Woodpecker

DOWNY WOODPECKER

The are many types of Woodpeckers. Illustrated here is the Downy Woodpecker. It is typically 5.75 inches long, and has a little red cap. It ranges over the entire United States, Western Canada, and up into Alaska. Females have similar coloring, but without the red. Woodpeckers usually peck holes in trees to get at insects; however, they also like to come to a feeder for seeds. When a Woodpecker is on a tree pecking for insects, it grips the bark with its claws and its feet are vertical. Also, it uses its tail as a prop. When a Woodpecker comes to a feeder, it looks rather awkward because it takes some time to get itself positioned. Sometimes it clings to the side of the tray instead of using a perch. If your feeder is hanging on a tree and it is close enough to the trunk of the tree, a Woodpecker may grip the tree bark (often upside down) and reach over to the feeder to get a seed.