Hairy Woodpecker

Rohirrim

Dang these guys are hard to capture, at least for me. Seems like they never stop moving and they always seem to keep their head in the shadows. Took over 60 pictures the other day and only got 2 I was fairly happy with.


EXIF


EXIF

Thanks for looking and Happy Holidays,

bfjr

I read the title wrong and thought I was going to see a:

Hairy Harry :lol4

but I was not disappointed in the images they are just fine

Happy Holidays

kdog

Nice!

But I thought those were Downys? I just did some googling, and you may be right. They're evidently hard to tell apart. But if they're on trunk, then it's most likely a Hairy.

Here's one I thought was a Downy.

Thusie

Great shot

Rohirrim

kdog wrote:

Nice!

But I thought those were Downys? I just did some googling, and you may be right. They're evidently hard to tell apart. But if they're on trunk, then it's most likely a Hairy.

Here's one I thought was a Downy.

I'm only a newbie birder but I think I've got these two figured out and yep, they can be hard to tell apart.

The first thing is the size. The Hairy (~9 in tall) is quite a bit bigger than the Downy ( ~6 in tall)

The Bill is the other give away. The Hairy Woodpecker's bill is longer and heavier. The bill is about the same length as the depth of the head.

The Downy Woodpeckers bill is shorter and not as heavy.

If you compare your photos with mine, you can see that the bill on the one in my photos is quite a bit longer in comparison to the head, than the one in your photo. So I believe that you are correct and that your photos are of a Downy Woodpecker.

More info here:
Downy Woodpecker: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Downy_Woodpecker.html

Hairy Woodpecker: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Hairy_Woodpecker.html

Regards,

Osprey Whisperer

Nice captures, Steve. I don't know my birds very well. I've shot several kinds of these 'peckers in the neighborhood...and they all look the same for the most part (to me). I pull up the bird ID site..but still can't always narrow it down to a single bird. I just call them 'peckers'.


MM

Jeroen

I love the 2nd. Funny, it looks like a construction worker checking out a building spot

ginger_55

Steve, well, ....................................so................ I have tried small birds for a year. I get one once in a while, and after many many tries. I often forget to post them, they are so infrequent, happen while I am after something else that makes a set. But I do get one, after many more than 60 shots.

Then I chimp a lot. Often empty space or folliage.

So 2 for 60, that is a better number than I have on woodpeckers, of course I haven't seen any, but I have seen other things that flit! They flit behind branches, etc.

I like both of your "acceptable" woodpeckers, Steve, and I love the second one.

ginger

kdog

Rohirrim wrote:

I'm only a newbie birder but I think I've got these two figured out and yep, they can be hard to tell apart.

The first thing is the size. The Hairy (~9 in tall) is quite a bit bigger than the Downy ( ~6 in tall)

I will admit that your 'pecker looks bigger than mine. :uhoh

The Bill is the other give away. The Hairy Woodpecker's bill is longer and heavier. The bill is about the same length as the depth of the head.

The Downy Woodpeckers bill is shorter and not as heavy.

Gotcha. The difference in their bills is readily apparent now that you've mentioned it. Thanks for the tip.

Harryb

Excellent captures Steve.

windoze

very nice!!!
i also have the hardest time "shooting" these peckers... they seem to know how to hide from the camera!!!
there are two that come by once a day and they leave so quickly - so congratulations to you!!!!


troy

Rohirrim

Thank you Troy, Harry, Ginger, Jorean and Mike.