West Indian Woodpecker

Gallery: AvianPosted January 30, 2010107 views8 comments

West Indian Woodpecker (Carpintero jabado): This bird was fun to watch: very active and saucy with a loud, brash call. It actually buzzed me at one point. I photographed it at Jibacao, Cuba. Its range is reported to be only Bahamas, Cuba and Grand Cayman (ref: O.H. Garrido and A. Kirkconnell, “Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba”, Cornell Univ. Press, 2000).

I like this image because the feathers are spread to show detail that’s generally hidden. I know that some of you would prefer a vertical crop. It would get rid of most of the white spotted tree. However, it would also significantly reduce the size of the image.

I look forward to your comments.

P.S.: Looking at this description I see I'm referring to this bird as an "it". I'm pretty sure that "it"is a male, judging from the extensive red cap and nape.

EOS 7D, EF 400mm f/5.6, 580EX II: ISO 640, 1/250 s, fill flash, image is 3807 x 3046 pixels (=11.6 MP or 64% of the 18 MP of the 7D).

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 30, 2010 at 12:27 PM

Hi Steve,

That's a good looker! I can't help with the 'sexing' of this bird though my experience with other woodpeckers suggests you're probably right.

The bright spots on the bark at the right and the bright area in the left BG are both drawing my eye away from the woodpecker. My suggestion is to crop the left a bit to remove the highlight there while retaining the OOF greens which I find appealing. I'd also do some lightening of the bird, particularly the face and eye area to draw the viewer's eye there first.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on January 30, 2010 at 2:33 PM

I don't mind the white spotted tree but I do think it would be better as a vertical, particularly if you had more room at the bottom. A neat looking woodpecker with nice sharpness and detail, do you have any images with it's head turned toward you more? Thanks for posting this one Steve, a species I'd never seen before.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 30, 2010 at 2:45 PM

I would agree Steve, most likely a male. Neat species. The only thing I wish for here is a head turn so the face and eye were more visible. That would add a lot IMO.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 30, 2010 at 3:11 PM

This is a new one to me too Steve. I agree with others comments, a better look at the face would be great.
Thanks for sharing it !

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 30, 2010 at 6:05 PM

a neat bird, Steve, with nice details and a very tropical looking bg. I would like a little more of a head turn, but that he seems to be looking at an excavation he's making in the tree makes up for that.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on January 31, 2010 at 12:35 PM

Beautiful image...a slight head turn or a catch-light on the eyes would have made the image more appealing but those things can't be controlled always as we wish....the white patches on the tree are bit distracting...Burning (Dodge/Burn) selectively may improve the image IMO...otherwise a very good image....

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 1, 2010 at 11:54 AM

Thank you all so much for your very constructive comments. Instead of trying to improve this image I've decided to select a new one of this bird with your comments in mind. I'll post it now.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 1, 2010 at 7:44 PM

Steve,

This is a very interesting species and I had seen it on the Cayman Islands, but I was never close enough to get a picture of this quality.

I agree with wishing the bird had turned more towards you, so I am looking forward to seeing what you post next of this species.

Glad you posted the larger version, it shows nice detail in the palm and the bird's feathers.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments