Hairy?

[floraphile]

16 July 2022 Bristol co. RI

[Avery]

Downy for me

[Peromyscus]

2 hours ago, Avery said:

Downy for me

And me too

[RobinHood]

Tough one but I'm leaning slightly to Hairy (maybe juvenile to account for the bill size?) - no tuft, bill is partially hidden so making it look smaller, no tail barring, long head shape, distinct spur above wing. Maybe a /.

[IKLland]

Downy IMO, but might be best to enter as a slash.

[Avery]

10 hours ago, RobinHood said:

Tough one but I'm leaning slightly to Hairy (maybe juvenile to account for the bill size?) - no tuft, bill is partially hidden so making it look smaller, no tail barring, long head shape, distinct spur above wing. Maybe a /.

It looks to me like the feathers that usually are around the bill that fluff up are missing or small, making the bill look longer. But I see your point about the spur. A slash May be the best option, as I’m not sure now. Any other photos?

Edited July 17, 2022 by Avery

[floraphile]

12 hours ago, Avery said:

It looks to me like the feathers that usually are around the bill that fluff up are missing or small, making the bill look longer. But I see your point about the spur. A slash May be the best option, as I’m not sure now. Any other photos?

@AveryA few more pics.  In the field, we both thought it was a Hairy.  

 

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by floraphile
correction

[Charlie Spencer]

The bill length in a lot of these certainly looks Downy.  That doesn't account for the plumage issues (presence of spur, absence of tail spots).

[lonestranger]

To my eye, that bill in the first photo looks like a Downy's bill, until you add the missing part. Once I take into consideration that the bill goes beyond what's visible, as @RobinHood mentioned, and the other features mentioned, I'm convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that this is a Woodpecker!!! 

I would call it a Hairy because of how big I estimate the bill to be, but angles and obstructions make it hard to judge. The shoulder spur seems obvious and I know that a lack of tail spots doesn't always mean a lack of tail spots, but I can't see them so they must not be there, right? Hairy Woodpecker for my guess.

Edited July 18, 2022 by lonestranger

[floraphile]

34 minutes ago, lonestranger said:

To my eye, that bill in the first photo looks like a Downy's bill, until you add the missing part. Once I take into consideration that the bill goes beyond what's visible, as @RobinHood mentioned, and the other features mentioned, I'm convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that this is a Woodpecker!!! 

I would call it a Hairy because of how big I estimate the bill to be, but angles and obstructions make it hard to judge. The shoulder spur seems obvious and I know that a lack of tail spots doesn't always mean a lack of tail spots, but I can't see them so they must not be there, right? Hairy Woodpecker for my guess.

Agree with woodpecker!  ?  In the field, hubby & I felt it was without a doubt a Hairy.  He also foraged more like a Hairy-i.e. on the main trunk and larger limbs.  I made the mistake of looking at the pics.

[AlexHenry]

To me first photo looks more like a Downy but second set of photos push me more towards Hairy. I will suggest we could be missing tail spots because of the way the tail feathers are being held (outer tail feathers close together, not spread out).

[k nichols]

I agree 100 percent that it is a Hairy Woodpecker. The beak is covered by a limb and makes it appear shorter. It checks all the other boxes for a Hairy Woodpecker.

[Mindy Smith]

I'm going with Hairy - great debate