I know that sometimes people are interested in dead
birds which are in good shape. I have a newly fledged Downy
Woodpecker which hit my window this morning, just inches
from me as I was looking out. I ran out to help it, but
it's neck was broken, so I put it in a plastic bag in the
freezer in case anyone wants it. I am sure this one has not
been out of the nest long, since I have not seen any
juvenile Downys yet this year while I have seen the parents
quite a lot. The juvenile Hairy Woodpeckers have been out
at my feeders for 3 or 4 weeks now. Is it normal for the
Downys to be so far behind the Hairys in nesting? Since
this is the first year I have been at this residence, I
don't really know what is normal. This is also the first
year I have seen juveniles of either species, so I was
REALLY surprised at my first sight of that red cap on a
Hairy Woodpecker! I thought I must have a different species
of woodpecker. I searched through all my books, throwing out
many options (female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker .. no black
bib; female Red-naped Sapsucker.. no hint of red under chin;
Nuttall's Woodpecker.. mine was too big and has too much
white; of course none of these are normally in my area, but
I had to check), and finally I found reference to a red
cap on the Downy juvenile in All the Birds of North
America, so I assumed that the Hairy would show the same
pattern. Today's unfortunate youngster is the first Downy
juvenile I have ever seen, and sure enough it has the red
cap.
Please contact me if you are interested in acquiring
this poor young bird.

Joanne Schmitt
Port Angeles/Sequim area
jschmitt at olypen.com
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