This female Red-bellied Woodpecker is enjoying my homemade peanut butter suet. Notice that the red on her head does not come up over the top like on the male. Photo taken in January 2008.
When the weather stays below freezing regularly, I start smearing peanut butter suet in this big old tree trunk to attract the Red-bellied Woodpeckers. I am hoping they will visit again this winter. Photo taken in December 2010.
I heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the woods several times during the summer, but haven't seen one since a male was here in the spring. I'm hoping he, she or both will become regular winter visitors. I can't put any suet out yet because we have had a bear visiting the area.
The male Red-bellied Woodpecker really likes my home-made suet mix. This is the longest period one has been visiting since we moved here 10 years ago. Normally he would disappear in February looking for a mate and staking out territory.
As I was editing this photo, I realized this male Red-bellied Woodpecker has red on his chin unlike the other male I have been photographing. So now we have two males visiting. This one looks like a full grown adult, while the other male may be a first year immature male.
Male Red-bellied WP on Suet Log - Video Clip Attached
Posted:
January 11, 2010
The male Red-bellied Woodpecker is having to fend off the starlings while eating. He must really like the suet because he successfully defends his spot most of the time.
I put up a new suet log for the woodpeckers. It is a section of locust tree with holes drilled in the sides to hold suet. It was an instant magnet for this male Red-bellied Woodpecker, as well as the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers.
The first thing I saw when I looked out my kitchen window this morning was this handsome male Red-bellied Woodpecker at a suet feeder. He has not been in our yard for 3 years, so I was very excited when he kept coming in all day long. Odds are he is here for the winter.
This male Red-bellied Woodpecker was a regular visitor during the fall of 2007. I sure wish he would make a return visit. I hear them in the woods once in awhile, but no sightings.
This female red-bellied woodpecker grabbed a big chunk of suet after the pileated woodpeckers left. Guess she wanted to make sure she got her fair share.
While waiting to get a shot of a pileated woodpecker, this male red-bellied woodpecker visited a tall tree within range of my lens. He was busily circling the tree as he pecked constantly.
Bird Species
