Nov. 30, 2007 The Pileated Woodpecker on the tree after feeding on suet. They often wipe their beak on the tree to clean off loose pieces of suet. I guess it works as a pretty good napkin! The red cheek blaze indicates this is a male. I was amazed to see our resident "bully" mockingbird dive at this woodpecker as it fed at the suet feeder. We can't believe the audacity of that bird; one strike from the woodpecker's huge bill, and that would be the end of the mocking bird! We have a ringside seat for the action at our livingroom window! Woodpeckers have air bubbles in the bones of their skull to absorb the shock of pounding their beak into the wood of trees when searching for insects.
Oak Ridge, TN Jan. 8, 2010 I photographed this beautiful female Pileated Woodpecker on the tree outside our living room window. She had been feeding on the suet feeder.
This little female Downy Woodpecker was searching for insects on the tree outside our living room window. Male "downies" have a small red patch on the top of their heads.
