Now that summer has arrived the breeding season for all of our birds is in full swing and everyone is in their breeding plumage. For some species the changes in their feathers and colors are quite remarkable. In others, like the red bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) the changes are far less dramatic. Both sexes get a bit more red to their bellies. In addition, the males, like this one, get more red under their chins and on their foreheads. It was as if this guy was trying to show off his fine breeding looks when he flew in not far from me and began posing. There really wasn’t much chance of not taking a few shots of that!