17 replies to this topic

[Texachusetts]

I know I have downys but have been trying to photograph a Hairy that we've see several times. Then this guy shows up and he looks "between". He is tucking his tail behind the suet feeder so I can't see if he has tail spots. I have a juvie that is giving me pause too. I have another picture of this guy from the top of his head if needed for ID.

[psweet]

Well, I don't see a spur on the shoulder, so I would lean Downy.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Agree, looks like a Downy based on shortish bill, lack of shoulder sour, and "whiskered" appearance.

[puma_coryi]

I have to disagree on the downy call based on bill size. That bill is almost as long as its head.

[Texachusetts]

Bigger body and longer bill than the one I see most often, but he didn't seem as large as the one I see that I am pretty sure is a hairy. I forgot about the comma...don't downys sometimes have it?

[Benjamin DeHaven]

I would also go downy based on the cuteness of the bird. I usually have trouble with the finer ID points outlined above. I once read you can get a feel for which by asking yourself this question: "if that bird landed on me would I go 'how cute!' or would I fear for my well-being. Downy Woodpeckers are cute and non-theatening while Hairy Woodpeckers look they are logging around a big weapon. The beak is just heavier and longer and sharper even after taking into account size difference.

Please don't kick me off the forum, I swear this is the only bird where cuteness factors in!

Benjamin

[TheBillyPilgrim]

How big is that suet cage? I'm pretty sure I have the same one, if so its absolutely a Downy. A Hairy would cover the entire side. If you measure it, that would definitely seal the deal.

[Texachusetts]

It is 5 1/4 with 7 1/4 diagonal, but he was half sideways and his tail is tucked under, however a nuthatch decided to share and he was about 1 1/2 larger than the nuthatch, and much chunkier. Benjamin I love your method but alas they are all cute to me in their own ways. The bird I have seen that I am almost certain is a hairy is close to the size of the female red belly, and this bird was smaller, but I have a lot smaller downys than this guy. Here is the top of head picture

[Texachusetts]

Correction...he was about 1 1/2 inches bigger than the white breasted nuthatch.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

100% a Downy, based on your description of the size and the measurement of your suet cage.

[Texachusetts]

OK, big Downy it is. I am pretty sure the juvie is a Downy too. Not sure the Hairy is still around to get a picture. I might have to wait for next year! Thanks everyone.

[JimUSNY]

OK, big Downy it is. I am pretty sure the juvie is a Downy too. Not sure the Hairy is still around to get a picture. I might have to wait for next year! Thanks everyone.

I get quite a few hairys as well as downys at my feeders, this year way more hairys since I started putting out the hot pepper suet in one of my cages.. they really seem to like it more than the other suet.. give it a try maybe it will come around more.. Now I put my hot pepper suet in a cage on a tree trunk since the animals wont touch it, so maybe hairys prefer eating from it because its more natural on a trunk?.. I used to have problems telling them apart, but once you see them a lot its fairly easy even from a distance.. and I agree with Benjamin.. downys do look more cute, while hairys seem more handsome

[betiam]

I would also go downy based on the cuteness of the bird. I usually have trouble with the finer ID points outlined above. I once read you can get a feel for which by asking yourself this question: "if that bird landed on me would I go 'how cute!' or would I fear for my well-being. Downy Woodpeckers are cute and non-theatening while Hairy Woodpeckers look they are logging around a big weapon. The beak is just heavier and longer and sharper even after taking into account size difference.

Please don't kick me off the forum, I swear this is the only bird where cuteness factors in!

Benjamin

That's amazing, Benjamin, because one landed about a foot from my head yesterday and all I could think of was "The Birds" and how that beak could do some real damage to my eye.

[Benjamin DeHaven]

A Hairy Woodpecker landed a foot from your head? That's really neat, I understand the concern thinking maybe it is guarding a nesting hole and is about to flutter around my head pecking me! I am going to assume you had a long lens on a camera so you couldn't fit the whole bird in the picture at that distance? That would be my luck. Green Herons are my favorite bird, I just know some day one will land on my tripod so I won't be able to document the wonder of the bird up close.

But ya, woodpeckers are no joke. I saw a video the other night about the Eurasian Green Woodpecker. Among the "facts" presented was the tidbit that they close their eyes every time they hit something and open them again between strikes to aim. The narrator then said the force of the strike was so great if its eyes were not shut the eyeballs would pop out of the head. Not sure I believe that, but more for the thought that eyelids wouldn't contain flying eyeballs. That might be the oddest sentence you see on the forums for a while so savor it!

Benjamin

[spyonabird]

That's amazing, Benjamin, because one landed about a foot from my head yesterday and all I could think of was "The Birds" and how that beak could do some real damage to my eye.

I have that same thought everytime the hummingbirds battle over the feeder and I am sitting drinking a glass of wine barely 4 ft away. Of course...it may be the glass of wine that brings those ideas into my head.

[betiam]

I have that same thought everytime the hummingbirds battle over the feeder and I am sitting drinking a glass of wine barely 4 ft away. Of course...it may be the glass of wine that brings those ideas into my head.

Oh, I'm sure not because the same thought occurs to me when I'm just wearing pink or red (and, usually, with a glass of wine, come to think of it ...)

[betiam]

A Hairy Woodpecker landed a foot from your head? That's really neat, I understand the concern thinking maybe it is guarding a nesting hole and is about to flutter around my head pecking me! I am going to assume you had a long lens on a camera so you couldn't fit the whole bird in the picture at that distance? That would be my luck. Green Herons are my favorite bird, I just know some day one will land on my tripod so I won't be able to document the wonder of the bird up close.

But ya, woodpeckers are no joke. I saw a video the other night about the Eurasian Green Woodpecker. Among the "facts" presented was the tidbit that they close their eyes every time they hit something and open them again between strikes to aim. The narrator then said the force of the strike was so great if its eyes were not shut the eyeballs would pop out of the head. Not sure I believe that, but more for the thought that eyelids wouldn't contain flying eyeballs. That might be the oddest sentence you see on the forums for a while so savor it!

Benjamin

Unfortunately, I had neither one of my cameras at the time; the point-n-shoot may have gotten all of him. He was a bit confused and had landed on a porch post as I stood leaning on the railing. In fact, he just did it again. Had the camera, but wasn't fast enough. This time my husband got to see him up close and personal, though; he was impressed. Off to savor odd eyeball sentences ...

[Texachusetts]

I relate to the hummingbirds and the wine! Love it! Intermediate, I have a pepper suet and it doesn't get much attention. Maybe I'll try moving it. I think I have a lot of Downys and only 1 pair of Hairys, and a pair of Red-bellied woodpeckers which I have never seen this far north before. I need to check out your area now that we are more interested in birds. My son went to college in the mid-Hudson Valley, which I love, and I remember seeing different birds there even though it is not far away. I specifically remember a hill with a huge flock of Bobolinks That is the only time I have ever seen them.