Soft and Downy

Isn't she just?  Look, there are even lots of little feathers all around the base of her beak.  I don't know if those are what they term 'rictal bristles' or just some soft, downy feathers... either way I think they are cute.

This is a little lady Downy Woodpecker that comes to the suet cage for her favourite.  Peanut butter and bugs.  Suet cakes I buy at the bird feed shop.  They, and the Northern Flickers get on there and hang... literally ... sometimes it appears as though they are snoozing...but, sometimes, maybe they just refuse to get off and give anybody else a chance.

There is a "pecking order" too it seems.  If the little Downy is on there and a big ol' Northern Flicker shows up....well, the little one flies off for a bit.   But, she comes back... and so does her boyfriend... I've never seen it the other way around.  No Flickers leave if a little Downy shows up for grub.  Big Meanies.
Don't forget... click to make larger to see details if you like.

Waiting patiently for me to finish shovelling so she can come into the patio for her suet cage.  Not too nervous at all...unlike the big Flickers... who take off the instant I go out there.  They may be big meanies in the bird world...but, they are afraid of me.  Hah....

Here is one of the big Flickers...  all fluffed out so he looks even bigger.  It is -25C these days and they puff out their feathers to keep warm I guess.  And...below...... ...the little lady Downy so you can see the size difference.  Sorry they are a bit soft focus looking... almost fuzzy... they were taken with the venetian in the way...but, didn't want to scare them off so left it.

Linking up with Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday again... check them out by clicking on the photos below.

Wild Bird Wednesday

I was looking through my photos today wondering what I have that is interesting and that I haven't posted on WBW yet....

Lo and behold...I do have something cute and interesting.

A little Downy Woodpecker.  A lady .. there is no red on its head.... the males have a small patch of red on the back of the head.

She loves the suet feeder ...  and, every so often I do see a little man come too...but, more often than not..it is only her.  She jumps off right away if a big Northern Flicker shows up ...but, is quick to return when he goes away.

She has a look in the feeder ...decides where to peck and then goes to work.  I have some suet with bugs in it... they seem to like it quite a bit.

Every so often she leans waaaaay out to either have a rest..or to get a better look at things.  Maybe she has vision problems.. hahahaha...

And look at the last pic...she has a little crumb on her chest... so cute....


Click on any pic to enlarge and get a closer look ....

And..... please head over to Stewart's blog and check out Wild Bird Wednesday ... lots of neat birds and great photography to see over there.  Just click on the long legged guy in the pic below....