Tag Archives: Downy Woodpecker

I Need To Make Some Suet For The Birds

Seeing movement some distance from me, I focused my attention on what was going on. Turns out it’s a male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) visiting me today.

This is the smallest woodpecker in North America. One that I often see, all year long. They’re fascinating and having them here year ’round makes me feel quite fortunate.

Seeing this one reminds me that I need to get busy and whip up some suet for them. They eat insects, and acorns, grains and berries. But they are particularly attracted to suet at my feeders. I haven’t put any out in quite some time.

Suet at the feeder will mean seeing these little woodpeckers more frequently. Perfect!

Year Round Resident

A female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). A bird that is native to most of the United States and Canada with the exception of the north’s tundra and the southwest’s deserts.

As they are in Virginia, these woodpeckers are permanent residents to most areas. During the winter though there are a few exceptions. Northernmost birds, and birds from western mountains possibly move slightly south and to lower elevations during the cold of winter.

Suet will entice these little woodpeckers to your yard. I thoroughly enjoy having them here year round.

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Not One But Three!

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). Most often I’ll see one at the suet feeder. Less frequently it will be one at the hulled sunflower seeds or at the shelled peanuts. But only one.

Yesterday, much to my surprise there were three Downy Woodpeckers. Not at any of the feeders. Just hanging out in the woods. Of course they didn’t want to pose for a group photo. Maybe next time.