This is one scraggily pileated ... I'm thinking he's a youngster who is still in that awkward adolescent time period.
I love this flower and I post about it every year about this time.
I can't help myself.
This Coral Bean, aka Cherokee Bean, plant grows amongst my blueberries. It's a toss-up as to who loves it the most, me or the hummingbirds.
...Tough as nails to photograph though the red never looks as red in the pic as it did in real life.
That is the goofiest looking pileated!! He looks like he's been pecking on an electric transformer.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! I have the same problem with red flowers.
ReplyDeleteWonder why.
He is a scraggly looking thing! Great shots even if the red didn't come out quite right.
ReplyDeleteLOL Word verification is beright - which I like to be LOL
That is the most hideous bird I have ever seen...well almost! :)
ReplyDeleteGood grief! Can birds get mange? Maybe he's a throwback.
ReplyDeleteRed things send me right up the wall. Wonder why cameras have so much trouble with that particular colour. My painted bunting pic is the latest frustration. No matter how much editing I do, it's still too orangey. >:\ Googling images, it seems a very common problem.
He's the Johnny Rotten of the pileated. Anarchy at PFHQ!
ReplyDeleteEveryone has taken the words right out of my mouth, so I guess I don't have to comment on the bird. But the flower is beautiful even though the red isn't as viberant in the picture as in real life.
ReplyDeleteThe coral bean is beautiful! I hope later we might see a picture of a hummingbird enjoying it?
ReplyDeleteThere was a beautiful, sleek pileated in my backyard this afternoon, and I DASHED OUT to get a picture, hoping to impress you. I was sorely disappointed when he flew off before I could snap the photo.
That pileated looks like he has mites. This is the spring, when birds look their best, so I hope you are right - that he is just a juvie with a bed head look.
ReplyDeleteI googled juvenile pileated woodpecker, and the photos I found didn't quite look like this poor fellow. I hope he recovers from whatever might be ailing him. Nice flower pics.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, maybe ...
3C,
I don't have the answer, but I'm glad it's not just me.
SandCMomma,
The word verifications HAVE gotten a lot more interesting.
Cindy,
I hope it's temporary!
Sophiemae,
I figure I have an Ivorybill chick and nobody has realized it yet. This will be more famous than my meteorite!
and the red certainly is a challenge!
Troll,
LOL! I suppose he will burn out at a young age then.
Lisa,
I think we all agree this bird has issues. This flower is an amazing thing and even it's seeds are beautiful!
Suze,
I was just hypothesizing about that, but he does have that half way there look to me. He was very active and doing all the normal things.
Robin,
Thanks for that input. Maybe he was bathing in one of my water holes just before this pic. I suppose that is possible ... could he just be wet? It had not rained that day.
Wow, that woodpecker must be having a bad feather day! And, nice flowers.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought my teenage chickens looked scruffy...
ReplyDeleteI hope the pileated is OK. It's a great shot.
ReplyDeleteFC-
ReplyDeleteA few days, ago over on Barrier Island Girl, she posted the Coral Bean flower also. Hers shows up a magnificent red. Check it out.
Lightnin
Definately a bit scraggly...but they are great birds.
ReplyDeletewww.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com