Woodpecker

whatsthepoint

16 years ago

Can anyone tell me what kind of woodpecker this is?

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Comments (7)

whatsthepoint
Original Author
16 years ago
Maybe an immature redheaded woodpecker?
lazypup
16 years ago
The photo is a bit too dark to be sure, but from what I can see, the lower back portion appears to have horizontal black & white stripes.

On Red headed woodpeckers, both adult and juvenile that section would be solid white.

On Red Bellied woodpeckers the entire back has black & white horizontal stripes.

The Downey Woodpecker has similar horizontal stripes but the upper back has a wide white vertical section between the wings, and the Downey is a very small bird, generally about 4 to 6" overall length.

To me, the woodpecker in the photo appears to be a Hairy Woodpecker, which looks quite similar to the Downey Woodpecker, but they are a much larger bird, generally about the same size as the Red belly or Red Head woodpecker.

In my area I see the Red Belly and the Downey Woodpeckers at the suet feeder five or six times a day, whereas I only see the hair woodpecker a couple times a week and so far I have not been able to get a good picture of them, but with patience I am sure I will be able to add that one to my photo collection within a short time.
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oldned
16 years ago
It's an juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker.

The marks in the white are the black stripes on the trailing edge of the (folded) wings. Adult birds have no wing-stripes and would show no black in that area.
birding_nut
16 years ago
It is an immature (first-year) Red-headed Woodpecker. See link below.

BN

Here is a link that might be useful:
whatsthepoint
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone!
gymell
16 years ago
Definitely a juvie red-head. Lucky you!
whatsthepoint
Original Author
16 years ago
He's getting a spot of his red coloring by his eye.

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Woodpecker

Comments (7)

whatsthepoint
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lazypup

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Woodpecker

Comments (7)

whatsthepointOriginal Author

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