{"id":73003,"date":"2020-08-22T05:41:34","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T11:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=73003"},"modified":"2023-09-05T08:55:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T14:55:57","slug":"immature-male-downy-woodpecker-close-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/08\/22\/immature-male-downy-woodpecker-close-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Immature Male Downy Woodpecker Close Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CloseClose up of an immature male Downy Woodpecker \u2013 <\/em>Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

A few weeks ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Of all of the photos I took of this young Downy Woodpecker I felt that only this one image file was acceptable to me. Why?<\/p>\n

When the immature woodpecker was in the willows every photo I took of it had out of focus branches in front of its face or body. And those branches were distracting, annoying and unacceptable to me.<\/p>\n

Then after the young male woodpecker flew to this Common Mullein I was too close to take full body photos. Even worse than that when the Downy Woodpecker moved up the mullein stalk there was an out of focus line of fencing that cut across the head and body of my subject. That silvery strand of fence ruined what could have been my best images of this bird.<\/p>\n

I see and hear Downy Woodpeckers far more often than I am able to take photos of them so when I get what seems to be a great opportunity with this species and all but one of the photos are ruined it can be frustrating.<\/p>\n

I do like this photo because it shows the eye of the woodpecker so nicely and the tiny red feathers on his head that indicate that he is a young male.<\/p>\n

The rest of the photos I took of him are in my delete bin.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good. Stay safe.<\/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":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_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":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27,2142,4594,26,773],"tags":[3940,6486,4142,6655,193,2143,7754,4067,1799,4071,4062,4069,6656,4777,2146,4193],"class_list":["post-73003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-downy-woodpeckers","category-morgan-county","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-canyon","tag-clinging","tag-close-up","tag-common-mullein","tag-downy-woodpecker","tag-dryobates-pubescens","tag-foraged","tag-immature","tag-insects","tag-juvenile","tag-male","tag-mountains","tag-verbascum-thapsus","tag-woodpecker","tag-woodpeckers","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-close-up-mia-mcpherson-8977.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-iZt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":149363,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/06\/26\/immature-male-downy-woodpecker\/","url_meta":{"origin":73003,"position":0},"title":"Immature Male Downy Woodpecker","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It was one year ago today that I photographed this immature male Downy Woodpecker. So far this year, I haven't seen any young Downy Woodpeckers.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature male Downy Woodpecker in summer, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-5335.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-5335.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-5335.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/downy-woodpecker-immature-male-arkansas-mia-mcpherson-5335.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59785,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/29\/photographing-a-male-downy-woodpecker-in-a-chokecherry-tree\/","url_meta":{"origin":73003,"position":1},"title":"Photographing A Male Downy Woodpecker In A Chokecherry Tree","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Downy Woodpecker clinging to a chokecherry tree, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-chokecherry-tree-mia-mcpherson-5898.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-male-chokecherry-tree-mia-mcpherson-5898.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-chokecherry-tree-mia-mcpherson-5898.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-chokecherry-tree-mia-mcpherson-5898.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53344,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/08\/03\/downy-woodpecker-close-up-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":73003,"position":2},"title":"Downy Woodpecker Close Up In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Who knew that Downy Woodpeckers have eyes the color of a fine Cognac? 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":132335,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/08\/13\/young-downy-woodpecker-defensive-behavior\/","url_meta":{"origin":73003,"position":3},"title":"Young Downy Woodpecker Defensive Behavior","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Imagine you are a young Downy Woodpecker, just a couple of months old. You fly to a suet feeder to get food to eat and suddenly get hit by another woodpecker.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Young Downy Woodpecker in defensive pose, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-mia-mcpherson-0239.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-mia-mcpherson-0239.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-mia-mcpherson-0239.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/downy-woodpecker-immature-mia-mcpherson-0239.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113998,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/06\/26\/downy-woodpecker-photos-from-arkansas\/","url_meta":{"origin":73003,"position":4},"title":"Downy Woodpecker Photos From Arkansas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"When I photographed this immature Downy Woodpecker yesterday in my friend Steve's yard I didn't think I'd get two photos with its tongue sticking out. 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It was a rainy, dreary day, and I found myself inexplicably feeling down. I heard the distinctive calls of a Downy Woodpecker.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Downy Woodpecker male on driftwood, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-immature-mia-mcpherson-6145.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-male-immature-mia-mcpherson-6145.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-immature-mia-mcpherson-6145.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/downy-woodpecker-male-immature-mia-mcpherson-6145.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73003","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=73003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/115658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}