This Downey has been coming to my suite feeder and enjoying my sunflower seeds all winter. I see him and his mate, who has no red markings on her head coming back and forth. They are such a pleasure to watch. During the winter months they come every day.
Downey and Hairy woodpeckers are almost identical in coloration. The Downey is much smaller in size and has a much shorter beak than the Hairy, according to audobon.org . Another indicator is the red patch on the top of the head of the male. In the Downey, the red patch is usually solid all the way across. On the hairy it is split.
Up to his eyeballs
in suet cake, Downey feasts.
Saves headaches for spring
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
So beautiful! Lucky you!
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If you feed them they will come…. :>)
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Great shots ! So adorable, he’s workin so hard lol
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Yes he really is going at it! Thanks for stopping by.
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‘saves headaches for spring’ 🙂 I haven’t heard them yet, but soon the woodpeckers will be drumming away again. We do already have our storks back!
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Thank you Peter! Where do your storks migrate from?
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I think they migrate to and fro Africa. But due to the warming of earth I know some birds don’t bother to migrate anymore. Not sure about storks though. I do know their nest is empty during winter and I don’t see them around elsewhere, so I guess they indeed do move south.
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Maybe further on down the continent!
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It’s a beautiful bird. Yes, it seems like most of the male of birds and animals are gorgeous and females are plain.
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Really beautiful birds. The dull coloration in the female is to camouflage them from predators while nesting!
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That make more sense, now you pointed that out about the female colors.
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No gender discrimination here! :>)
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Yes, I know!
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He’s just beautiful!
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Yes he is!!
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Amazing little acrobats. Nice photos!
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Yes, they are wonderful!
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So pretty. I simply adore birds! That is why I have my baby boy Peanut. (parrot). He’ll be turning 31 this month. He grew up so fast. 😊
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Nice shots, Dwight.
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Thanks Ken!
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Fantastic shot, called Pico pino, here in Spain and we hear them all the time but I haven’t managed to get a photo! Well done!
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How interesting! Thank you!
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Spring headaches – hmmmm.
In one place I lived I had both of them hanging out; the Hairy is much bigger than this dude. Both amazing. (There’s an apparatus at my gym that allows me to do that move but I’ve never mastered the call.)
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Ha… I am long past hanging like that!! Thanks for stopping and commenting!
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