Photo Submission
Submitted By
Marcia A. Sessions +
Greenville, Smithfield, RI, USA
Description
Juvenile Downy Woodpeckers have a red marking on the top of their head. Adult males have a red marking on the nape of their neck. This juvenile made several attempts as it learned to land on this feeder, before finding the suet which is sandwiched in between the resin “bark” pieces. It was a regular throughout its juvenile plumage.
Species
Juvenile Eastern Downy Woodpecker At The Suet Feeder.
3 replies on “Juvenile Eastern Downy Woodpecker at the suet feeder.”
I uploaded the wrong photo! This is an adult Eastern Downy Woodpecker at the suet feeder. The Description points out that adult males have red marking on the nape of their necks. . . like this one. I meant to upload the juvenile, which has red on the top of its head. Tried to change to correct photo, but it was too late in the week (Wed. Nov.21).
Oh well, Downy Woodpeckers are wonderful regardless of age!
Marcia Sessions
I’m watching a downy woodpecker family – male, female and 1 juvenile at my suet feeder. Male is packing the juvenile full of suet and after he flew off juvenile stayed and ate from feeder on its own. Female was a bystander and male appeared at one time to shoo her away. Female had been feeding alone at feeder earlier. I ♥️ Downy woodpeckers
Questions: at what point does red patch on juvenile’s head appear /disappear? Last week I had watched a female Downy feed a young bird but did not notice a red patch on the youngster’s head. Today the juvenile I watched clearly had a red patch on top of its head – different location from that of the adult male.
Hi Marcia, Downy Woodpecker males gain red coloration on their heads as part of their juvenile plumage, so it’s likely you watched two young – a female and a male. As juvenile birds, the male’s red patch does extend closer to the bill than in adult plumage. If you have more questions, please email nestwatch@cornell.edu. These comment sections are not regularly monitored.