Find out what Project FeederWatch is, its history, and more
Find out how you FeederWatch, when you can FeederWatch, and what you'll need to do to get started
Review these instructions carefully before you count and enter data
Find out about types of feeders and types of foods, and where to place your feeder
Feeding Birds FAQs
Explore the winter distribution, food, and feeder preferences of common feeder birds.
Find out about color and plumage variations, bald heads, and deformed bills
Unusual Birds Gallery
Find out about bird disease and identifying the signs of bird disease
Sick Birds Gallery
Find out how to identify birds and download identification tools
Learn how to help birds as they seek out food sources, nesting habitat, protection, and more
Find educational resources for teachers, group leaders, and families
Find an article archive packed with lots of great bird study information
Learn about house finch eye disease
Review content from current and past BirdSpotter photo contests
Keep up to date with the latest FeederWatch happenings
These are exemplary FeederWatchers!
Send us your photos! Show us your count site, your birds, or you watching your site with loved ones!
Visit our live FeederWatch feedercams!
Cornell Lab of Ornithology feeders
Ontario (winter only)
See what birds occur the most by region
Explore species by state/province
See where FeederWatchers are
Graphs of regional population trends and distributions
Explore papers that have used FeederWatch data
Lab scientists analyze the data submitted by FeederWatch participants.
See birds well outside their winter range submitted to Project FeederWatch.
Start here for data entry and personal data review and exploration
Keep live track of your counts using the FeederWatch mobile app
Kimery Campbell
Berkley, MI, United States
A Hairy Woodpecker at my feeder had distinctive brown coloring over much of its normally-black feathers. I noticed it first when it was on the far side of a log and I could see only its head, which was clearly brown. It flew closer and I was able to get several pictures (unfortunately through a plate glass window). It looked almost as if it had been splashed with some sort of color-remover. There was some black plumage, but the dominant color was brown, including the head markings. I could not tell if it was male or female. It had no red mark but that may also have been converted to brown.
Category: Other
Brown Hairy Woodpecker at backyard suet feeder.
Hello. I found a similar individual in Montreal (Quebec) last week (April 2020). This phenomenon seems not unique. You can have a look to checklist’s photos.
We have one here in ossipee nh hanging out with the black and white Hairy Woodpeckers, He’s very handsome. Feel like it’s a gift to have him here is the first time I’ve seen one.
One has been visiting my backyard feeder as well for the past month here in Warren, Maine really cool!
On July 29 2022, I saw a chocolate brown Downy Woodpecker, near Yonge and Davisville in Toronto. I’ve never seen that before.
Just saw two (mating pair?) at my suet and black oil sunflower feeder. Never saw a woodpecker at the sunflower feeder before! I was so confused by the brown coloration! At first I wondered if some brown capped pygmy woodpeckers had crossed continents and oceans to eat in my backyard!
Sighting was in Mill Creek, WA
I just had one at my suet feeder in Devon, Pa. that is very similar to the one in Kimery’s photos. We see quite a few hairys but this is the first brown one.
I also have a male downy with brown feathers as others have described. He has been coming regularly to the feeders in the backyard this January 2023.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.