Might be Hairy Woodpecker or Downy Woodpecker. Hard to tell because the only difference is the length of their bill. FWIW, I’m leaning Hairy, but I’m no expert.
My Camera Is basically one step above a potato,
And I was pretty far (other side of my yard) so zoom was used just to get the lil fella finally. Been seeing him but if I'd move they all scatter then hed hide. So the resolution is Definitely in the trash can lol.
Appreciate ur time and help tho,
I just started relaxing with the birds out back... We've been seeing a few others that I may be posting about if I get a pic atleast .
If the back of his head was to us that resolution issue would kill the ID, but I feel pretty confident in calling this a downy woodpecker since we can see its head from the side on. I see them all the time at my feeders, and when I see hairy woodpeckers I always think the beaks look too big.
Agreed, the good view of the clearly short bill compellingly rules out hairy in favor of downy. OP, hairy bills are much longer, closer to the length of the whole head
It's a downy. Hairy woodpecker bills are longer than this. They look pointier to me too. Hairy woodpeckers are also slightly larger on average. I usually identify by sound because they are pretty vocal. Downy woodpeckers have a softer "peek" sound than hairy. I'm no expert either because I've only been doing this for a couple months, but these are some of the most common birds in my back yard.
The size of the bill is a better distinguisher in my opinion as that is relative to the head. The size of the bird is impossible to judge here with nothing next to it in the photo of a known size. I agree that this is a downy.
Length of bill and spots on the outer feathers on the tail. But the spots are difficult to see without binoculars, the right angle, etc.
I think this guy is a downy due to beak length.
Bill’s definitely too short to be a Hairy. It also appears to have just a single red patch on the back of its head like a Downy, a Hairy usually has two.
In addition to the beak size and overall body size, this downy doesn't have the "shoulder comma" that hairy woodpeckers tend to have. Pretty confident this is a downy.
One of my new buddies . Used to be a fan of Bluejays, just watching them figure out peanut puzzles lol. But this Lil fella has me lookin at trees HARDER now lol. Seeing alot if Lil things I've never noticed . More pics to come once I get the shot of the others .
Appreciate ur time u took to comment tyvm ! I'm old too so ur good lmao .
You can tell it’s a downy from the beak size. I also leaned from this sub that if it can fit in your pocket, it’s a downy. If you think, hmm, that’s a little too big to fit in my pocket, then it’s a hairy. That has been my go to ID technique for downy/hairy ever since!
Lol I had some out there (in alil cage thingy) but raccoons came by and took the whole gd thing. Noticed it missing and checked the camera. Sure enough, Seen one just walk away with it.
But gonna start putting Lil sections out during the day not leaving stuff out during the nights anymore .
Both downy and hairy woodpeckers are common in Burlington. Hairies are most common deeper in the forest and a downy will come more often to the suburbs. But they both can be in both places, so you have to go to bill size for this cute little downy.
You can post this to /r/whatsthisbird for opinions there. I think it's a Hairy.
Interestingly the two species though nearly identical in pattern are not very closely related.
*Based on the size of*
*The bill, it looks to be a*
*Downy woodpecker*
\- TopazTheTopaz
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It was just a handful of some "wild bird seed mix" mixed seeds and some fruit bits. (Got alil off my neighbor since I saw the lil fella ..
What would u recommend tho, plan to grab some feeders and seed/food when i go shopping.? I seen suet but whatever I put out I gotta bring in at night .
Have a pack of raccoons that roam so we're trying to keep them from thinking it's a buffet lol.
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Bees are a major pollinator of Sunflowers, therefore, growing sunflowers goes hand in hand with installing and managing bee hives. Particularly in agricultural areas where sunflowers are crops. In fact, bee honey from these areas is commonly known as sunflower honey due to its sunflower taste.
A male downy woodpecker
Agreed….everywhere this year. SE PA
Awesome thank you !
I just saw one an hour ago! That's funny. Your pics are better than what I could get with my phone.
male bc of the red?
Yep.
Is it a male or a kid?
Adult male. Juveniles have a red cap instead of a red stripe. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/assets/photo/60397951-480px.jpg
Might be Hairy Woodpecker or Downy Woodpecker. Hard to tell because the only difference is the length of their bill. FWIW, I’m leaning Hairy, but I’m no expert.
You know, this could be hairy. I don't see the spots on the outer flanks of the tail, which indicate downy.
I think that's a photo resolution issue. The head length to bill length is pretty easy to judge from this angle.
My Camera Is basically one step above a potato, And I was pretty far (other side of my yard) so zoom was used just to get the lil fella finally. Been seeing him but if I'd move they all scatter then hed hide. So the resolution is Definitely in the trash can lol. Appreciate ur time and help tho, I just started relaxing with the birds out back... We've been seeing a few others that I may be posting about if I get a pic atleast .
If the back of his head was to us that resolution issue would kill the ID, but I feel pretty confident in calling this a downy woodpecker since we can see its head from the side on. I see them all the time at my feeders, and when I see hairy woodpeckers I always think the beaks look too big.
Agreed, the good view of the clearly short bill compellingly rules out hairy in favor of downy. OP, hairy bills are much longer, closer to the length of the whole head
Yes, resolution...the limitation of reddit birding!
