Subject: Young of Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers
Date: Jun 24 10:11:24 1999
From: W. William Woods - wwwbike at halcyon.com


Hi Tweeters,

We must be feeding several families of Hairy and Downy woodpeckers at our
suet cake feeder, because we see a steady stream of male and female Downys
ans Hairys helping themselves to the hanging cage of
peanutbutter/beef-tallow/cracked-corn/oatmeal/whatever blocks. Now we have
the young being brought to the food supply and fed by the parents. Some of
both Downy and Hairy juveniles have a full red crown in both species,
mainly fed by the female. Also, we have seen the male adult feeding
apparent young WITHOUT a red crown. Our bird books do not say anything
about the red crown of immatures (Peterson, Stokes), or say only that the
male immatures have the red crown (National Geographic), or say that BOTH
male and female immatures have the red crown patch (Audubon Society Master
Guide to Birding, vol.2, and Birds of Washington State, Jewel et al.) Most
of the youngsters are now feeding themselves at the suet cake feeder, and
no longer need to be fed by mama and papa. However, they are quite willing
to accept a mouthful from the parents when offered.

The red crown is still quite visible. It will be interesting to watch the
change to the mature adult.

Question: Do both male and female immatures of the Downy and Hairy
woodpeckers have the red crown patches, or just the male? Our observations
seem to indicate that only the male immature has the red crown patch.

Bill and Erin Woods Woods Tree Farm Redmond, WA U.S.A.
<wwwbike at halcyon.com>