>>:::<<
indelible patterns
embellish autumn colors
woodpecker clothing
>>:::<<
These are photos of a male (top) and female (lower) Red-shafted Northern Flicker. They are a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family and are known as one of the few woodpecker species that migrate. They reside in western North America. (There is also a Yellow-shafted variety that resides in eastern North America.)
Their outer coloring is mostly neutral with handsome black-scalloped plumage along their back, a bold black chest crescent, and white/buff with black spotting along their front feathers. The males have a red moustache. Both sexes are red under their tail and wings, and are stunning when they take off with their vibrant flashes and flickers of red! They eat mainly ants and beetles, and spend lots of time on the ground.
Their colors are indicative of autumn for me. Here, they frequent our suet feeders in the winter, and are gone by spring.
This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is to share a picture which means pattern to you.
Linking up with:
CAMERA CRITTERS
THE BIRD D’POT
WEEKLY TOP SHOT
Creativity Aroused 
Gorgeous photos of a beautiful species!
Two great pictures. I am always delighted to read you
Very very well captured… 🙂
That is some beautiful bird …. never seen a woodpecker that beautiful and both male and female has those lovely colors and patterns. And the photos in themselves are fantastic.
frumos!
(Romanian for “beautiful”)
Beautiful!
Wow! Stunning! And that is haute couture 🙂
What a marvelous photo of the Flicker! Simply beautiful.
Nicely done! I love the flickers. Here in the West Coast they stick around all year. (And drum on anything roof top and metal…at 4am) 🙂
What an interesting pattern – great pictures!
Gorgeous photos, Fergie. Such beautiful birds and so well captured in the frame.
These are really well shot.
Pingback: Weekly photo challenge: Pattern | blogagaini
The top one is my favorite–more interesting for its actions and capture of its various colorations. Well done.
Wow! What beautiful shots. I had to do a double and triple look on the first shot to make sure it wasn’t a painting. Fantastic shooting, Fergiemoto. 🙂
Fantastic photos of one of the prettiest of all birds!
It’s art. How interesting to see such unique patterns. Great challenge.
wow, such beautiful images. thank you for sharing 🙂
Pingback: Weekly photo challenge: patterns-Kengiro Azuma sculptor in Matera, Italy 2010 | Bastet and Sekhmet
What a beautiful couple!
What beautiful birds! I love their plumage. Superb photos!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge – Pattern: Roofs | Flickr Comments
incredibly beautiful fergie …thank you 🙂
your female flicker on snow portrait is wonderful – maybe she is worth to celebrate tomorrow Mother’s Day too!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern (B4 Retouch 12: Porspoder 2) | What's (in) the picture?
Oh my goodness, what fabulous photographs! Your photography takes my breath away with each new one I see. Just beyond words. I thought my appreciation of nature was always strong, but since my diagnosis I realise how much more intense it has become. i love my visits here:) xx.
Lovely photos!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern | Memory Catcher
What wonderful captures of this beautiful pair of birds! The first shot is just amazing, really showing off the red in the feathers.
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern (Gyantse Kumbum) | What's (in) the picture?
They do have incredibly beautiful patterns, don;t they?!!!
As always, I love your haiku AND beautiful image!
🙂
Happy Saturday!
Oh, these are absolutely gorgeous photo’s Fergie! Love it! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Pingback: Weekly photo challenge: Pattern | The (Urban-Wildlife) Interface
How appropriate to have photographs of a flicker on Flicker.
The patterns from nature are truly beautiful.
Oh, a red-shafted. Excellent display.
You have an incredible eye for and incredible skills to capture birds. These of the Red-shafted Northern Flicker are beautiful. In particular I find the first photo of the male tantalizing, captured in the exact right moment. Love your haiku too.
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern (Sherpa Tibet) | What's (in) the picture?
Gorgeous birds! The patterns are beautiful.
Great images of the Flicker. They are cool birds to see. Happy Sunday!
Oh my gosh, that top photo is just that……..”tops”. I’ve never seen such a beautiful image, like that one. Incredible.
Nice capture on the yellow shaft. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
beautiful
As always stunning. Such beautiful creatures.
Wow – these are stunning!
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Pattern (2) | Bastet and Sekhmet
That first shot is beautiful! The woodpecker has very nice clothing! 🙂
Gorgeous. I am jealous, I can never get good bird shots! You’ve captured them so well!
I just love the top shot! Wow. It showcases this beautiful bird’s coloring so well. The females are pretty too.
Such beauty always astounds me….love these captures, fergie, especially the fine detail in the bottom tail feathers of the male. Lovely.
The patterns and colors of Nature’s creatures are so beautiful, no human designer can ever match. Not even Chanel and Gucci! Wonderful!
By the way Fergie, your Haiku is exquisite! We are raving at your photos and I’ve been noticing the little gems that accompany the visuals. Delighted. Sharon
Beautiful images. I love the first.
Stunningly beautiful photos. Colours and patterns magnificent.