I was trying to figure out...

[SilverSeeker]

what type of bird this was. It has white striping on the wings and on the back of its head is a red spot, kinda fluffy looking. It seems to be looking in holes for some food. What kind I do not know. Anyone?

Russ HH

 

[VT Dave]

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[rentasquid]

The piliated is almost all dark with the very pronounced red crest. Downy and Hairy are smaller with a lot of white on it. I'm gonna guess either downy or hairy.

J.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

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[rentasquid]

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[Joe G]

Unless that bird is a good 18", it's not a piliated woodpecker. Also, they have a very unique shape to the head, similar to a Pterodactyl.

Not sure from the picture how big it is but here are your choices...

The Downy Woodpecker is about 6"
<img src=http://my.pclink.com/~rlovgren/downy.jpg>

The Hairy Woodpecker (often mistaken for the Downy) is larger (about 9-10" with a longer beak)
<img src=http://www.50birds.com/images/bihairywoodpeckerrbhbg.jpg>

This is the Piliiated Woodpecker... big difference REALLY big and looks like something that lived with Fred Flintstone:

<img src=http://www.50birds.com/images/bipileatedwoodpeckerfchbc.jpg>

Here's a picture:

<img src=http://www.seven-creeks.com/1990c0e50.jpg>

They make holes like this
<img src=http://www.seven-creeks.com/198b2be00.jpg>
The first Pilieated I saw was in the Smokey National Park. About 5 or 6 of them and they looked like Disney animatrons. Of course, we were so freaked out at what we were seeing, we never took a picture Hope that helps!


OK, You probably learned something about me and Vicky that you never knew

 

[Joe G]

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[rentasquid]

but more than most. I tend to forget a lot of them if I dont keep it fresh in my memory.

 

[Joe G]

If you don't use it you lose it I guess. Vicky's really good at remembering names; I like ID'ing new ones (and forgetting them )

 

[Pete in MI]

Yep a woodpecker. Had one peck a hole in the side of the house, crawled in and tossed out a lot of insulation and tried making a nest for the winter. He was also the one that removed several caps from where insulation had been pumped into the walls from the outside. Maybe he moved south. Hard enough selling a house without having a bunch of holes in the place.

 

[Pete in MI]

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[Pete in MI]

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[ducks]

that bird is a male downy woodpecker. the females have no red on them.

 

[Joe G]

Don't be a stranger

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

I feed them!

 

[ducks]

red headed wood pecker has a full red head. about the size of a dove.

 

[Jamie(MI)]

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