Mike Powell

Most of the time when I see a male Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus), its head is buried in the shadows or is turned away from me as he feverishly pecks away at a tree. Last Wednesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, however, I spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the open at a distant tree and he accommodated me by presenting his head in profile, allowing me to capture this image.

I really like the way that you can see his striking red cap so well in this photo, as well as the beautiful black and white markings on his back.

© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.