I have a red cocaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) that hangs out daily in my backyard. I live in North Carolina on a 1/2 acre lot. Out yard has quite a few of the long-leaf pines this bird requres for habitat.
I notice him about a month ago. We have a shepards crook that holds a bird feeder and a suet ball. He was sitting on the top of the crook watching the finches eat from the feeder. After a bit, he chased them away and tried to eat from the feeder himself. It was pretty funny because he thumped his head against it like it was a tree and seeds flew everywhere. Aparently he didn't like it, he flew to our wood fence and pounded it wiht his bill for a bit.
Later that week I saw him at the feeder again, this time helping himself to the seeds by gently pecking at them. Seeds still fly everywhere when he is at the feeder. On the weedend we see him several times a day at the feeder and I am home daily right now, so I see him every day.
I have never seen other males or females just this one bird in our yard.
My questions is this, is this normal behavior? I've been looking on the internet and found that they will eat seeds but prefer bugs. Has anyone else seen one of these birds at a feeder? If another bird gets too close he plucks their feathers.
Thanks.
Cindy
I'm not too familiar with the red cockaded specifically, but most woodpeckers enjoy feeders. They are built for bug drilling but take advantage of easy meals. We feed red-bellied woodpeckers, downys, hairy woodpeckers, and occaisionally common flickers. They enjoy seed-laced suet (you can buy cakes that are woodpecker mixes) and a "woodpecker mix" food with dried fruit and shelled nuts. Our hairy woodpeckers are even bringing their young right to the feeder and pulling out chunks of suet to feed them. They all tend to be feeder hogs, screaming or rushing at other birds to drive them away. I have feeders in different areas and only put the woodpecker food at one spot to alleviate this problem. Hope this answers your question, Loonybirder2
ok I will look around for one. I have a suet ball (its square) that is suet and peanut butter and it's been ignored by everybird that comes to the feeder *sigh*
Thank you so much for your help.
I decided to take a picture of him to post and of course he hasn't been back since I put the camera by the bed.
Cheers
Cindy