Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

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