The Red-bellied Woodpecker indulges himself at our bird feeder!
The Red-bellied Woodpecker originally hailed from the southeastern U.S., but has expanded his range to include all eastern states, including the northern states. The Red-bellied Woodpecker likes to hang out in wooded areas and near wetlands. Like most woodpeckers, the Red-bellied is helpful to the environment by eating wood-boring insects and plain old insect pests. The male has a red crown and nape, a buff colored chest and a red patch on the abdomen. They also have black and white striped feathers, giving them the nickname: “Zebraback”.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder.
Rummaging around in the feeder opening!
Can you hear me now? 😉
One of the things I love to observe is how the woodpecker uses his feet to hang on. It’s not as easy for him, at his size of 10 inches. Sometimes he seems to hold on to the feeder opening, and sometimes he holds on to the post. He’s so large he struggles trying to get the food, but he manages! You can tell the feeder is swinging wildly due to his weight. And I was amazed that I was able to get some clear photos!
Food, glorious food! A happy woodpecker indulges!
Learn more about the Red-bellied Woodpecker here. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Thanks for visiting me!
Judy
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Ah Judy thanks for visiting me! I would never get a woodpecker in my garden, in fact I’ve probable only seen one once or twice, they are rather elusive in England. And your photos are awesome!
I had no idea! Thanks for the visit! I love your blog. Wish I had more time to visit you! Thank you so much, Gilly!
The detail in these photos is AMAZING!!! Thanks for sharing:)
Thank you! I was worried because he didn’t stop moving and the feeder was swinging like crazy! lol
HI Judy! Wow that is such a beautiful bird! It’s nice to see how birds look in other places. I have a bird fountain in my backyard so I get a bunch of little fellows taking baths and drinking water 🙂
Thanks for visiting my page! I hope I can go back to England again, I want to tour the English countryside 🙂
-Adriana
Thank you, Adriana! The English countryside..Now that would be divine! I picture old stone buildings and sheep grazing! That appeals to me greatly too! Ahhh…so much in my bucket list! I love your blog. I just wish I had more time to visit.
I got a new bird bath at the end of the summer. I’m looking forward to enjoying the little ones in it this year! 🙂
You got great photos! Once in a while a woodpecker will visit our bird feeder and I know they move around a lot.
Yes, the little hyper guys! Add that to the swinging feeder! Back when I took those I was using “auto” only. So the camera did a good job! Thanks!
What a beautiful bird! You certainly ‘captured’ it.
Thank you, Margie! I was very lucky. The feeder hangs right outside our window….so I shot through the window. Plus he is hyper-wiggly and the feeder was swaying. Luck it was!
Beautiful bird and great entry Judy!
Thank you Sunshine! You bring sunshine and happiness to my day! 😉
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Great shots!! I’ve never seen a woodpecker before – this is awesome!
Thank you, Louise! I appreciate your comment!
Lovely images Judy, well captured with lots of detail in the plumage. The 3rd image is a “cracker”
Thank you so much, Jim. Your compliments mean a lot! I shot those through the window, so I was pleased to see they turned out! 😉
What a lovely shot you captured of him actually having a seed in his beak! Love it!
Thank you Ashley! Pure luck! Shot through the window, I was lucky the images even turned out! He is fun to watch!
Oh, isn’t he a handsome fella! Lovely pictures! 🙂
Thank you, Zelmare! I love to watch him at the feeder!
This is beautiful Judy!! 🙂 It’s great you have a bird feeder. 🙂 One of the things I would love to have in the future when I have a house with a garden is that to have a bird feeder like the one you have. And make friends with birds of all kinds. 😉 … It is fun and when food is scarce out there for the birds, that is the kindest thing to do. Have a lovely sunday!
Thank you, Elyas….it is fun to feed them, and because it’s inches from our window, it’s more fun than watching TV sometimes! 😉
Such a lovely bird and you captured it so well! I enjoy indulging in watching some of our feathered visitors!
Isn’t it fun? I love doing it too! Thank you for your comments, Fergiemoto!
You managed to take some nice and well focused photos of this woodpecler Judy ! I know it’s not easy to have good pictures of birds but you really succeeded with these ones. In the last photo we can see how he hangs on to the feeder. It’s such a beautiful bird, it’s been many years since I saw one but every summer I can ear him in my neighborhood.
Thank you, Jocelyne! I love that about the photos. He’s so heavy for the feeder…and you can tell he’s gripping with all his might!
I love how your photos tell each of their own stories..as usual..So Sweeeett! 🙂
By the way, thank you very much for the lovely award! I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot, Judy! 😀
You’re welcome, Olive! You deserve it…you have a wonderful blog! Thank you for your kind comment too!
We feed our birds but not the woodpeckers. They come around any way. They peck at the trees and the rain gutters. They are beautifully colored. The red breast if so very bright. I think I’ll consider feedin the, too. My trees will thank me. The images are great for indulge.
Hi Isadora….It’s the same here. The male and female come to our regular feeder. I have a suet basket and just need to get suet and hang it!
Thank you!
he’s beautiful !
Thank you, Dianne!
Amazing photos… Great job! 😉
Thank you, Eliz!
a happy woodpecker 🙂
Yes….he certainly is! Thanks!
deeply indulge 🙂 very nice!
Thank you, joshi….he certainly does indulge! 😉
The bird looks so cute. And Judy, you have done a great job capturing them so well. Birds are my favourite subject for photography.
I love to photograph them too, but I can never catch them! lol Thank you, Bindu!
Ooh, great captures Judy! I never seem to get bird shots, but plan on hanging out near a feeder in the spring. I am not easily deterred. I love seeing his colors up close and personal.
Thank you, Margie. I am lousy at catching birds in the wild. But if I sit by the window near the feeder…I raise my stats tremendously!! 😉
Beautiful Entry for Indulge Judy great work as always 🙂
Thank you, Jake!
Nice photo. We also have a woodpecker who comes every day and eat. 🙂
Thank you, Knut! They do like to indulge!
… black and white striped feathers, giving them the nickname: “Zebraback”
Hi Frizz….That’s my favorite part…black and white and a bright red top! Love that nickname!