Hairy Woodpecker: Unless very hungry they are skittish and often fly away when I look in their direction. A blind is helpful. Not the most colorful but definitely challenging.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Unless very hungry they are skittish and often fly away when I look in their direction. A blind is helpful.

Not the most colorful but definitely challenging.

(Download)

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

joer wrote:

Unless very hungry they are skittish and often fly away when I look in their direction. A blind is helpful.

Not the most colorful but definitely challenging.

Hey Joe...Question:

Do all the various types of these birds feed at the same dead tree limbs basically or do they keep their territories separate ? I know for instance with Blue Birds that they are extremely territorial especially during the nesting periods. And what are they actually eating from under the bark of the decaying branch ?

Thanks Man......love your work sir.

Hereford Loc: Palm Coast, FL

Very nice Hairy photo. We lived in Maine for 17 years and had a family of Hairy's. We watched them raise their kids every year. When we fed suet they raised two families per year. When they, or maybe just the male, raises the feathers atop their head they show a triangle of bright red. I liken them to a bigger Downey woodpecker.

Mbanker

Very nice shot. I am working to get my stuff up to your quality. Especially the sharp detail. Make

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

Hey Joe...Question:

Do all the various types of these birds feed at the same dead tree limbs basically or do they keep their territories separate ? I know for instance with Blue Birds that they are extremely territorial especially during the nesting periods. And what are they actually eating from under the bark of the decaying branch ?

Thanks Man......love your work sir.

Blair,

This dead tree branch is merely a perch for the birds coming or leaving the feeders below which are not shown. Although the woodpeckers peck on it and eventually will destroy it. The original shape was quite different. I think the Downy is the worst.

The individual woodpecker species seem to have territories since they will chase others of their kind away, except for the Red-head which chases all the woodpeckers away regardless of species, including his kind.

The woodpeckers feed in the trees in the yard and neighboring trees but come to the feeders for peanuts and peanut suet. Whole peanuts work best for all birds with bills large enough to hold them. Peanut pieces and peanut suet works for all.

The vertical "dead" branches are actually suet feeders. I drill 5/8"x 1-1/2" deep holes into the branch and fill with suet. The Downy's bill is too short to reach the bottom so they enlarge the out side of the hole to get more suet. Interesting behavior, but it also allows sparrows to get their fill as well.

Now you know my secrets.

Mbanker

joer wrote:

Blair, br br This dead tree branch is merely a pe... (show quote)

Thanks for sharing. These secrets will improve my feeding efforts. Mike

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Mbanker wrote:

Very nice shot. I am working to get my stuff up to your quality. Especially the sharp detail. Make

Mike, its mostly in the processing. I shoot a lot and only select a few.

Mbanker

joer wrote:

Mike, its mostly in the processing. I shoot a lot and only select a few.

Ok thanks. I am working on shooting more, and getting into processing. Appreciate the advice. Have a happy holiday season.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Color isn’t everything! He’s a little beauty.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

joer wrote:

Unless very hungry they are skittish and often fly away when I look in their direction. A blind is helpful.

Not the most colorful but definitely challenging.

phv Loc: Goleta, California

Very nice capture!

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Excellent image, Joe!

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Blair Shaw Jr wrote:

Hey Joe...Question:

Do all the various types of these birds feed at the same dead tree limbs basically or do they keep their territories separate ? I know for instance with Blue Birds that they are extremely territorial especially during the nesting periods. And what are they actually eating from under the bark of the decaying branch ?

Thanks Man......love your work sir.

We feed suet and have Flicker, Downey, Hairy and Peliated eating on it.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

joer wrote:

Unless very hungry they are skittish and often fly away when I look in their direction. A blind is helpful.

Not the most colorful but definitely challenging.

VERY good!

LarryLancaster Loc: Seattle, WA

How do you know his name is Hairy? Great shot.