Downy Woodpecker

Renee Dawson

Downy Woodpecker

Out of the 13 Wood Peckers known to Canada, the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest. The male, as shown here, has a small scarlet patch at the back of his crown.

This little darling has been visiting my property regularly for 2 weeks now and, much to my delight, does not fly away when I am nearby. This past weekend if I would have taken 1 more step and stretched out my arm I could have touched him :) All the white flecks you see on and around his beak are snowflakes.

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Canon Rebel EOS XTi w/70-200mm f/4L IS lens @ 200mm
SS: 1/500, ISO 400, f/7.1 (Aperture Priority Mode)
Photo taken on my property – Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

Post Processing: Increased saturation ‘just slightly’ and darkened the midtones/highlights etc. around outer perimeter of the image to accent this pretty little bird.
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Bird Gallery

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Downy Woodpecker belongs to the following groups:

Animal Kingdom, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Canon DSLR (One Image Per Day & A Canon Camera Must Be In The Description Before It's Accepted), High Quality Animal Images - 1 Submission a Week, I Love Birds and The Birds Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
Downy Woodpecker by Renee Dawson
Downy Woodpecker by Renee Dawson
  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

  • Jim Harmon

    Jim Harmon

    Nice shot. I had one of these land near me but he was on the shady side of a sunny tree. Did not come out well.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Jim! I hope you are enjoying your new camera :)

  • Angel Warda

    Angel Warda

    gorgeous shot!!!! such a beautiful bird!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Angel :)

  • Cora Wandel

    Cora Wandel

    Renee, excellent image and writing. – Cora

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Cora!

  • Claire Farley

    Claire Farley

    Excellent shot and processing!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Claire :)

  • lorilee

    lorilee

    This is so beautifully captured!!!!!! He’s a sweetie!!!!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you Lori!

  • Lois Bryan

    Lois Bryan

    Renee, this is absolutely beautiful … the white specks are snowflakes!!! Soooo cool!!! i thought they might be sawdust from his pecking at your branch!!! LOL!!! A great, great shot!!!! You are such a talent, sweetie!!!

  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

    Thanks so much Lois :) I am growing quite fond of this little one! He has the cutest little ‘peep’...lol

  • StacyLee

    StacyLee

    This is fantastic!!! Do you use a monopod for your bird shots?

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Stacy. To date, all of my bird shots have been taken hand held. That being said, however, Santa took pity on me (my aching wrists & arms) and brought me a monopod for Christmas :)

  • David Clark

    David Clark

    awwwwww – so very cute – I was never able to get this close to any woodpecker (and we don’t have any over here) - such a great shot – and it certainly has the feel of winter - dave

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Dave!

  • Larry Llewellyn

    Larry Llewellyn

    Priceless….. how about lens? 70-200?

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Good morning Larry and thank you. I do have the lens description in my write up :) It’s a Canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS.

  • Peaches1950

    Peaches1950

    Great shot Renee … such a gorgeous bird … so much detail, love the snowflakes and the red patch on his head … outstanding image Renee!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much :)

  • DiEtte Henderson

    DiEtte Henderson

    Perfect capture Renee! Nicely done!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thanks so much DiEtte :)

  • Helene Kippert

    Helene Kippert

    Fantastic shot

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Helen :)

  • Renee Dawson replied

    oops…Helene :)

  • NATURELENS

    NATURELENS

    Great detail, lovely image

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you :)

  • Béla Török

    Béla Török

    Great work, Renee!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Béla!

  • Larry Trupp

    Larry Trupp

    Totally AWESOME work here Renee, love the detail, I commend you on this one.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Larry!

  • justlinda

    justlinda

    Great work :)

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you :)

  • Meeli Sonn

    Meeli Sonn

    Stunning capture of woodpecker

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Meeli.

  • Yool

    Yool

    Beautyful capture!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thanks so very much Yool!

  • ilpo laurila

    ilpo laurila

    Great shot Renee.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you Ilpo :)

  • LYN EVANS

    LYN EVANS

    Wow…what a fabulous shot sweetie, wonderful detail and light…a captivating image.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much sweetie :)

  • Lynda McDonald

    Lynda McDonald

    he’s gorgeous Renee, lovely image nicely accented

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thanks Mom :) xo

  • Bonnie T. Barry

    Bonnie T. Barry

    Wonderful heartwarming story of your visits with this woodpecker and a beautiful portrait which shows your passion and your love for birds. I love this!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Bonnie! Yes, I do so love the birds and could watch them for hours :)

  • JDNarts

    JDNarts

    He’s a handsome little fellow, isn’t he? I convinced them to change the woodlot management where I work a few years back, and we’ve seen a return of at least four species of woodpeckers since. Love to see and hear them! Nicely captured image!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Yes, I think he is handsome as well :) How wonderful that you can enjoy 4 species in your area! Thanks so much for the kind note.

