Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Woodpecker yardbirds

I am linking up my Woodpecker with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

For this week's post  I have a couple of my yardbirds.... the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the Downy Woodpecker.



 The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is in the woodpecker family. It is a winter bird for my area and is found in deciduous and mixed forest. They trap their food by drilling holes and forming sap wells which traps the insects.


Above the adult female has a red crown and white nape. The male has both the red crown and a red throat. It is a mid-size woodpecker ranging from 7-8.7 inches in length.





The Downy woodpecker is the smallest American woodpecker.  They can range in size from 5 1/2 to 7 inches in length. It is a resident to my area and it can be found in any wooded environment.


The female lacks the red spot that shows on the nape which is found on the male Downy woodpecker. It has a tiny bill and they eat insect, seeds and berries. And as you can see they love suet.



Other woodies I can see in and around my yard are the Hairy Woodpecker, The Northern Flicker and the Pileated Woodpecker.

I hope you enjoyed my woodie post.To see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

52 comments:

  1. Hi Eileen, You knew you had my complete attention with this subject for your featured post today! Ha! Excellent shots of your woodpecker friends. The Sapsucker is probably the least noticed of the woodpeckers in my opinion. They are great birds! Have a wonderful Wed. tomorrow! P.S. Tomorrow will be my own "Woodpecker Wednesday".

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  2. I love all your woodpeckers. These are amazing birds. The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker is reported here but I couldn't find it this past weekend. The best part is that you don't have to travel to see these beauties!:)

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  3. I love woodpeckers! I've only seen Downys in my yard but am ever hopeful to see a Hairy or Red-bellied. My first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was dead unfortunately. I brought it home and buried it in my yard. I think my favourite is the Northern Flicker. I love the varied pattern of their feathers.
    My boyfriend made me a wonderful suet feeder out of a log and the birds love it. A little Red-breasted Nuthatch is visiting it this year which tickles me.
    Happy Birding, Eileen!

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  4. You've got a great collection of woodys there! I rarely see the yellowed bellied here in Florida. I mostly have seen them when I visit Atlanta.

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  5. The downy woodpecker is such a cute little thing. I saw when the other day. : ) You got some really good pictures of him!!

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  6. :) yellow-bellied sap-sucker makes me smile; I can't help but think owning that title is somewhat comical. Charming birds but my eye definately hones in on the downy woodpecker; very eye-catching for me. Thanks for sharing Eileen; beautiful photographs

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  7. You have a great variety of woodies in your yard Eileen! I'm happy to just see one. Thanks for sharing these beauties.

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  8. great shots of the sapsucker! so hard to get at in the trees!

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  9. the sapsucker looks big, i'm surprised to learn that the female has some red!!

    your downey images are beautiful, sharp, crisp and clear!!

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  10. Great shots of the woodies Eileen! They certainly are cool birds and I love their drumming.

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  11. Wonderful shots of the downy woodpecker! I managed to spot one last year in my neighborhood, but my captures weren't nearly as crisp as yours. Take care, Eileen.

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  12. Great shots of the woodpeckers. They are such beautiful birds.

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  13. I haven't been paying much attention to our backyard birds. I do know that we need to get more bird seed out there for them or they will go elsewhere to eat! Nice pics of your woodpeckers!

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  14. Hi Eileen...I love the Yellow Belly..I don't see then in winter
    probably because they are your place!! ; )
    They sure are noisy buggers!!
    The Downy year round here..love them!!
    Great shots!!
    Grace

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  15. I loved seeing your woodpeckers today...especially the little downy.

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  16. You've educated me, Eileen! Thank you.

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  17. Amazing photos!

    The woodpeckers remind me of the tap, tap, tapping they do on the cedar of our house during the winter. Maybe we need to provide cedar "tapping boards" for them in the woods . . . I think they find insects and mites in the cedar boards? They leave holes though . . .

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  18. Great pictures of your woodpeckers, Eileen. My Downy has been misbehaving and is on my 'bad boy' list!!!!

    He/they are eating holes in our newly painted house.. They NEVER EVER touched it before we had it painted. Wonder why they are doing it now? Guess they like the taste of the paint....??????

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  19. I can't say that I've ever seen a yellowed bellied. I'll have to check if they are even in my area.
    I'll have to just enjoy yours. :)
    Love your Downies! I have a pair now but they are wanting to peck on our house and hubby is getting frustrated. It's the first year they have done this.
    Have a wonderful week Eileen!

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  20. Great photos and beautiful birds to have in your yard.

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  21. Nice pictures of woodpecker.
    Thanks for the comment on my blog.
    Hanne Bente

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  22. Nice! I get the downy and hairy woodpeckers at my feeders in the winter, and occasionally see a three-toed and the northern flicker in the summer. I'd love to see one of the pilateds.

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  23. Wow! great pics. No woodpeckers in Australia so very interesting.

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  24. Eileen, I just love woodpeckers! I am missing my little downies as we do not have them here in Tucson so it is nice to see a photo of them! Sapsuckers seem so much wilder to me!

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  25. Nice Woodpecker series, I love them.

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  26. You have such gorgeous feathered visitors to your garden.

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  27. The sapsucker has worked it out well, how to catch its food.

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  28. Beautiful captures of both the Sapsucker and the striking black and white Downy woodpecker, Eileen.
    I wish we lived in a wooded area like you do :>

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  29. Hallo Eileen!What a lovely bird the Woodpecker is!!We dont have them here!Great shots!And you're lucky to see them in your lovely yard!!Thank you for your kind comment!Wishing you a lovely day!
    Dimi..

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  30. I love the spots on their wings!

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  31. I love the dappled sunlight with the bird in the tree. Beautiful images Eileen.

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  32. Lovely pictures of the woodpeckers! I can't say I've seen so many in my life and this was interesting!

    Thanks for your kind of comment! Yes I'm feeling better now!
    Greetings Pia

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  33. Beautiful photography. We have a woodpecker that frequents our suet feeder. He is black & white with white specks, the back of his neck is red. So pretty!
    Thanks for visiting, come again soon!
    Cindy

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  34. Wonderful photos! I recently learned more about the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. I think it's my favorite name for a bird ever haha :)

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  35. Very nice images and good informative article!

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  36. Oh I really like the dawny woodpecker, so beautiful in black and white!

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  37. You have me jealous again. We have only downy and hairy woodpeckers at our feeders. ;)

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  38. Very nice Eileen...Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, all such fun and fascinating birds to have around~

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  39. Great captures of these birds.

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  40. I get the downy and red-bellied but only once seen the flicker in my backyard. Wish he would come back! Great captures!

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  41. Dearest Eileen,
    Wow, Beautiful pictures of "Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers♡♡♡
    I wish I could see these lovely birds ad hear them sing.
    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  42. ...That is why I do LOVE NATURE!
    xo
    BShell

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  43. These are fine looking Woodpeckers, Eileen!

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  44. Great information and great pictures Eileen. Thanks for sharing your peckers with us.

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  45. Great pictures - I'd love to have woodpeckers as yard birds!

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW - Stewart M - Australia

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  46. Eileen, that Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is very much like a woodpecker; of course I've never seen one until this post. Thanks! I love the tiny Downy Woodpecker too. Thanks for sharing you woodie post! Jo

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  47. I love all the woodpeckers and like you are happy to feed them in exchange for getting to watch their antics..Lovely series...Michelle

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