Walking With A Waddle

by Kym Backland

Title

Walking With A Waddle

Artist

Kym Backland

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Photograph

Description

All the years I have seen these "Woody Woodpeckers" around the house, I realize I never have seen them walking on the ground. I didn't realize they swing their legs out. I was bummed I couldn't get a catch light in his eyes. But he would swing his leg out over the deck so he could walk. I think he is drilling our deck! Yikes..This is one of the younger Pileated that was born in a nearby stump. His crest is still small, and he isn't fully grown yet. He is on the deck trying to get to a suet cake. As soon as he gets on this suet cake, all the other small ground birds fly over, and get underneath him! This way the small birds, get all the crumbs. They have all learned this behaviour! It's pretty funny, but the funniest thing is seeing this bird WALK... Good stuff... Here's some bird facts to read about too! The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large woodpecker with a long neck and a triangular crest that sweeps off the back of the head. The bill is long and chisel-like, about the length of the head. In flight, the wings are broad and the bird can seem crowlike.Color Pattern Pileated Woodpeckers are mostly black with white stripes on the face and neck and a flaming-red crest. Males have a red stripe on the cheek. In flight, the bird reveals extensive white underwings and small white crescents on the upper side, at the bases of the primaries.Behavior Pileated Woodpeckers drill distinctive rectangular-shaped holes in rotten wood to get at carpenter ants and other insects. They are loud birds with whinnying calls. They also drum on dead trees in a deep, slow, rolling pattern, and even the heavy chopping sound of foraging carries well. Their flight undulates like other woodpeckers, which helps separate them from a crow’s straight flight path. Habitat Pileated Woodpeckers are forest birds that require large, standing dead trees and downed wood. Forests can be evergreen, deciduous, or mixed and are often old, particularly in the West. In the East they live in young forests as well and may even be seen in partially wooded suburbs and backyards.

Uploaded

February 19th, 2013

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