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Along with the black-chested buzzard-eagle, the loica, and the torrent duck, this is one of my favorite Patagonian birds. It is much sought-after by visiting birders: a very big, spectacular black-and-white woodpecker, and both sexes show striking markings: the male has a flaming red head, and the female has an elaborate crest and a red 'face' at the base of her bill. These birds were in the Lago Grey area of the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in south Chile, where I photographed them on an overcast day that provided even lighting on their highly contrasty plumage. They were foraging on southern beech trees (Chilean 'oaks', Nothofagus) or using them as drumming perches. |
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