Woodpecker ? for bird fans

[Vera]

I have a new visitor at my feeders which I think is a Hairy Woodpecker. It looks the same as the Downy (have several of those), but a good bit larger and with a much bigger bill. BUT - my birdbook says that both the Downy and the Hairy have "a small red patch on the back of the head" (well, the males do), and while the Downy has that as described in the book, the patch on the other one is clearly divided by a black line. So, I'm wondering, is this just a Hairy Woodpecker that can't read and doesn't know what it's supposed to look like, or is there a difference between Hairys in the west (my book is for "Western Birds") and the east, or are there any variations in these two kinds of woodpeckers?

Here's the Downy (note solid red patch and small bill):





And this is the big guy (note divided red patch and large bill - talk about a honker!):





This is bugging me... LOL! Any input, anyone?

[Ramblin Wreck]

My bird book is at home Vera, or I would try to find it for you. What are you using to get such great pictures?

[klriano]

Is a Hairy Woodpecker...

The Hairy is a bigger version of the Downy. Can be told from Downy by much LONGER bill, larger size. White outer tail feathers usually lack dark bars (but these can be hard to see on the Downy aslo). Voice is sharper than a Downy's, a high Peek! and a lower, fast rattle, more or less on one pitch, not descending.

[Vera]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Wreck

My bird book is at home Vera, or I would try to find it for you. What are you using to get such great pictures?

Thank, RW, I appreciate the thought These aren't the good pictures, just "trying to identify" quality. The good ones amaze even me, and I'm the one who's taking them, LOL! I use a Fuji Finepix S3100, and I'm happy as a lark with it!

This would be one of the good ones... it's a rose-breasted nuthatch:



That camera is about the best "unnecessary" purchase I've ever made. I'm finally getting the kinds of photos I've wanted to take for some 25 years and couldn't because the equipment didn't play along.

[Vera]

Originally Posted by klriano

Is a Hairy Woodpecker...

The Hairy is a bigger version of the Downy. Can be told from Downy by much LONGER bill, larger size. White outer tail feathers usually lack dark bars (but these can be hard to see on the Downy aslo). Voice is sharper than a Downy's, a high Peek! and a lower, fast rattle, more or less on one pitch, not descending.

Yup, that's what my birdbook says, too. I just got hung up on the divided red patch of the Hairy - the description doesn't list that as a feature by which the Downy and the Hairy can be told apart, it only says "a small red patch on the back of the head" for both of them.

[Ramblin Wreck]

Well, you're doing pretty good with it, and even zooming in, the resolution is nice.

[moonwolf]

Originally Posted by Vera

That camera is about the best "unnecessary" purchase I've ever made. I'm finally getting the kinds of photos I've wanted to take for some 25 years and couldn't because the equipment didn't play along.

I feel the same about my new camera. I had a good 'ole' Nikon F2 nikormat manual SLR but it's sure nice having this Nikon SLR digital and not need to buy or fool with film anymore. It may be 'unnecessary', but hey, if it enhances your life....it's worth it!
I got an excellent shot of my 'pet' magpie over the weekend which I posted on another forum. Here is "Maggie" again. I got within 20 yards of the bird, so she's getting less 'skittish'. Taken with the zoom lens set at about 85mm for closeup. I then cropped about 40% of the outer part of the photo to bring in the bird so I could see what the heck she had in her mouth this time!