Unusual Bird: Hairy Woodpecker with long bill
This male hairy is a regular visitor to our feeder. His bill is noticeably longer than that of other hairys, perhaps 1/3. It is quite obvious when more than one of them are at the feeder (am still trying to get a good photo of him and another bird together than shows both bills …)
Categories: Deformed bill
Tags: long bill
Comments
10 comments on “Unusual Bird: Hairy Woodpecker with long bill”
I have the same long billed hairy. Much longer than any books and online pictures. I live northern NH.
yesterday (4/1/2021)i saw one like this and thought it was weird…seemed twice as long as a regular one. I’m located in plainfield, VT
We have a “regular” Hairy at my feeder whose beak is approximately 3” long. I cannot find any info online.
Hi Karen, Please check out our Unusual Birds page here, we have a section on deformed bills.
I have one here in Central Minnesota. Likes to peck all the seed out of the feeders.
We’ve had one visit a few times recently. His bill is about 3″ long as well. We are in northern Illinois.
I’ve noticed for the first time ever, a Hairy Woodpecker with a bill longer than usual. Location Sutton, Quebec close to Vermont border.
I have photos of our feeder visitor with a very long hill.
I have one here, between Kinmount, Ontario and Gooderham. It’s bill is much longer than it’s mates. Not sure if male or female. Maybe it is an evolutionary adaption cause there seems to be quite a few of these reports.
We have one as well in Mound City, Kansas
We have a large number of woodpeckers this year and today noticed an extra long beak as well…at least 3″….we actually have 5 or six different types it’s lovely to watch parents feeding young ones…they actually will stay while we are outside only a few feet away
I noticed a Hairy woodpecker with an extra long, 3″+ beak at our suet feeder today in Danville, Vermont. I also noted that it seems to have an overgrowth of skin on one foot. Not sure if that is connected to the avian keratin disorder possibly implicated in the beak, or if the two issues are separate. For now this bird seems to have energy and is able to feed, although it seems cumbersome to do so, poor little one.