Black woodpecker - the largest of the European woodpeckers

The black woodpecker is a constant presence in the Alpine and pre-Alpine woods, but often you only hear its unmistakable "whistle" without ever seeing it. The black woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Europe, measuring twice as long as the great spotted woodpecker. It is a wonderful bird that has always fascinated me, and it was a little dream of mine to find a nest in the spring to photograph. So when my father told me he had found a nest not far from my house in the wooded areas around Lake Orta I knew it was my chance.

Photographing birds at the nest is very delicate and the only possible solution is to use a hide, stay hidden and at a great distance. Without exception, do not be seen or alter the tranquility of the bird in any way is a priority. The photos in this gallery were taken from a hide, at a great distance with focal lengths between 500 and 1000 mm.

The nest is dug in an old beech tree, inside a very thick forest of beech and chestnut trees. The light even in broad daylight is low and filters only through the treetops, for this reason some of the images are “dark” and taken at very high ISO. In the gallery you can see the chicks waiting for their parents, the female and the male. The two sexes are distinguished by the red spot on their heads. In the case of the male, the top of the head is completely red, while in the female only the back part is colored.