At Caracolí Bird House in Colombia’s Meta region, this male Little Woodpecker (Veniliornis passerinus) clung to a textured tree trunk about eleven meters away, his bright red crown catching the light as he looked upward.
I was working with the Canon R5 and the RF800mm f/11 lens plus 1.4x extender for an effective 1120mm. In the available light I set the ISO to 3200 and used 1/90 second at f/16. The R5’s in-body stabilization held the frame steady enough to keep the fine barred plumage, the texture of the bark, and the clear red of the crown sharp despite the long focal length.
This male was actively tending a nest shared with a female. The combination of reach and stabilization made it possible to document the moment from a respectful distance without disturbing the pair.
©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer
