With the Cooper’s hawk flying through regularly, my backyard bird activity has dropped significantly. But the resident Downy woodpeckers are not phased by it. I have at least one male/female pair. They frequent the feeder all day, every day. This is a photo of a female downy woodpecker (DOWO) on the finch feeder. They love to pick the sunflower chips out of the mix. Downy’s are notoriously difficult to ID versus the similar looking, but larger, Hairy woodpecker species. In this photo, though, you can see a couple of the markers that confirms it is a downy: the relatively short beak, and the black flecks on the outer white tailfeathers. Here’s a link to Audubon guidance on differentiating the two species.
Great pic! Would love to see a pic of the hawk too. Squirrels beware?
Hi Teri! Here is the guy that is flying through several times each day: https://sheila365.com/2017/09/02/messing-with-my-mojo/
Thankfully, i haven’t witnessed him grabbing one of my birds or squirrels yet, but I suppose he’s doing alright, given that he’s been around for a month or two.
Wow! I love the varieties you welcome into your outdoor sanctuary. The hawk? Not so much but he has his place too I guess.
Thank you. I love your sanctuary as well. Hawk is ok. I haven’t witnessed him catch any of my birds but he flies through several times each day.