Another (new) bird in the yard....

[jennlk]

This time, a red bellied woodpecker. Despite the name, not so much with the red belly, but he's got a red-orange mohawk and a very pretty zebra-striped black and white back.

First time I've ever seen one of them. He was tearing at the cake in the suet feeder. I may want to put a second cage out, now that it's getting to be winter. (and that explains the huge gouges in the suetcake.)

Comments

[antisorbate.livejournal.com]

Are those the ones that are like... a foot tall? We had 3 of them hanging out in the yard all day when we were up north. I'd never seen them before either.

[jennlk]

He was certainly much larger than the downys and hairys that I've seen on the suetcage, so yeah, probably.

My Michigan bird book claims that they live in MI year-round, but I've never seen one before. Mum said she's seen a couple of them, but not since she moved into town, and only when she was out on the walking trails at the Metroparks -- she was kind of surprised that one was at the feeder here.

[bwittig.livejournal.com]

I believe you are thinking about the Pileated woodpecker. Those are the large ones with the red crest on their head--I believe they were the model for the Woody Woodpecker cartoon character.

They have made quite a comeback around our cabin as well.

[jennlk]

I never actually got a good look at his underside -- he had his back to me most of the time, except when the cage swung around a bit.

[bwittig.livejournal.com]

They get a slight red on the belly, looks more like dirt than intentional red coloring. They do love the suet. Their call is quite distinctive as well. We have had them in our back yard for at least 5 years, but then we are near a nice wooded area.

(Correcting my spelling, sorry 'bout that.)

[isherempress.livejournal.com]

Nice. We had 2 pairs of those at the feeder last winter. Very pretty birds.

[forestweather.livejournal.com]

The male showed up again yesterday, yay! Also the red-breasted nuthatch.