Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Today I noticed that a female Downy Woodpecker had come back to visit the bird feeders in my back yard after having stayed away for months. I suspect that she had other options for finding food during spring and summer. Her and her mate always display their hardy nature, that impresses me as I watch them walk straight up a tree trunk using their two forward position toes and two backward position toes on each foot. I learned that they can peck for grubs under the bark of trees at a top rate of twenty-pecks per second, while their stiff feathers prevent wood dust from entering their nostrils. It was obvious that they are not easily frightened by breeds of larger birds that were not predators, but they always keep an eye open for the bad guys. I admire their toughness. Hope you enjoy my image of the first Downy to return to my feeder to survive our Kansas fall and winter months ahead.

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lowkick Loc: Connecticut

We had a bumper crop of Downy babies this year. They are tough little birds, but I love their call. They sound like they swallowed a squeaky toy.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Dear lowkick...
I'm glad to learn that I am not the only one who likes Downy Woodpeckers. I have images of them hanging upside down by one leg, on my specially designed bird feeders with the opening on the bottom to keep larger birds from stealing all of the suet. (At first I thought some of the Downy Woodpeckers only had one leg, but then discovered that like many birds, they like to rest or warm one leg while they stand or hang down with the other.) Hardly any other birds try to chase them off the feeder except the Starlings. The Starlings are always ready to rumble, even if it with one of their own. Please stay well my friend and say Hi to the Downy clan in your yard for me. (No need to worry about anthropomorphism.) Shooter41

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Beautiful birds...I love them too! We don't see them often here so it's a treat when we do.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Cindy...
Thank you for sharing.
Shooter41

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's a pretty bird.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I like the Downys, too. We had a bunch of them this year, fledglings, adolescents and adults. We'd have 4 at a time waiting for the suet feeder. I loved watching the antics of the young as they "played" with each other and, literally, found their wings - flying around and chasing each other. I had a young male who flew headlong into an upstairs window, fell to the overhang, rolled down the overhang and fell another 8' to the deck. I thought he was dead, but I watched him closely and, after a few minutes, he started to move his head. It took an hour before he sat upright and it took him nearly 3 hours before he regained his senses and was able to fly away, apparently none the worse for ware.

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Good looking bird, I don't think I have ever seen one here in AZ.