more young-uns

This morning upon hearing a sharp pheeet, became curious to put a name to the sound. I went to investigate and not being cautious enough I startled this male yellow shafted flicker. The early morning sun glowing through his head heart makes a delightful view.

A scurrying in the grass caught my attention and a flutter of wings went over the fence and landed in the neighboring yard, though I could not tell it may have been a young one. Then this little one pops out of the grass to investigate me.

The parent flew to the backyard giving a few calls and the little one bounced, flounced and tumbled clumsily attempting to fly. Sadly it has not enough wing feathers to get airborne so I hope it stays safe in the long grass and shrubbery. For about an hour it spent its time climbing and grooming itself on the rubble pile waiting for the parent to return with grub.

Here you can see the lack of flight feathers.

For a while it hides, but mostly was content to sit out in the open. 

All shots were taken with a 300mm lens and cropped.