{"id":74188,"date":"2020-09-29T05:51:16","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T11:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=74188"},"modified":"2025-05-22T11:49:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:49:48","slug":"adult-female-northern-flicker-foraging-in-hawthorns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/09\/29\/adult-female-northern-flicker-foraging-in-hawthorns\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult Female Northern Flicker Foraging In Hawthorns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FemaleFemale Northern Flicker foraging in hawthorns \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I know that many aspiring photographers dream of having a long lens when they are first becoming obsessed with photographing birds. I can say without hesitation that I drooled over having a 500mm or 600mm myself when I developed my passion for bird photography. I started out with a 70-300mm lens then an 80-400mm before I obtained a 200-400mm lens and eventually my 500mm lens. I wanted eye-popping, frame filling images of my avian subjects and that isn’t always easy to do with shorter focal length lenses. It can be frustrating to get those frame filling images of birds, especially smaller birds.<\/p>\n

That noted, there is much to be said about taking photos where the avian subject is smaller in the frame. The primary reason is that more of the habitat where the bird lives in can be shown. A well composed, nicely lit, sharp photo of a bird small in the frame can also convey a strong story and be visually compelling.<\/p>\n

Yes, this photo was taken with a 500mm lens. It also could have been taken by a person with a shorter focal length lens and strong stalking skills. Or a point and shoot camera with a bit of optical zoom.<\/p>\n

This adult female Northern Flicker and a male were both foraging for hawthorn berries when I spotted them from across a creek high in the Wasatch Mountains<\/span><\/a>. I knew that the flickers were too far away to take frame filling images of them so I decided to take photos of them where they were smaller in the frame. Of those images I liked this one the best. The flicker was sharp, I had wonderful eye contact with her, and the leaves of the hawthorn framed the bird nicely.<\/p>\n

Even though the female Northern Flicker doesn’t occupy a large portion of this image my eyes are drawn to her again and again.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Northern Flicker photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This adult female Northern Flicker and a male were both foraging for hawthorn berries when I spotted them from across a creek high in the Wasatch Mountains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146024,"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":[27,5921,4594,2255,26,773],"tags":[4004,970,3940,2257,7298,3843,4620,4070,3705,4931,6566,10302,6583,4069,3704,7297,4043,4777,2146],"class_list":["post-74188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-east-canyon","category-morgan-county","category-northern-flicker","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-autumn","tag-canyon","tag-colaptes-auratus","tag-crataegus-rivularis","tag-creek","tag-fall","tag-female","tag-flicker","tag-flickers","tag-hawthorn","tag-hawthorns","tag-leaves","tag-mountains","tag-northern-flicker","tag-river-hawthorn","tag-small-in-frame","tag-woodpecker","tag-woodpeckers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-female-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-0385.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-jiA","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":72670,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/08\/14\/adult-cedar-waxwing-resting-in-a-stand-of-hawthorns\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":0},"title":"Adult Cedar Waxwing Resting In A Stand Of Hawthorns","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Stopping to eat my muffins at this location was a great idea because this week on three trips to this spot I've photographed more than just Cedar Waxwings at this location.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cedar Waxwing adult resting in a stand of hawthorns, Wasatch Mountains, East Canyon, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-0278.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-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-0278.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-0278.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/cedar-waxwing-adult-hawthorn-mia-mcpherson-0278.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":112129,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/07\/urban-female-northern-flicker\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":1},"title":"Urban Female Northern Flicker","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday the sun was shining and I went for a walk at my local pond. Among the birds that I photographed I enjoyed this pretty female Northern Flicker.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Urban female Northern Flicker, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/northern-flicker-tree-urban-mia-mcpherson-9750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/northern-flicker-tree-urban-mia-mcpherson-9750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/northern-flicker-tree-urban-mia-mcpherson-9750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/northern-flicker-tree-urban-mia-mcpherson-9750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":69273,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/05\/01\/nesting-northern-flickers-provide-nests-for-other-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":2},"title":"Nesting Northern Flickers Provide Nests For Other Birds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By excavating their own nests Northern Flickers provide nests for other woodland birds that can't excavate nesting cavities on their own and those nests can be used over and over again. Nature is brilliant.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Northern Flicker perched outside of his nest, Targhee National Forest, Clark County, Idaho","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nesting-forest-mia-mcpherson-8171.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nesting-forest-mia-mcpherson-8171.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nesting-forest-mia-mcpherson-8171.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nesting-forest-mia-mcpherson-8171.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59704,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/08\/24\/immature-northern-flicker-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":3},"title":"Immature Northern Flicker In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"This immature Northern Flicker was one of the last birds I spotted and photographed three days ago while up in the Wasatch Mountains and I was happy that she stayed long enough for me to take a nice series of images of her.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Northern Flicker perched on a dead branch, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-immature-mia-mcpherson-4145.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-immature-mia-mcpherson-4145.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-immature-mia-mcpherson-4145.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-immature-mia-mcpherson-4145.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39172,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/05\/05\/northern-flicker-nesting-cavity\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":4},"title":"Northern Flicker Nesting Cavity","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed my favorite nesting tree in the Targhee National Forest and this Northern Flicker nesting cavity.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Northern Flicker male at nest, Targhee National Forest, Clark County, Idaho","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nest-mia-mcpherson-8290.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nest-mia-mcpherson-8290.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nest-mia-mcpherson-8290.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/northern-flicker-male-nest-mia-mcpherson-8290.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":135770,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/10\/18\/autumn-female-northern-flicker-at-a-birdbath\/","url_meta":{"origin":74188,"position":5},"title":"Autumn Female Northern Flicker At A Birdbath","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning, I was thrilled when a female Northern Flicker flew into the birdbath for a drink on a chilly autumn day. She seemed to glow in the sunlight.","rel":"","context":"In "Arkansas"","block_context":{"text":"Arkansas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/arkansas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Northern Flicker at a birdbath, Sebastian County, Arkansas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/northern-flicker-female-birdbath-mia-mcpherson-9027.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/northern-flicker-female-birdbath-mia-mcpherson-9027.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/northern-flicker-female-birdbath-mia-mcpherson-9027.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/northern-flicker-female-birdbath-mia-mcpherson-9027.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\/74188","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=74188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74188\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/146024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}