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Bird with splotch of red on head

15 years ago

Darn! I didn't have the camera handy.

After my earlier posts about suet, I decided to put more out.

I changed the recipe up a bit, instead of lard I used Crisco shortening, that's all I had on hand, and put dried apples, organic honey, chopped nuts & raisins, peanut butter and oatmeal.

I just had a bird at the suet feeder, he took off too fast, a little splotch of red on his head, but black and white everywhere else. Pretty. I think it was a downy woodpecker.

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Comments (5)

beegood_gw
15 years ago
Sounds like the male downy woodpecker.Female the same except for red on head.
donald lucius
15 years ago
was probably a downey male the hairy males look similar but a bit larger.
I too change up my suet depending on what i have on hand but also what time of year. i use lard or shortning or occasionally there is a grocery store that does a lot of their own butchering and they will sell suet which is basically fat trimmings. I have an old hand grinder and grind up some to use. but in summer i cut back and often don't use fats but increase the peanut butter and add molasses or Sorghum and then add fruits or nuts or mixed bird seed and either cornmeal or rolled oats to thicken
The woodpeckers here seem to prefer sweeter suet mix.
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
15 years ago
This is a downy pair I saw a few days ago. Female on the left, male on the right.

The female alone:

Claire
kimcoco
Original Author
15 years ago
Yep, that was it. Cute.
kelvinpl80
15 years ago
Those downy pair are looking gorgeous in those pictures.It's unique beauty like splotch of red on head attracts the bird lovers.

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