Downy & Hairy Woodpecker bird photos

Downy and Hairy Woodpecker photos, South Burlington, VT

South Burlington photos

Welcome to the SB Vermont Backyard Birding, Issue # 11, Downy and Hairy Woodpecker.

Both the Downy and the Hairy Woodpeckers in our South Burlington, Vermont backyard have a white back, black wings with white spots, white underbelly, and black-and-white streaked faces. Males have red on the nape, females only black on the nape (back of the head).

The Downy bill is about half the length of the head while the Hairy bill is almost as long as the head. The Hairy outside tail feathers are all white, while the Downy's are white with a few black bars.  Welcome to the series, SB Vermont Backyard Birding, Issue #11, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.

Can you find the STAR like snowflake on at least one of the woodpeckers below?

What tool does the Hairy woodpecker use in a photo below, to access a hard to reach peanut?


                                                                                Male Hairy Woodpecker


                                                                                  Male Downy Woodpecker

                               




                                                                                Female Hairy Woodpecker

                                            Female Downy Woodpecker with star-like snowflake

                                                                                          Beautiful brown eyes                              

                              Note the black bars on the Downy's outside tail feathers.

                                            Note the Hairy outside tail feathers are all white.

                                           Long red tongue comes in handy!

“Woodpecker tongues, however, vary based on their diet. Some species have a tongue that is longer than their bill in order to extract insects from a hole. Woodpeckers also have a lengthened hyoid apparatus (bones, muscle, cartilage connected to the tongue), allowing their tongue to extend incredible lengths. Red-bellied woodpeckers, for example, have a tongue extending up to three times the length of its bill!” 

8 Wonky and Wonderful Woodpecker Adaptations

from Wildlife Promise

12 12/15/2014 // By Dani Tinker

Click here to read the rest of the article. From the National Wildlife Federation.

Click here for animated viewing of woodpecker tongue rolling in and out of its skull.

                                                                         Brr, I need a scarf.

Happy Birding

To view any of the other 14 bird postings in my SB Backyard birds series, click on the Table of Contents tab on the top of  this blog, next, page down to All things Vermont, Birds... then click on the bird posting of your choice. 

Click on HairyWoodpecker and Downy Woodpecker for more info. from Bird Watchers Digest Magazine.

Click on Woodpeckers of the Puget Sound Area for extensive various woodpecker species information and photos.

Click on Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Vermont, for information on feeding and attracting backyard birds in Vermont. 

Click on Audubon Society for Vermont birding information.

Photos taken with Cannon PS S3 IS

Bernie publishes essays and photos reflecting Vermont values of Green and Clean and Community. He urges us all to pick up litter and maintain a litter free environment through caring, community, and contribution in order to protect our water, wildlife, and human health. 

Bernie resides in SB, Vermont.