It's Peanut!
What a fun surprise - I always have at least one Redbellied Woodpecker around, but in the last couple of months it was usually only a female. Today, however, he showed up. Male and female Redbellied Woodpeckers are easy to tell apart - the males have an all-red head cap while the females have a distinct blue-grey forehead. One might think they should be called Redheaded, but there is another majestic woodpecker with that name already. And you can see in this photo where the name comes from.
Christmas is getting closer
and in the days leading up to it, I am going to go through this year's calendar birds. You can get an Ostdrossel calendar in my shop here or following the link here at ostdrossel.com. There are four sizes available (the 8.5 one has a second, larger option).
The cover bird is a MoDo. This species has turned out to be an exceptional camera lover that creates some of the most hilarious portraits. The January bird is a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. They are quirky goofballs with a love for nuts, and we have them here all year. Last summer, we built a nestbox that would fit them, and we hope to get to see them raise a brood one day.
So much to do, so little time
These days, despite quarantine and stay at home order, I am almost more busy than usual. And I am slacking with the photos because of that. There are so many to go through and my regular job is bustling right now too. So I am sorry if I am a bit slow these days. I hope I can catch up soon. Anyways, here is Peanut. He is a Red-bellied Woodpecker ( despite so many thinking he is misnamed he has a red patch on the belly), follows the peanuts, and I am always cracking up when I see him landing on the ground and foraging there.
Speaking of brood patches,
Red-bellied woodpeckers have them too, and since with this species, the male and the female both sit on the eggs, the male also has a brood patch. In these photos, you can see the “crevice” along his belly very well. In between that line, a patch of bare skin is hiding which, when it touches and covers the eggs, can keep them warm.
