post is post #3008 (3,008 Days = 8 Years, 2 Months, 3 Weeks, 6 Days).<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Downy Woodpecker photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I noticed the Downy Woodpecker moving towards the front part of the tree I changed my focus to it and waited to see if he would come out into the open and when it did I was ready to takes images of him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115659,"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":[27,2142,1731,26,773],"tags":[4004,3940,6531,6486,193,2143,4136,759,4062,7602,4069,8300,6532,7282,9626,2315,4176,7281,4777,2146],"class_list":["post-59785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-downy-woodpeckers","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-canyon","tag-chokecherry","tag-clinging","tag-downy-woodpecker","tag-dryobates-pubescens","tag-foraging","tag-frustrations-in-photography","tag-male","tag-milestone","tag-mountains","tag-photographing","tag-prunus-virginiana","tag-prunus-virginiana-demissa","tag-riparian-habitat","tag-summer-3","tag-wasatch-mountains","tag-western-chokecherry","tag-woodpecker","tag-woodpeckers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-chokecherry-tree-mia-mcpherson-5898.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-fyh","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71540,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/05\/black-headed-grosbeak-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":59785,"position":0},"title":"Black-headed Grosbeak in the Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I was happy that I decided to photograph the striking Black-headed Grosbeak instead of the Downy Woodpecker that was at least forty feet in front of me.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female or immature Black-headed Grosbeak in the Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-headed-grosbeak-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-headed-grosbeak-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4594.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-headed-grosbeak-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4594.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/black-headed-grosbeak-female-perched-mia-mcpherson-4594.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73003,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/08\/22\/immature-male-downy-woodpecker-close-up\/","url_meta":{"origin":59785,"position":1},"title":"Immature Male Downy Woodpecker Close Up","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A few weeks ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains I was able to see and photograph an immature male Downy Woodpecker as it foraged for food in willows and while clinging to a Common Mullein.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close up of an immature male Downy Woodpecker, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-8977.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-8977.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-8977.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-8977.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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I didn't until I took this Downy Woodpecker close up in the Wasatch Mountains one month ago.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Downy Woodpecker close up, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-close-up-mia-mcpherson-0696.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115012,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/08\/04\/young-male-downy-woodpecker\/","url_meta":{"origin":59785,"position":3},"title":"Young Male Downy Woodpecker","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I thought this young male Downy Woodpecker, with bits of suet on his bill, was a striking bird, and that's why I decided to share this photo today.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young male Downy Woodpecker in Arkansas, Sebastian County","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-mia-mcpherson-5744.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-mia-mcpherson-5744.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-mia-mcpherson-5744.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-mia-mcpherson-5744.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":105470,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/27\/cedar-waxwing-in-a-chokecherry\/","url_meta":{"origin":59785,"position":4},"title":"Cedar Waxwing In A Chokecherry","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"On a recent trip up into the Wasatch Mountains I had a cooperative Cedar Waxwing who was perched on a branch of a chokecherry tree with blue sky behind it.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cedar Waxwing calling from a Chokecherry tree, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-chokecherry-mia-mcpherson-6278.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-chokecherry-mia-mcpherson-6278.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-chokecherry-mia-mcpherson-6278.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-chokecherry-mia-mcpherson-6278.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":138516,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/01\/05\/downy-woodpecker-at-joseph-h-williams-tallgrass-prairie-preserve\/","url_meta":{"origin":59785,"position":5},"title":"Downy Woodpecker At Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning, I'm sharing photos of an adult male Downy Woodpecker on a gravel road at Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Osage County, Oklahoma.","rel":"","context":"In "Downy Woodpeckers"","block_context":{"text":"Downy Woodpeckers","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/woodpeckers\/downy-woodpeckers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Downy Woodpecker on a gravel road at Joseph H. 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