12
Jun

Downy Woodpecker Family

Downy Woodpeckers. The juvenile is on the left and the adult is on the right. Even though the angle of this photo I took with my phone early this morning does not show the back of the head so it is impossible to see if this adult has a red cap, I think this is the female. I believe the male was in another tree with the second juvenile.

This morning we saw a Downy Woodpecker family at the feeders.  An adult male and female and at least 2 juveniles – and there could be 3.  The juveniles are just a bit smaller than their parents which you can see when they are together.  They are also a bit disheveled and their black and white color patterns are a bit more blurry.  The juveniles are also begging for food from their parents and this behavior is happening mostly at the sunflower seed and peanut feeders.  You will see the youngster crouch just a bit, and then flutter its wings.  Often its beak is open – of course hoping some tasty morsel will be popped right in.

Your field guide will show the juveniles have a bit of red just above their beaks, but this is hard to see on these juveniles because these feeders are under trees so mostly in the shade.  This area just above their beaks will just look dark and also a bit messy.

You will see this family together at the feeders on and off every day for about the next 2 weeks and then the parents will start ignoring their youngsters and the juveniles will have to fend for themselves.  This is the story for the young in most warm-blooded species – they have to grow up, leave home, separate from their parents, and start their own lives as adults.  Sound familiar?