Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
A Visiting Woodpecker – Downy or Hairy?
I heard the loud pounding in the trees above and assumed it was a woodpecker.
It took a while to spot him – he wasn’t that big and he’s not a regular in my yard. He moved up and down the trunk of the Douglas Fir tree, hopping from limb to limb, backwards and forwards, sometimes upside down, pecking furiously.
He persisted for almost an hour, giving me time to run for my camera, then sit and watch him.
At first, I thought he was a Downy but after doing more research, I think he’s a Hairy; both are black and white speckled woodpeckers common in Washington.
According to Audobon.org the main difference between the two is in overall size and bill shape.
“The Downy’s bill is dainty and about one-third the length of the bird’s head. The Hairy’s bill is a railroad spike in comparison, and almost as long as its head.
The Downy is a little over six inches tall, while the Hairy is almost 50 percent taller.”
Judging by size, I’m going with Hairy Woodpecker. It may have been the first time we had such a visitation; I hope it’s not the last.
Sharing with Sunday Stills #WingsandFeathers and #BirdsoftheWeek.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
How wonderful, Susanne! Without your research, I wouldn’t know either. Amazing shots and what a fun visitation!
Thanks, Terri! I loved watching him, he stayed such a long time! It’s hard to tell the Downy from the Hairy but based on size, I think it was a Hairy. 🙂
Juvenile male hairy would be my guess!
I agree !
Yes, the location of the red patch is correct for a juvenile
A cutie, nice find Susanne! 😊
I was happy he dropped by!
I have seen a Ladder-Backed woodpecker on my hummingbird feeder just once, it was a big surprise!
Cool! I’ve never heard of them, we don’t have them here.
I see. I sent a photo of it’s back to my sister who is a life-long birder and has traveled for birding. She’s amazing!
I looked it up. It’s a beautiful bird!
nice bird
☺️🐦⬛
Isn’t it wonderful to have a new bird visit. Lovely photos and I like your persistence to get the ID right
Yes, indeed. Thanks so much! ☺️
Congratulations on that lifer. The bill is certainly not just a third of the size of the head, so that supports your identification. I wonder whether the location of that patch of red on the adult is variable.
Thank you. I wondered about the location of the patch of red as well. I’ve had Downy Woodpeckers visit in the past when I had suet feeders. (I don’t hang suet anymore, except during the winter.) Now I wonder if they were actually Hairys.
excellent details
Thank you
A lovely visitor in your space, Sussane
Thank you. I was happy to have him drop by.
My pleasure, Susanne
How wonderful to have this beautiful woodpecker visit you like this! I hope he becomes a regular for you 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. Me too! 😊
Delightful! I have heard a lot of woodpeckers over on the nature reserve, but only ever seen one, and it was gone by the time I had my camera out and ready. There has never been one in our garden though.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete! The Northen Flicker (a medium sized woodpecker) is a regular in my garden, but any other variety that visits is always a special treat. I was surprised this one stayed so long, allowing me to get my camera and watch him for quite a while.
It’s hard to differentiate those woodpeckers ! One visited my neighbour’s yard a couple of weeks ago and I tried to identify it, but I gave up. Suffice to say, it was a woodpecker 😅.
Exactly! They don’t always identify themselves! 😀