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Which Woodpecker?

Last post 11-02-2009, 10:57 PM by Kryptos18. 8 replies.
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  •  11-02-2009, 8:46 PM 123515

    Which Woodpecker?

    Attachment: Bike Trail Walk 11-02-09 084_edited.jpg

    I have four photos to post of a possible Downy Woodpecker, but I'm not sure. The pattern of white/red/black doesn't seem to match for a Downy. In one photo it clearly shows white on top of its head, and another shows the black eye-stripe going directly into the red & the red continues around the back of its head. Help will be appreciated on this one!! 

    Photo #1


    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 8:47 PM 123516 in reply to 123515

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Attachment: Bike Trail Walk 11-02-09 085_edited.jpg
    Photo #2
    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 8:48 PM 123517 in reply to 123515

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Attachment: Bike Trail Walk 11-02-09 086_edited.jpg
    Photo #3
    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 8:49 PM 123518 in reply to 123515

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Attachment: Bike Trail Walk 11-02-09 089_edited.jpg
    Photo #4
    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 8:51 PM 123519 in reply to 123518

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Looks like you've got a male Nuttall's Woodpecker there!
    Total birds seen: 205
    Latest lifers:
    Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow
    Favorite lifers:
    Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork

  •  11-02-2009, 9:11 PM 123532 in reply to 123519

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Kryptos18:
    Looks like you've got a male Nuttall's Woodpecker there!

    Yeah, I think you're right, Kryptos. Especially looking at photo #4. I've seen and phototographed several Nuttall's, but I don't remember ever seeing one that showed the white on its back!! Thank you muchly.

    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 10:40 PM 123545 in reply to 123532

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    The first three photos are a Downy and the last one is a Nuttall's.
    Dan Kopp
    Sacramento

    Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings; I live for my dream and a pocketful of gold...

  •  11-02-2009, 10:49 PM 123548 in reply to 123545

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    pumakopp:
    The first three photos are a Downy and the last one is a Nuttall's.

    Aha!! No wonder I was confused!! I was shooting photos of one bird, lost sight of it for a few seconds, then thought I picked it up again on another part of the tree. I never thought about it being two different birds of different species!! Thanks, Dan. 

    ( Makes me think my bird-watching skills have regressed to the beginners level)!!

    We did not inherit Mother Earth from our ancestors...... we have borrowed Her from our descendants.
    Chief Seattle (paraphrased)

  •  11-02-2009, 10:57 PM 123549 in reply to 123548

    Re: Which Woodpecker?

    Figures, I only looked at the last photo, assuming they were the same bird and figuring it was the most diagnostic... but clearly the white back is just as diagnostic, something I should have recognized!
    Total birds seen: 205
    Latest lifers:
    Brown Creeper, Field Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow
    Favorite lifers:
    Black-billed Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Wood Stork
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