Woodpeckers 101

This publish comes from Discovery and Advertising and marketing Specialist Barb Rees.

Winter is a superb time to observe for woodpeckers. Why? Just because there are much less leaves on bushes, making most birds extra seen.

Usually, there are additionally extra birdfeeders positioned out within the winter than the summer season (because the bears are hibernating). Attracting birds nearer to your house makes bird-watching attainable proper from the heat of your front room window.

So what brings woodpeckers close by?

Suet and suet mixes will do the trick, however they can even go for different tasty treats like sunflower seeds, berries, nuts, and peanuts. Suet truffles may be purchased at a wide range of retail or birding provide shops, or you possibly can even make your individual selfmade batch.

Wish to get fancier?

You will discover numerous totally different selfmade suet recipes to attempt on-line.

Add in some lard, peanut butter and an assortment of seeds, berries and cornmeal. Render down fats and drizzle it with the opposite objects. Roll right into a ball, flatten it right into a rectangle or boost a pine cone with the goodies.

You’ll want to hold it recent by storing it within the fridge or freezer till you want it, in order that it doesn’t go dangerous. You may even flip this right into a winter exercise for the entire household and pals to attempt.

As soon as the treats are outdoors, sit again and await the assorted woodpeckers and different birds that you’ll entice to fly in to test it out.

Do you know that woodpeckers use their tails for help whereas consuming?

If you happen to watch intently, woodpeckers will wrap their stiff tail feathers round a smaller feeder or suet ball to supply them with extra stability whereas they nibble away on the goodies.

Ensure that your feeder is appropriately sized for the kind of fowl you’d like to draw. Retailer-bought suet cages can simply be modified by nailing a bit of longer wooden to them to supply extra tail help for bigger birds.

What is going to I see?

Three frequent woodpecker species you may spot embrace:

• the Downy Woodpecker
• the Furry Woodpecker
• the Pileated Woodpecker

(Ontario has a number of different species of woodpecker together with the Sapsucker, Black-backed, Flicker, Three-toed, and Purple-bellied).

So how do I inform them aside?

For these three species, the scale of the woodpecker is a good way to tell apart between them. The Downy is the smallest, the Pileated is the biggest, and the Furry is correct within the center.

It’s a bit tough to inform the 2 smaller ones aside although, as their markings are fairly related. Nonetheless, time and follow will assist. Seeing them collectively on the suet or a tree makes it so much simpler too!

However how do I hold the names straight / which one is which fowl?

A quite simple approach that I’ve found is by utilizing the alphabet. The upper you go within the alphabet, the bigger the fowl.

• D = Downy, the smallest at about 15 cm (6”) or sparrow measurement
• H = Furry, a bit bigger at 23 cm (9”) or robin measurement
• P = Pileated, the biggest at about crow measurement at 41-50 cm (16-20”)

And telling males from females?

Effectively, it’s all a couple of splash of pink.

For the Downy and Furry Woodpeckers, the males could have a pink patch in the back of their head and the females received’t.

Watch out with the juveniles although. Whereas they’re younger they’ll all have a little bit of a pink crest on the highest of their head till they mature.

With the Pileated Woodpeckers, each genders will sport a pink cap on high, however the males’ will go absolutely throughout the highest of the top (entrance to again) whereas the females could have a black brow. A fast telltale signal for this species: make sure to search for the pink chin strap or “mustache.” If the pink chin marking is there, it’s a male. If it’s black, it’s a feminine.

You’re prepared for woodpecker-watching

You’ve received a pair key tips to not solely entice woodpeckers to a feeder on your viewing pleasure, but additionally some tricks to establish three species and distinguish males from the females.

So arrange your suet feeders and prepare to impress your folks. You simply handed Woodpecker 101!