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.
