Blog

Another year round resident the Hairy Woodpecker is very similar to our little Downy Woodpecker only larger. Hairy woodpeckers are also a lot more skittish than the Downy variety who tolerate human presence very well. They also circle tree trunks in search of insects beneath the bark. Brains specially encased within their small heads  allow members of the woodpecker family to hammer away at trees without injury – what an adaptation of nature that is!  The woodpeckers love suet and will also partake in the black oil seed during the winter. They use their tail as a prop on the trees.

Hard to see in the re-sized photo below but when I enlarge this the woodpeckers tongue can be seen darting into the bark to retrieve its food.

Enjoy!

~Sharon