Subject: [Tweeters] 2 questions
Date: Jan 9 13:37:45 2005
From: Brett Wolfe - m_lincolnii at yahoo.com


Hi Nancy,

I will attempt to answer the first question using the definitive ID book out there "Identification Guide to North American Birds, Part 1" by Peter Pyle (aka 'The Pyle Guide'). I have always thought that all Downy Woodpeckers with red on the back of the head were males, regardless of location throughout the country. In going through the section on geographical variation, there is no mention made of the eastern subspecies being the only ones with a red spot. In the section on sexing, the guide states: Females - Hindcrown without red or perhaps rarely in After second year/After third year birds only with 1-2 red feathers. Males - Hindcrown with a distinct red patch.

So the red patch just means that it is a male DOWO, not that it is from a specific geographic location. Hope this helped.

Brett A. Wolfe

Seattle, WA

Nancy <nelrjb at comcast.net> wrote:
Hi Tweeters,
We had a Downey Woodpecker at our suet feeder the past three days. He has a red spot on the back of his head. Sibleys says this is an Adult Eastern bird.
Is this normal here?

Also, we have a female Northern Flicker that has started sitting on an abandoned robins nest in our veranda. She comes by to spend the night. I am wondering if she is just trying to keep warm, or if she would be nesting so early?

Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Nancy Lander
Renton, WA.
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