Two female
Downy Woodpeckers,
Picoides pubescens, were like pinballs around our patio and pergola a couple of days ago. One was noticeably showing more white on back of her head. At first I thought it was because she was raising her crest (or lack there of), which is something I don’t think I’d seen a Downy do before. (sorry, no feather-raising photo yet)
The first made her way down to the ground/patio and drank from the rim of an overturned half-barrel. You can see the “tuft of nasal bristles” (Sibley) around her beak, at right.
Above is the second female, showing more white. She seemed more nervous also, but in my brief reading I haven’t found the white (crown line?) as a juvenile indicator.
Look at that wicked long toe. Very handy for clinging.
I’ve been hearing these little woodpeckers knocking at the back of the house around the roof trim. I hope they're culling the Carpenter Bee larvae.
3 comments:
Hi Susanna,
I have Downy's, Hairy's and the occasional Pileated in my backyard, but your photos are fantastic!! what I am trying to do..but not quite there yet.
Thanks for following...I am honoured and happy to return the compliment.
Susan
...these are sweet Downy photos! And she does have considerably more white on her head. You'll be able to tell them apart as they visit your feeders easily!
Thank you Thank you The photos are a bit hazy because I was shooting through three panes of glass... But the woodpeckers hung around so long I got muscle fatigue from holding my camera!
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