20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
"Awaiting delivery"

The picture was taken on the carribean beach of Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México almost at midday. You can observe a juvenile golden fronted woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons) in a nest build into the trunk of a palm tree on a carribean beach waiting for its mum to come back with food. You can notice that its feathers are almost full grown and it will probably start to fly in a couple of days or weeks. The golden feathers on its front will appears only after a couple of years. Nest digged into the trees can be used or recycled by a wide variety of species all along the year in this part of America such as woodpecker, toucans, owls and even sometimes iguanas.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2019
Date Uploaded: 10.2022
Photo Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Copyright: © Thomas Peuvion