One of My Favorites

Ferdinand Flicker is standing at the top of the ski jump, hoping the wind will die down so he can get his jump underway.  He's feeling quite confident with a good practice run yesterday, and sees an Olympic medal in his future.  
(I was thrilled to run into this Northern Flicker today.  It isn't a bird that I see very often, which makes it special, but I think it's the markings that grab my attention.  The bold black bars and dots combined with the distinctive red head patch are a marvel of nature.  Not to mention the yellow feathers under the tail, which are found in the eastern version.  I believe this is a male, due to the black mustache stripe.)