19 replies to this topic

[ausnic44]

Picture taken today near LA/MNS state line close to gulf. This guy just finished terrorizing my purple martins. No casualties. I have a picture of another sharpie confirmed here, but quality not as good as this one.


IMG_1072a by ausnic1, on Flickr

I try to confirm all my lifers, and I don't think I have ever confirmed my red headed woodpeckers. By the way, anyone have any success using nest boxes with woodpeckers. This one inspected often by red head and red bellied, but no nesting in over a year.


Red Headed Woodpecker by ausnic1, on Flickr

[BarnSwallow]

The hawk looks like a Cooper's to me, but hard to tell. Definitely a red-headed woodpecker - nice!!!

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Agreed, Cooper's Hawk (pale nape and shorter outer tail feathers) and Red-headed Woodpecker.

[darknight]

Thirded

[psweet]

Agree with the ID's. I would expect that getting some woodpeckers to use nest boxes is going to be pretty hard -- when you can dig your own, I'd guess you get pretty picky! If I remember right, Flickers are more likely to use old holes than other woodpeckers, so you may end up seeing that at some point. Looking at that box, I think the openings a bit big for Red-headed and Red-bellied, and a hole bigger than it needs to be is seen as an invitation to predators.

[JimUSNY]

I'ed be happy just seeing a red headed in the yard they are very scarce here.. only have seen a few in many years... The only woodpeckers I ever get in my bird houses are downys and I dont think they even made nests just stayed warm and scared the crap out of me flying out when I feed the bluebirds on the same pole as the house is mounted on

[Pat B.]

psweet - you're agreeing with the answers on the hawk - Cooper's - aren't you? (OP thought it was a Sharpie.)

[psweet]

Yes, it's a Cooper's.

[Derek Elsinger]

Cooper's to me too

[RocknRobin]

I'm so jealous of that Red-headed Woodpecker.

[psweet]

RocknRobin, check out Necedah NWR sometime -- they've got lots of Redheaded Woodpeckers.

[kcbirdnerd]

I attended a birdbanding outing at Wyandotte County Lake located in Kansas City, KS last year. The state/federally licensed birdbander stated that Red Headed Woodpeckers are the only bird that you cannot identify whether male or female without performing an autopsy. Beautiful bird...beautiful pic @ausnic44.

[RocknRobin]

RocknRobin, check out Necedah NWR sometime -- they've got lots of Redheaded Woodpeckers.

Taking a trip there in a couple months!

[ausnic44]

Hmm, now I'm confused. I thought I had an ID on the attached as a Coopers. The coloring is different though. Is the attached a different hawk??


IMG_1109 by ausnic1, on Flickr

[psweet]

That shot at the start of the post was an adult Cooper's. This one's an immature, most likely a Cooper's to my eye. They change quite a bit their second summer.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Agreed, that's an immature Cooper's Hawk.

[ausnic44]

thanks for all the comments, and clearing that up.

[Kerryks]

Love the red headed woodpeckers. I have a woodpecker box waiting for takers. No luck so far. Been up for two years. The only birds that show interest are house sparrows. But even they haven't nested. Oh well.