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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Pileated Woodpecker At the Suet Feeder

Male Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus  16-19 1/2" (40-49cm).  Photos taken by Lorna G. Berg at 11:00 this morning at our big suet feeder at 1410 Oakwood. Please forgive the photos taken through the window pane. We feed a variety of woodpecker species at our feeders - Downy, Hairy, Red-Bellied, Flicker, Pileated and one apparently illiterate Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker who shouldn't be here according to the Peterson Guide.


(not "our" woodpecker)

10 comments:

Margadant said...

Nice shots.

Gunnar Berg said...

A little cloudy due to plastic on windows.

Steve Grimmer said...

I was pretty surprised to see a Pilleated here in Winnipeg last Saturday. Another surprise Saturday was a group of Cedar Waxwings. What's this world coming to? Good to see the little guys, though.

Gunnar Berg said...

We get the Cedar Waxwings every year late in summer. My guess, just a shot in the dark, is that you probably saw Bohemian Waxwings - a rarer bird. Unless you happen to live in the 'Peg or Minnesota in Winter.

Silk Hope said...

Hate that damn bird!!! Almost killed our Silver maple last fall.

Gunnar Berg said...

Silk, I am surprised, not that a woodpecker would peck wood, but that it was a Pileated. You live a long way out of it's range.

Silk Hope said...

Gunnar:

Believe it or not it is native of our little hamlet. Next time I am on the trail I will take photo of the Dept of Forestry's plaque about that little rascal.

Gunnar Berg said...

I do not doubt you have them. Most birds cannot read books or maps.

Steve Grimmer said...

Ah, the Bohemian Waxwing! Good call, Gunnar; I was a little surprised at the size of the 'Cedars' that I saw. I was out for a run and they (about 10) flew directly over my head by about 10 feet.

Gunnar Berg said...

Grim, If the Waxwings are in a bush it's easy to tell, the Bohemian is a northern bird, and like most of the boreal birds, have little fear of people. You can slowly walk up and almost touch them.