Downy Woodpecker

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For several weeks a pair of downy woodpeckers made frequent trips from our feeder, carrying off mouthfuls of a suet/nut/corn mix, presumably to a nest to feed the young. This surprised me because I would have thought the mix lacking in protein and some essential nutrients compared to their typical insect diet. Eventually, though, the adults came to the feeder accompanied by at least two fledglings and continued feeding them large quantities of the suet mix. Eventually the young started helping themselves, and a couple of days ago both a young female and the male, shown in this video, ate from my hand without a lot of coxing. I think this is the 19^th species I’ve had feed from my hands.

 

Downy Woodpecker Administers "Finger-prick" Test before Hopping onto My Hand. #nature #wildlife

 

But first he had to stare down a red-breasted nuthatch…

 

 

…and when that failed, used the time-tested juvenile male technique of sticking his tongue out at the nuthatch.

 

 

 

Steve Wilson

Isabella MN