Truly one of my favourite little Canadian birds, I spotted this guy on a shrub not far from the house.
I haven't been shooting much recently due to weather and lack of inspiration (read as: winter depression), and this encounter was much appreciated.



At first he was a bit cautious, but not really timid. Then he surprised me, flying from the shrub,
almost directly at me, and landing on a branch about 6 feet away, right at eye level.



I watched him doing his thing for awhile, rapidly stripping bark from the branch.



And, got a really good look at the red spot on the back of his head...



I noticed that they close their eyes when striking the wood, which makes sense, but I've never seen it before.



Having already taken many pictures of him, I decided to push the limit a bit and creep closer.
I got within the minimum focusing distance of my lens, and switched it to the "macro" mode for some portraits.



He didn't fly, or seem at all worried, though he did blink his eyes a lot in time with the noise from my shutter.
I even tried a few with the pop-up flash, and it didn't faze him.



After awhile, he started working his way higher on the branch. I thanked him for being so friendly,
wished him many bugs, and went up to the house to warm up a bit.



An hour later, he was still on the same branch, having worked his way back down.
I took a few more, bolder this time in approaching him.



To my amusement, he was intermittently napping there. Or, at least having a rest.
Having a lens shoved 3 feet from his face still didn't bother him visibly. By then I was losing light, so I let him be.

I think I owe him a suet feeder after this.

Wow, how cool is that? Love the pics, that is a lovely bird. Definitely gets a suet feeder! Good Job, little guy! (the woodpecker, not you MC!LOL)

What a neat experience! Some animals just seem to know when we mean them no harm.

I think he needs a pedicure though- check out the nails on that rabbit!-- er-- bird.

Lovely creature! I always stalk the Pileated woodpeckers in our yard, they are huge! They have done some work on our deck though, Maybe we have bugs in the wood?

All the better to hold onto dinner, my dear.....

David--there is an interesting tendon-ligament mechanism that woodpeckers have that actually keep them from developing brain injuries as they splinter the wood away...

Thanks guys. Yeah, the feet are really something. I guess when you sleep clasping a branch, they have to be strong and sharp.

@Jana - I've only seen a pileated once or twice, and that was years ago.

@Terry - I think it was this article? Or one around the same time anyway. Very cool stuff.

Beautiful! Great pictures!

Lauren

Those are amazing shots!

Yeah, I think that was the article I read, oh so long ago!!! And, I just HAD to call a former professor and give him the links to the pictures-- he and his bride are birders- and LOVE this kind of stuff

Did you all notice, the birds feet are almost perfectly camouflaged with the bark?

We had a Giant Woodpecker in our yard last spring, up in our pear tree. He let us get pretty close too, very cool.

awesome!wish i could get a picture of the big red headed woodpecker that comes too my feeder.

I'm glad you guys are enjoying them. It was certainly fun taking them. Off to find a suet feeder for the lil guys now.

WOW national Geographic comes to RT fantastic pics MC thank you for sharing them with us.

Great close ups! Love the flying sawdust!

I love woodpeckers! We have a ton around here!

The red headed woodpecker is quite striking but what I like most about them is that cackling laugh. They really do sound like Woody Woodpecker.