Unusual Bird: Yellow Downy Woodpecker
Additional images:
These photos were taken at my suet feeder where I saw what seems to be a yellow Downy Woodpecker. I’m not sure if that’s actually what it is, but I couldn’t find any images online or in my books to compare to.
Comments
27 comments on “Unusual Bird: Yellow Downy Woodpecker”
Regards Evelynn,
I don’t know when you posted these pictures but I’m glad you did because I just had a Downy appear at my feeder looking just like this. Maybe even a little brighter yellow and these are the only photos I could find on the web. I was reading about carotenism but I don’t know if that is the explanation. Wondering if you ever learned cause? I haven’t been able to get a picture but I’ll keep trying.
We also have what appears to be a yellow-tinged Downy woodpecker. We are in Ham Lake, MN and it appeared the spring of 2022 and is a regular at our suet feeders. I can’t get a great picture.
I came here looking for the same thing. We are in East Bethel and have had a couple frequent visitors! Didn’t know they could be yellow
We have seen 2 of these yellow anomalies of the downy woodpecker at our feeders recently. At first I thought maybe he is just covered in pollen, but he never changes from day to day. And today there was another downy male who was also mostly yellow where he should have been white. I am in eastern Ontario, CA.
Edit: The ones we have seen are actually hairy woodpeckers, not downy, as they are larger in size.
We have seen a male yellow-tinged downy woodpecker in Silver Bay NY on Lake George on our feeders starting around mid-June 2022. Bird appears healthy and is a stronger mustard-color where the white should be. Will try to get a picture as well.
I have also just seen this bird at our house in Harpursville NY. I can’t find any pictures to compare it to either. I looked through my bird books, the Audubon society website and a couple of different bird apps. Can’t find this guy anywhere. Wondering if it’s a cross breed of some sort of something. Does look like a downy or hairy woodpecker except he’s yellow.
Callicoon NY here, and I just had a very yellowish hairy woodpecker female at my suet feeder!
I have one that’s been hanging around for a few weeks. He’s gorgeous. Haven’t been able to get a good shot! Southampton, MA
We just had an extremely yellow red headed woodpecker on our feeder! I’m thinking he’s stained from pollen?
Also in upstate NY **
I have at least one that hangs out at mine! It’s gorgeous. Been here a few months. Southampton, MA
I just saw one in WV for the first time.
I have a male and female here in Bitely Michigan
I just had a yellow Downy this evening in Hudson, NH. I thought it was a new species at first due to the yellow markings. I was able to get some photos. Some of the white feathers are still white, but most of them are definitely yellow.
We have a yellow downy here in Salem, NH. Has anyone gotten an explanation for the yellow tinge? Thanks!
We have one here today. South Lyon, MI
I just spotted one today and came across this thread as the only other local sighting. I’m in Charlton, MA
Never seen such a color for a downy before but he’s cute.
Just had one at the suet feeder in Northern WI. I’m hoping it returns so I can get a photo.
I have a couple of them this year at my feeder in southern New Hampshire.
We have a yellow tinged female hairy woodpecker at our suet daily. No question she is a hairy, not a downey. Yellow to almost brown where nearer the black. We call her Dirty Hairy.
This is SW of Boston, near Woonsocket.
Had one also show up at my feeder ..never saw one before!!May 20th 2024 Leominster, Ma.
A pair of them here in Chetek, WI (northwest WIsconsin)
We have one here in Bryant Pond Maine. So pretty. Was kind of confused at first as I have never seen a woodpecker this color before
We’ve had at least one either downy or hairy with a pale beige/yellow head and some of the markings on its wings are that color where the white should be.
Spotted on our feeder in Duxbury Massachusetts June and July 2024 for first time.
‘Yellow Downy Woodpecker’ on my nut feeder this morning in Scotland – not a hint of red on it at all.
We have one here in Jonesville MI
I saw a Downy WP the other day that has a more rusty colored breast and belly. One search explained that the discoloring could be caused from the tannin in plants and trees that it is coming into contact with. And, that with the next molt, its white coloring should return.
I just had a pair at my feeder- yellow downy woodpecker. Yellow occipital patch instead of red.
Near Foxboro MA
I had one yesterday and today in Richmond Vermont. So pretty but I had never heard of this before!
Spotted also in Duncansville, PA.
I believe I have one of these on the suet this spring here in NEPA.
I just saw the same bird in the Syracuse, NY area. I also could not find pictures. I thought it was a new species maybe. It was a female yellow downy as there was no red on the head. Interesting, all these years of bird watching to see something new! It is beautiful. I also have been trying to get a picture of this downy but I’ve had no success.
May in central MA, male yellow downy. Such a pretty bird. Definitely a downy woodpecker. Pollen is high here, but is it pollen that is coloring him? It’s such an even golden yellow.
Spotted this one at home in Dickinson Center, NY. It’s been around for a week or so now. Very cool looking woodpecker.
We have a male and female hairy wp at our feeder. Both have yellow feathers including the “white” stripe down the back. Most intriguing. Thought it might be pollen at first, but they seem to be retaining the yellow plumage.
Wells, Maine