The 3 Woodpeckers: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Red-Bellied and Downy

This winter has brought many Woodpeckers to my feeders, with adding my homemade suet cakes I have recently added a new friend. He is a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), he is a medium size 8-9 inches (20-22.5 cm). This fellow has a checkered back, a red forehead, crown and chin, tan to yellow breast and belly. He is similar to other Missouri woodpeckers, the difference is he has a red chin patch (the female has a white chin).

I have not had much time observing him yet, he seems to come in very quietly and moves around the tree to the suet feeder. The first day I noticed him I thought he was a Hairy woodpecker, but different because he had more red on his head. I only observed him for a hot minute so as I was looking through my bird book to identify him I was pleasantly surprised by finding a new woodpecker in my yard. On my days off I watch out my windows to see who is out at the feeders and I've been able to get a few good pictures of this little Sapsucker.

The Sapsucker drills holes in a pattern of horizontal rows in small to medium sized trees to bleed tree sap. Many birds drink from sapsucker taps. Oozing sap also attracts insects, which sapsuckers eat. Sapsuckers will defend their sapping sites from other birds. They don't suck sap, rather they lap it with their long tongues. A quiet bird with few vocalizations but will mew like a cat. Unlike other woodpeckers, drumming rhythm is irregular.
Birds of Missouri Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

The Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) comes often to my feeder, he has been a friend for a while because he eats nuts and seeds fruit and insects. He is about 9.5 inches (23cm) has a zebra striped back with a white rump. A red crown which extends down the nape of his neck (the female has a grey crown). He has a tan breast with a light patch of red on the belly.

The Red-Bellied woodpecker I think is the prettiest of my woodpeckers. Their design is gorgeous and that crown of red is stunning. They have a slight blush to their checks, which makes it look as if they are blushing. This Red-Bellied guy has a fun and quirky personality, he flies to the tree and if I'm outside he starts on the backside of the tree and comes around to peak at me. At times he will sit on a branch and look down saying what do you want?

He is named for it's easily overlooked rosy red belly patch. Mostly a bird of shady woodland, it excavates holes in rotten wood looking for spiders, centipedes and beetles. Hammers acorns and berries into crevices of trees for winter food. Will return to same tree to excavate a new nest below that of the previous year. Often kicked out of nest hole by European Starlings. Birds of Missouri field Guide by Stan Tekiela

Last but not least, is my little Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), I have both a male and female that have frequented my feeders since I started feeding them. They are the smallest of the woodpeckers in my yard, 6 inches (15cm). They have an all white belly, black and white spotted wings, a black line running through the eyes, a white stripe down the back and a red patch at the back of the head (female does not have red patch). The Downy woodpecker has a short black bill which differentiates him from the Hairy woodpecker, also the Hairy is larger than the Downy Woodpecker.

The little Downy is my friend, when I go out to bring the food for the feeders I always hear him/her asking if I could hurry up with breakfast. Both of them are at my feeders multiple times a day and spend time in my tree letting me know they are there. I think on the nice days they stick around to talk to me (in my head that's what I'm thinking). They move fast up and down the tree stopping for a bit to peck at the tree, then move on so much fun to watch the busy little couple coming and going all day.

One of the most abundant and widespread woodpeckers in Missouri, found throughout whee trees are present. Stiff tail feathers help brace it like a tripod as it clings to a tree. Like other woodpeckers it has a long, barbed tongue to pull insects from tiny places. Male and female drum on branches or hollow logs to announce territory, which is rarely larger than 5 acres. Male performs most of the brooding. Birds of Missouri Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

Male Downy Woodpecker

Female Downy Woodpecker

All photos were taken by me with my Cannon EOS T2i Rebel
My source of information as noted Birds of Missouri Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
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