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George Kolbenschlag sends photo of male Downy Woodpecker

Knowing the Woodpeckers. Here's are tips on distinguishing male and female Downy Woodpeckers, and some of the differences between Downeys and Hairys, in preparation for the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 18, 19, 20, and 21, 2011.
More Birding tips are available Saturday, February 5, 2011, 10am-12pm noon CT, at the Adair Extension Office, 409 Fairground ST, Columbia, KY. It's free.

By George Kolbenschlag

I'm sending another bird photo. I'm not sure you can easily use a vertical. But this is not extreme vertical; and I can't help that God built birds vertical.

This is the boyfriend of the female Downy Woodpecker photographed by Peggy Spoon.

He looks a lot like a Hairy Woodpecker, but is smaller and has a shorter bill. His bill is about half the depth of his head while the Hairy's bill is almost as long as it's head is deep.

Unlike the Downy, the Hairy Woodpecker usually has no white bar on it's outer tail feathers. The Downey is quite common in Southeastern Kentucky.

The Hairy is also common, but not as common as the Downy-at least in my back yard. -George Kolbenschlag, Columbia, KY




This story was posted on 2011-02-05 05:56:13
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Birds of Kentucky: Female Downy Woodpecker



2011-02-04 - Snake Creek RD, Columbia, KY - Photo by Peggy Spoon.
Identifying woodpeckers native to Adair Co., KY is easier with this beautiful capture of Downy Woodpecker, which paid a visit to the feeder at the Fred and Peggy Spoon home on Snake Creek RD, Columbia, KY. This appears to be a female. A Male will have a small red patch on its head. For more about Downey Woodpeckers, click to All About Birds: Downy Woodpecker. Seen in the ColumbiaMagazine group on Flickr.

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Birds of Kentucky: Male Downy Woodpecker



2011-02-05 - Columbia, KY - Photo by George Kolbenschlag.
This is the boyfriend of the female Downey Woodpecker photographed by Peggy Spoon.He looks a lot like a Hairy Woodpecker, but is smaller and has a shorter bill. His bill is about half the depth of his head while the Hairy's bill is almost as long as it's head is deep. Unlike the Downey, the Hairy usually has no white bar on it's outer tail feathers. The Downey is quite common in Southeastern Kentucky. The Hairy is also common, but not as common as the Downey - at least in my back yard. -George Kolbenschlag For more about Downey Woodpeckers, click to All About Birds: Downy Woodpecker.

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Birds of Kentucky: Delighted Female Downy Woodpecker



2011-02-05 - Snake Creek RD, Columbia, KY - Photo by Peggy Spoon.
Peggy Spoon writes, after George Kolbenschlag sent photo of male Downy Woodpecker, "Downy woodpecker straddling the fence over having a boyfriend!" Seen in the ColumbiaMagazine group on Flickr.

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