Redhead Woodpecker

August 11, 2018

We had gotten brief views of the redhead woodpecker over the past couple of weeks, and that was remarkable since we had not seen one in our yard for several years. There was a time when they were regular visitors. Then today, we looked out and saw an adult with a juvenile!

The books say that the plumage is essentially the same for male and female, but because of this nurturing behavior, I'm going to call her Mama. She is gathering suet to feed the youngster.

She pops up to the tree and junior has lunch.

Is that all?

Can I have some more please?

The process continues, with Mama feeding the hungry youngster. Then she launches off the tree back down to the suet and gets another beakfull.

It was indeed a pleasure to watch this dedicated Mom feed her fine growing youngster.

The young birds grow rapidly and learn rapidly. This is a young bird of the same species on the same day, and he is having a go at getting the suet for himself from the feeder. At first I thought it was the same bird, but the pattern on his back is different.