Autumn Patterns—Hairy Woodpecker

Reproduced from an original watercolor, which appeared on the cover of Bird Watchers Digest, Nov/Dec 1997.

The Hairy Woodpecker is one of my favorites. Although often overlooked as Downy look-alikes, they have a lot more attitude.  None of that gentle tapping on a twig for them; the Hairy can really whack!  Even their loud peek call sounds tough.

During the long winter months here in upstate New York, I enjoy watching Hairys on our suet feeders, but I rarely get a glimpse of them after the woodlands leaf out in spring—although I know they nest nearby and I often hear their raucous calls and rattles.

In Autumn Patterns, I celebrate what always feels like the “return” of the Hairy Woodpecker in autumn. The sugar maple’s foliage is the most incandescent of all our trees, but the gorgeous color is fleeting, and within days usually just a scattering of leaves remain on the tree—lingering as notes of brilliant color on steely gray fall days.

EDITION SIZE:  300 signed & numbered
IMAGE SIZE:  approx.  14” x 10”
PAPER:   Acid free, neutral pH,  18” x 14”

PRICE  plus shipping and sales tax, if applicable:

$ 40  shrink-wrapped
 $ 65 double-matted with 100% rag matboard and backing