LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Another Woodpecker Fledgling


One pair of our Red-bellied Woodpeckers has a fledgling.  The baby bird is almost as big as the parents, although it does not have any red on it.




Waiting in the tree




 It blends in rather nicely with the tree bark






 The adult male, showing off the red belly that gave him his name.
His head is much more noticeably red than his belly.


The Red-bellied Woodpeckers lost one of their fledglings last year when a hawk swooped down.  The little woodpecker flew right smack into the side of the house and broke its neck.  So sad, although the parents did have another brood of two later on that summer.



13 comments:

The Bug said...

So sweet! I've always been confused about why this one is called red-bellied when, as you point out, its head is much more red. But I'm guessing the red-headed woodpecker doesn't have a red belly :)

Golden Daily Scoop said...

So pretty!!! Thanks for sharing!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

I love the baby bird. It is so pretty. I sure hope nothing harms it. The woodpecker fledgling is so beautiful. We have some red-headed woodpeckers around our place. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.

Cheryl said...

Juveniles always look so vulnerable....and of course, they are.
Beautiful images of a lovely species. Isn't the red striking.

I do so hate it when a bird flies into the house. Last week a juvenile robin hit our conservatory windows, even though I have the recommended stickers to stop this happening.
Sadly it did not make it.

troutbirder said...

Some of the birds have such inappropriate names. Its often very rare to see that red belly. Our red heads have largely disappeared in the last twenty years in Minnesota. No one knows really why....:(

Arkansas Patti said...

What a cutie. He looks like the bird that has been hitting my hummingbird feeder for nectar but most likely mine is just a female. There is no red on her.

KB said...

They are beautiful. I love the red on the male. It's always so sad when the parents lose a young one... I hope they all make it this year.

Busy Bee Suz said...

They are just so cute. So sad about the loss last year.
NO bueno….but I suppose that is nature.

Ginnie said...

I have two pairs of cardinals ...
very noisy birds but I love them. I would dearly love to have a red-bellied woodpecker but no such luck !

Ginnie said...

PS: I was so pleased to read that you had received an answer from Sen. Kay Hagan re: the gun situation. She has done some wonderful things for our state.

Barbara Rogers said...

Birds are such a joy to watch, and learn from, and listen to. I can just imagine what they sound like!

Tara said...

One of life's most enjoyable activities: bird watching.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Isn't it fun to watch the little birds start coming to the feeders???? I saw a Downy feeding his baby this week... SO adorable.

I did a bird blog on Wed. --if you want to check it out. You probably have the exact same birds there.

Hugs,
Betsy