The haunting cry of the black woodpecker echoed through the forest. Carlos silently willed the bird to come closer to the hide, where there were feeders. It soon landed on a trunk right in front of him, poking its head out every so often. ‘I just love its funny expression,’ he says.
Known for its clumsy flight and the hammering sound of its bill against tree trunks, the black woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Europe. Its powerful bill can drill deep to dig out wood-boring grubs and create nesting chambers. When abandoned, these hollows provide valuable homes for other birds and mammals.
Spain
Carlos has been taking photographs since he was five. He has won prizes in several international competitions and was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2014. He loves nature and spends as much time as possible photographing the plants and animals near his home in Spain and on holiday.
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