at the bird feeder #4 – Woodpeckers
The bird feeder had a new visitor last Thursday, a woodpecker. My husband saw it at the feeder, but by the time he had the camera ready, it was gone. Undaunted, he went outside and chased the little lady through the woods until he had several photos.
We identified the bird from the photos. There were two possibilities, a Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) and a Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus). Both have a white stripe on the back. The males of both species have a red patch on the back of the head (the one at our feeder was a female). The differences between the two are body size (the Hairy Woodpecker is the larger of the two) and the size of the beak (the Hairy Woodpecker has a much longer beak, about 3/4 of the depth of the head).
We are reasonably certain our bird was a Hairy Woodpecker. Its beak is noticeably long. Also, the round cut branch on the tree in the photo (in front of the bird’s feet) is at least an inch in diameter, making the length of this bird about nine and a half inches.
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hand-crafted
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
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daft little bird
propped, pubescent, plump
bang your silly
head against the tree
eat a bug
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your sculptor used
deft fingers
to point your beak
solidify your tail
paint feathers
foam on black water
snow on dark woods
night sky with planets
berry-stain
your downy crown
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© Jane Tims 2012
nichepoetryandprose 
Last winter, a hairy woodpecker slammed into my window. I dug him out of a snowbank thinking him dead, but he seemed uninjured, just dazed. I held him in my hand until he regained his senses (and got some lovely photos), then he flew away to nurse his headache. They are regulars at my feeders…a delight to watch, although they are not neat eaters!
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Deborah Carr
January 14, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Hi Deborah. What a nice experience! They play a game called let’s-get-rid-of-the-millet! Jane
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jane tims
January 14, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Your drawing is beautiful.
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reading-stars
January 14, 2012 at 10:56 am
Hi. Thanks! Fun to draw those black and white feathers. Jane
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jane tims
January 14, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Excellent poem Jane. Great opening! -Denis
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JD
January 14, 2012 at 9:57 am
Hi. I’m glad you like it! Jane
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jane tims
January 14, 2012 at 8:26 pm