Ken Nielsen Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Not a great photo but at least caught this. This bird showed up new as I just put up a Suet Cake feeder and likes it very much. I have never seen this bird in our area before so new to me. Can you help me with identity? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneat Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Looks good for a Hairy Woodpecker. Wait for more confirmation though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 That is a Downy Woodpecker. They love suet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 I don't see any sign of a shoulder spur and the proportions look better for a Downy, in my opinion. Dimensions of the suet feeder would help, I guess. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneat Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Alright, that makes sense. I wasn't able to accurately determine beak length because of suet cage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbvol50 Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Downy Woodpecker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Downy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted March 12, 2020 Author Share Posted March 12, 2020 (edited) Here's terrible, but another shot and shows the beak... Suet cage is about 5" square. Edited March 12, 2020 by Ken Nielsen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Yeah, I'm sticking with Downy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneat Posted March 12, 2020 Share Posted March 12, 2020 Definitely Downy with the second picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Downy for me, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birding Boy Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 Absolutely downy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted March 13, 2020 Author Share Posted March 13, 2020 Big thanks to everyone here for responding. A rather small bird but very beautiful also and will be nice to get close. I have put branches around for the birds to land on, but this one and has a friend also, stay high in the trees and then come down for one thing only, exactly as you see, the suet. Then he stays glued to that until flying off when done. I'll study how I'm going to get a picture anywhere other than hanging onto the feeder. In flight, good luck with that as he's got speed and does't hang around. Now I know he's a Downy Woodpecker... pretty neat. Thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 9 hours ago, Ken Nielsen said: Big thanks to everyone here for responding. A rather small bird but very beautiful also and will be nice to get close. I have put branches around for the birds to land on, but this one and has a friend also, stay high in the trees and then come down for one thing only, exactly as you see, the suet. Then he stays glued to that until flying off when done. I'll study how I'm going to get a picture anywhere other than hanging onto the feeder. In flight, good luck with that as he's got speed and does't hang around. Now I know he's a Downy Woodpecker... pretty neat. Thanks! I actually put a large fallen log from the woods upright right under my suet feeder. It looks like a tree leading up to the food. When the Downies want to eat the suet, they first fly onto the “tree” and I can take many natural-looking shots. If you put the log close enough to the feeder, the woodpeckers sometimes don’t even go onto the feeder, but stand on the log and peck at the feeder! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanityslave Posted March 13, 2020 Share Posted March 13, 2020 54 minutes ago, akandula said: I actually put a large fallen log from the woods upright right under my suet feeder. It looks like a tree leading up to the food. When the Downies want to eat the suet, they first fly onto the “tree” and I can take many natural-looking shots. If you put the log close enough to the feeder, the woodpeckers sometimes don’t even go onto the feeder, but stand on the log and peck at the feeder! i LOVE this idea! ive got acres and acres around me.... ill be talking to my wife tonight about doing some foraging ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirVive Posted March 14, 2020 Share Posted March 14, 2020 You can even drill large holes in the log itself and pack the suet into them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 On 3/13/2020 at 5:42 AM, akandula said: I actually put a large fallen log from the woods upright right under my suet feeder. It looks like a tree leading up to the food. When the Downies want to eat the suet, they first fly onto the “tree” and I can take many natural-looking shots. If you put the log close enough to the feeder, the woodpeckers sometimes don’t even go onto the feeder, but stand on the log and peck at the feeder! That's hilarious, and thank you for that tip. A great idea for photography! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted March 17, 2020 Author Share Posted March 17, 2020 On 3/13/2020 at 8:54 PM, SirVive said: You can even drill large holes in the log itself and pack the suet into them. More good ideas here. Thank You SirVive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarscadden Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 On 3/13/2020 at 8:42 AM, akandula said: I actually put a large fallen log from the woods upright right under my suet feeder. It looks like a tree leading up to the food. When the Downies want to eat the suet, they first fly onto the “tree” and I can take many natural-looking shots. If you put the log close enough to the feeder, the woodpeckers sometimes don’t even go onto the feeder, but stand on the log and peck at the feeder! ahhhhhhh I see you to not have the problems with squirrels that I...Mine seem to be training for the Olympic Long Jump or something...if I have anything within 6 feet of any of my feedes...the squirrels jump the gap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 1 hour ago, jcarscadden said: ahhhhhhh I see you to not have the problems with squirrels that I...Mine seem to be training for the Olympic Long Jump or something...if I have anything within 6 feet of any of my feedes...the squirrels jump the gap I am pleased to offer my exclusive 'Rent-A-Terrier' service. Whatbird members are eligible for discounts. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 17, 2020 Share Posted March 17, 2020 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I am pleased to offer my exclusive 'Rent-A-Terrier' service. Whatbird members are eligible for discounts. Maggie, aka 'SquirrelBane the Unstoppable'. Fourteen pounds of Hell on paws. Edited March 17, 2020 by Charlie Spencer 3 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarscadden Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 20 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Maggie, aka 'SquirrelBane the Unstoppable'. Fourteen pounds of Hell on paws. need to know if Maggie comes with guarantee. So far two foxes and at least 4 hawks have had little luck. Does Maggie climb trees just kidding...if you were to leaser her out...then what would happen to your squirrel population. And I have to admit it - the squirrels can be entertaining at times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 1 hour ago, jcarscadden said: need to know if Maggie comes with guarantee. So far two foxes and at least 4 hawks have had little luck. Does Maggie climb trees just kidding...if you were to leaser her out...then what would happen to your squirrel population. And I have to admit it - the squirrels can be entertaining at times She sure does. She'll run all squirrels up the nearest trees, then come running back and I GUARANTEE ... she'll want to know why it's taking you so long to give her a biscuit. She may not get rid of them, but they won't come back to your feeders while she's out there. She's more than willing to wait them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcarscadden Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 thanks but think I will pass on Maggie - probably grow broke buying reward biscuits...smiling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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