downy woodpecker

Earlier, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker had drilled holes in the bark of this tree, but now this Downy Woodpecker was helping himself to the sap that had filled them! (See my BirdForum Photo Gallery for more pictures of these two picids of the eastern United States.)

The Downy Woodpecker is found from coast to coast across North America. Distinguishing it from the similarly-marked (and also widely-occurring) Hairy Woodpecker are the Downy's smaller size, shorter bill, and softer downslurred rattle call. In both species the red occipital patch distinguishes...

Going through some older photos and found this one from almost 2 years ago. It was a dark and stormy day :)

The woodpeckers that feed on my suet feeder usually fly off or duck behind the tree when I walk out my back door to try to get a closer picture. This one let me get within 10 feet of him for the photo.

I surely wish I'd caught this with a prettier background but I was so taken with the beautiful 'checkerboard' pattern on this extended wing I thought you'd all like to see this. I've got a suet feeder just off to the left of the bird in this shot which is why I couldn't crop this with a little...

Female Downy Woodpecker

Yes this is a Downy. You can just barely see the black spots on the white part of the tail--the sure sign of a key difference from the Hairy (besides the size).

Can't help but to take pictures of Downies

Got a bit too much contra-shading: especially for a bird that is nothing but extremes of black and white, as it is.

It was another overcast day yesterday with sparce visits from my garden birds but I was really pleased to have this Downy Woodpecker come in to the suet perch. He posed there for the longest time like a perfect gentleman. I just love these little woodpeckers. They make a sharp 'pic' call as they...

Yes, the sky really was that blue. It was one of those skys that happens just after a rain has gone through: scrubbing the very air crystaline transparent and thus scattering the blue spectra of light all the more for the end result seen here. I do so detest shooting into the sky; but this was...

She just chased a Female Red Bellied Woodpecker from this tree stump, while the male Downy was waiting nearby

This female pose for several pictures.

While having coffee, I watched these two playing for a while and got a few pictures before the rain comes, and it will, because it is getting darker by the minute.

I like the symmetry in the face from this perspective.

which meant the sun was shining, which meant miserable shooting condition, ooooops, only kidding. Anyway, this female been coming around lately. Now I have a pair and a half, waiting on the other male.

Origenoly I was trying to get an image of a Red-naped Sapsucker. But...

Long line at the suet feeders. They must anticipate the bad weather coming.

Well, sooner or later I knew he'd show up, and he was right on time. Tomorrow I'll try for the Flicker and the Yellow bellied Sapsucker, along with the Hairy Woodpecker

The Sapsucker had arrived just above this Downy causing its head feathers to puff out.

just can't see the red on his head and I like this pose better than the one I posted in my blog

All I seen today was Woodpeckers all over the place, it was like the Interstate, actually didn't know who or which one to go after without getting speared.