  • Cora Wandel

    Cora Wandel

    Renee, my favorite woodpecker, thank you again for joining ImageWriting. – Cora

  • Corina Daniela Obertas

    Corina Daniela...

    Excellent shot Renee! I love it! Happy New Year dear!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Corina & Happy New Year to you as well!

  • PrincessVicki

    PrincessVicki

    A truly amazing shot Renee! Love it! x

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much :)

  • linda858100

    linda858100

    lovely renee,

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you Linda & Happy New Year to you :)

  • DJ LeMay

    DJ LeMay

    My goodness! I think I would faint from excitement BEFORE the “click”!! I love the snow on his beak and face, superbly captured! And the background isn’t anything to boo at either!!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you DJ. You have me giggling…you’ll faint over a wee woodpecker but not a grizzly? xo

  • Beve Brown-Clark

    Beve Brown-Clark

    Wonderful capture…they are such darlings!! Packing bag, coming for a short stay on your deck! :^)

  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

    Thanks Bevie. I’ll be waiting for you with a warm cuppa. Better weigh yourself down ‘cause the wind would blow you right away today! Nasty gale force winds…is horrid!

  • Diane Schuster

    Diane Schuster

    Beautiful shot, such a charmer!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much :)

  • navybrat

    navybrat

    awesome capture!!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much! :)

  • bill oneil

    bill oneil

    what a great image this is, crisply sharp, so well composed…just an allround ripper.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Bill :)

  • Gary L. Suddath

    Gary L. Suddath

    outstanding capture

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Gary.

  • Daniel Doyle

    Daniel Doyle

    Nice capture Renee, I have been trying to caputre some bird pic’s but I guess my time of season is off. None the less very clear and beautiful, LOL…...................;o) Daniel.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Daniel :)

  • SharonJH

    SharonJH

    Such a gorgeous image.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Sharon :)

  • DARRYL STUBBS

    DARRYL STUBBS

    Wow,fantastic shot rene

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Darryl :)

  • Owen Burke

    Owen Burke

    lovely shot!!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Owen!

  • Rick & Deb Larson

    Rick & Deb Larson

    Great close-up capture!!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you Deb & Rick!

  • Von McKnelly

    Von McKnelly

    Oh snap! Renee this rocks!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    You’re making my day Von…Mèrci! :)

  • Brian Carey

    Brian Carey

    Lovely!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Brian.

  • Kate Eller

    Kate Eller

    Oh Renee what a beauty. I love to observe the the little birds in our back yard. When we lived in South Carolina we had several different species of Woodpecker, but never could we get this close. This is an amazing shot…and with the snow on his beak…Wonderful! You are quite the photographer.

  • Renee Dawson

    Renee Dawson

    Thank you so very much. You’ve really lifted my spirits tonight. I have a female Downy that visits occasionally as well but she is a lot more timid. The male will let me get as close as 1-2 feet and won’t fly away. It’s wonderful! :)

  • bubbleblue

    bubbleblue

    excellent

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much :)

  • Brian Carey

    Brian Carey

    Great shot Renee!

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much Brian!

  • cdcantrell

    cdcantrell

    very nice shot

  • lefty1

    lefty1

    awesome shot, such sharpness and clarity, very nice Renee

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much for all your kind comments today John :)

  • francebluebird

    francebluebird

    very nice shot..superbe ! you have a magnifique gallery…bravo for your work !

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you very much!

  • Jan Piller

    Jan Piller

    Oh gorgeous image Renee! I’ve never seen one of these in this neck of the woods and yet just ten minutes north of here, they’re everywhere. I guess the birds that don’t like corn just stay away from these parts.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thanks Jan! I grew quite fond of this little gent over the winter. I could have taken shots with my macro lens if I wanted to he would let me get so close! Was so fun to watch him. He hasn’t been around very much since the nicer weather set in.

  • Geoff Carpenter

    Geoff Carpenter

    Beautiful Renee. I see why you like your 70-200mm f/4L. Thanks for your input on the forum.

  • Renee Dawson replied

    Thank you Geoff and you’re welcome :)

  • Dave & Trena Puckett

    Dave & Trena P... 13 days ago

    simply stunning!! beautifully captured!

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