Female Downy Woodpecker

I don't often have the pleasure of seeing a Downy Woodpecker in our yard,

but I got lucky a couple of days ago...

She stayed on the Mimosa tree trunk for several minutes, pecking around for insects.  

Such a cute little beauty.

Upside Downy

I watched this little Downy woodpecker scoot along the limbs on a pine and oak tree in search of tiny bits of food.  She was very thorough as she pecked away at the crevices and peeked inside any holes that were along her path.  Little did she realize how much of my time she consumed, but I enjoyed each minute of watching her.  

Sharing with Stewart this week for

Wild Bird Wednesday

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Friday was a beautiful, sunny day- much different than the chilly, wet day before.  It was the kind of day that draws me outdoors with my coffee in one hand and my camera in the other.   The birds seemed pleased with the sunshine as well- they flocked around the feeders, foraged through leaves and pine straw on the ground and sang gaily from the tree tops.  I couldn't resist watching them...

A large crowd of Chipping Sparrows and a few Goldfinches 

hung out together in puddles of bird seed...

while others were happy at the feeders.

After their appetite was temporarily satisfied, some took a few moments to bathe in 

the gentle sunlight...as I was doing.

This little one needed a short nap...

A few Pine Siskins decided to visit...

(this is the first time I've ever seen Pine Siskins)

At the edge of the woods, a Carolina Wren and Northern Cardinal

picked through their favorite seeds.

A Carolina Chickadee hopped along the concrete bench 

under a favorite tree.

A Tufted Titmouse is slowly hopping toward the feeder

This is the first Downy Woodpecker I've seen since we moved here.

(I THINK this is a Downy- please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Yet another first- a Purple Finch!  There were actually several of them

in my back yard yesterday- my first time ever seeing this species of finch.  They're gorgeous!

I wish you all a Happy Weekend!  

Thank you, as always, for visiting my blog and leaving comments!!!

Linked with Eileen at Saturday's Critters

Downy Woodpeckers: Maggie's Family

On May 10th, my blog post was about Maggie, the precious little Downy Woodpecker who visits our feeders frequently.  She always came alone to dine and I wondered if she had a family.  

On June 16th, I heard Maggie calling out in the tree from which the feeders hang.  I scanned the tree, searching for a sign of her.  There she was- hopping along a branch high in the tree, nearly hidden behind the leaves.  Suddenly I heard the high-pitched screech of a baby bird and I saw fluttering wings just below Maggie.  With my eyes focused on Maggie, I watched as she scooted closer to the baby bird.  I then scooped up my camera and tried to zoom in closer, using my lens like binoculars to watch. 

I smiled when I realized that Maggie was indeed feeding a baby downy.  She has a family :) Moments later, a male downy appeared from behind the leaves and I was able to see a fairly clear image of him- the red markings on his nape confirmed his gender.  As he edged along the branch, the fledgling downy followed and I got a brief view of the cutie.  I'm uncertain of the gender of the fledgling because it is too young to presently confirm (bottom right photo above). Imagine my excitement upon seeing this sweet little family together!

As I drank coffee while sitting on my front porch yesterday morning, I watched the male Downy Woodpecker feeding his offspring. He went completely around the branch, picking at insects and bringing them to the mouth of his little one. During this process, the fledgling was learning how to hunt food for itself. So darn cute!!! I had to blur the borders of the photos so the birds could be seen better...it was difficult to see them clearly in all the leaves and tiny branches. I'm still uncertain of the gender of this fledgling- is it the same one in the photos above?  Is there more than one fledgling? I'm presently uncertain.  I should know more in weeks to come, in future visits to our feeders and nearby trees. 

I'm absolutely captured by all the beautiful bird families that visit my front yard...love them!  

Downy Woodpecker: I Think I'll Call Her Maggie

This little cutie has been a regular visitor to our feeders for several days.  She's about half the size of the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers.  I know this one is female because there is no red spot on top of her head.  The male Downy's have the red spot.  Like the other woodpeckers, she flies into the tree near our front porch then scoots backward down the tree until she reaches the height of the feeder.  She'll then spring to the outer rim of the feeder and hold on long enough to grasp a seed or nut with her tiny beak.  Next, she'll return to the tree and find a higher branch to settle on and eat.  

Isn't she a beauty?  I think I'll call her Maggie.  She just looks like a "Maggie" to me. Don't ask me why. Her white underfeathers look so soft, like cotton, or "down"- maybe that's the reason for their name?  I haven't seen a male Downy Woodpecker as of yet.  

According to what I've read about them, during winter the male and female Downy Woodpeckers divide up to search for food.  Males feed more on small branches and weed stems, and females feed on larger branches and trunks. Males keep females from foraging in the more productive spots. When researchers have removed males from a woodlot, females have responded by feeding along smaller branches.  So, it seems she would be better off on her own.

Downy Woodpeckers eat mainly insects, including beetle larvae that live inside wood or tree bark as well as ants and caterpillars. They eat pest insects including corn earworm, tent caterpillars, bark beetles, and apple borers. About a quarter of their diet consists of plant material, particularly berries, acorns, and grains. Downy Woodpeckers are common feeder birds, eating suet and black oil sunflower seeds and occasionally drinking from hummingbird feeders.

Maggie is so sweet.  She comes to gather a few little nuts to satisfy her appetite then quietly slips away, into the forest...