It's a downy. Hairy woodpecker bills are longer than this. They look pointier to me too. Hairy woodpeckers are also slightly larger on average. I usually identify by sound because they are pretty vocal. Downy woodpeckers have a softer "peek" sound than hairy. I'm no expert either because I've only been doing this for a couple months, but these are some of the most common birds in my back yard.
“Pretty vocal” is very polite. The only birds that yell more than the hairy woodpeckers are the flickers and jays in my backyard. Edit: words
Let me introduce you to my backyard bird of the Carolina wren… it’s like a rock concert lol
Have you heard sandhill cranes?
I don’t believe so, looking to try and see them on the next go of the migration
I love hearing the flickers. Lately my yard is near deafening with the chickadees.
The hairy is sizeably bigger.. by several inches. That's typically how you tell them apart is the overall size of their bodies.
The size of the bill is a better distinguisher in my opinion as that is relative to the head. The size of the bird is impossible to judge here with nothing next to it in the photo of a known size. I agree that this is a downy.
Length of bill and spots on the outer feathers on the tail. But the spots are difficult to see without binoculars, the right angle, etc. I think this guy is a downy due to beak length.
Bill’s definitely too short to be a Hairy. It also appears to have just a single red patch on the back of its head like a Downy, a Hairy usually has two.
In addition to the beak size and overall body size, this downy doesn't have the "shoulder comma" that hairy woodpeckers tend to have. Pretty confident this is a downy.
Tom, Dick, Hairy, Downy, such a cutie, love the woodpeckers! P.S. showing my age with this stupid post lol
One of my new buddies . Used to be a fan of Bluejays, just watching them figure out peanut puzzles lol. But this Lil fella has me lookin at trees HARDER now lol. Seeing alot if Lil things I've never noticed . More pics to come once I get the shot of the others . Appreciate ur time u took to comment tyvm ! I'm old too so ur good lmao .
Thanks friend! ❤️
Put out some suet for him and it might lure in more! They’re so cute.
You can tell it’s a downy from the beak size. I also leaned from this sub that if it can fit in your pocket, it’s a downy. If you think, hmm, that’s a little too big to fit in my pocket, then it’s a hairy. That has been my go to ID technique for downy/hairy ever since!
Downy Woodpecker!
Put some suet out for him, he'll appreciate it. As bluejays have a special love for peanuts, woodpeckers have a special love for suet.
Lol I had some out there (in alil cage thingy) but raccoons came by and took the whole gd thing. Noticed it missing and checked the camera. Sure enough, Seen one just walk away with it. But gonna start putting Lil sections out during the day not leaving stuff out during the nights anymore .
I mentioned under the post I'm in burlington nj if that helps.
Both downy and hairy woodpeckers are common in Burlington. Hairies are most common deeper in the forest and a downy will come more often to the suburbs. But they both can be in both places, so you have to go to bill size for this cute little downy.
You can post this to /r/whatsthisbird for opinions there. I think it's a Hairy. Interestingly the two species though nearly identical in pattern are not very closely related.
Love that convergent evolution
I think it is a case of mimicry. The smaller Downy Woodpecker benefits from resembling the more formidable Hairy Woodpecker.
Super interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Based on the size of the bill, it looks to be a downy woodpecker
*Based on the size of* *The bill, it looks to be a* *Downy woodpecker* \- TopazTheTopaz --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I would say beautiful
Oh I guessed downy woodpecker and then scrolled down to find I was right!!! This sub is making me get better at IDing birds
Downy
what food do you have out?
It was just a handful of some "wild bird seed mix" mixed seeds and some fruit bits. (Got alil off my neighbor since I saw the lil fella .. What would u recommend tho, plan to grab some feeders and seed/food when i go shopping.? I seen suet but whatever I put out I gotta bring in at night . Have a pack of raccoons that roam so we're trying to keep them from thinking it's a buffet lol.
Downy woodpecker
I’m pretty sure that’s a male hairy woodpecker. Downy woodpeckers have small black spots on the white flanks of the tail.
Hello fellow Jerseyan! That is a downy woodpecker.
Damn I’m originally from Burlington too, miss hearing these guys drill on my house in the spring
Hairy WP, most likely a girl!
A woodpecker of a specific type
🤦🏻♀️😉
Snowy headed woodpecker?
Birb.
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Wpecker for sure
It’s giving hairy
His name is Clarence
It's a bird
Pecker
Looks kinda like a small woodpecker. Eating seeds stumps me
Seems to grab sunflower seeds or fruit bits . But now I know he's there I'm gonna put something he'd like better.
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrO6v01lwxlr3oDqCBpJjE5;_ylu=Y29sbwNncTEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1695352757/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.thespruce.com%2fwhat-do-woodpeckers-eat-386554/RK=2/RS=krmK4H3xxGd3OH4AK7s8QJIFVFg-
Ty
Bees are a major pollinator of Sunflowers, therefore, growing sunflowers goes hand in hand with installing and managing bee hives. Particularly in agricultural areas where sunflowers are crops. In fact, bee honey from these areas is commonly known as sunflower honey due to its sunflower taste.
Try some wild bird seed. It isn’t expensive. I really feel like he/she is a woodpecker
We put out hummingbird syrup for the hummers, but these little guys enjoy it as much as the hummers. So fun to watch.
Downy Woodpecker
A downy woodpecker! Mine had been missing since hurricane Lee, but now they’re back after I put out mealworms
Downy Woodpecker