Sunday, February 21, 2021

Red-Bellied Woodpecker Showing Belly

Red-Bellied Woodpecker, up close
I always thought this beauty should have been named for his head rather than his underside that's rarely this visible. Yesterday I got a vivid photo that illustrates his namesake perfectly. Thank you for all of your comments about my mistaken identity of the bird that perished this week. I now agree it was a Mourning Dove rather than a Hawk. It is a gorgeous Sunday morning here at my cottage with a cloudless blue sky. See you tonight. xo

6 comments:

Mama Pea said...

Rosemary, your photography of the birds is beautiful.

Content in a Cottage said...

Mama Pea :: Thank you! Ever since the attack, I don't have nearly as much activity and don't have to fill my feeder nearly as often. The birds are still scared.
xo, Rosemary

Anita ~ the cabin on the creek said...

Like you, I always felt these woodpeckers were named wrong. I see them on my property & even put out two suet feeders for the first time, but I have yet to see a bird on them. I think the birds here get all the berries & seeds they need in the dense vegetation in the woods across my creek. I was so hoping to see some woodpeckers come to feed.

The birds will come back, but they are just spooked right now. It may be the Cooper's hawk, or even other hawks in the area. Like everyone else, I love your bird pictures...just stunning.

...all is grace!

Content in a Cottage said...

Anita ~ the cabin on the creek -- Anita, it took my birds a long time to start on my suet cake. I don't have one of those "cages" to enclose and had a I hard time placing it where they could latch on to feed. Now I get activity and the Downy Woodpecker loves it. Be patient.
xo, Rosemary

Pam said...

I don't believe I've ever seen the underside of this woodpecker. Your photos are beautiful and educational, Rosemary. I always look forward to seeing what you capture at your cottage. Warming up this week?

Content in a Cottage said...

Pam -- I never know what I'll get when I keep my finger pressed on my camera's burst button. His underbelly is usually hidden but I was lucky on that day. More snow this afternoon but higher temps on the way in the 40s. What a winter!
xo, Rosemary