I’m a woodpecker carving out my days on the body of a memoir tree. — Rajkanya (1955 Hindi Bollywood film)
Writing can give you the pleasures of the woodpecker, of hollowing out a hole in a tree where you can build your nest and say, “This is my niche, this is where I live now, this is where I belong. — Anne Lamott, American novelist and non-fiction writer
Perched on the thin limb of a leafless tree the male cardinal glowed. The drabness of the tree limb and a bit of morning sunlight further emphasized the brilliance of the cardinal’s attire. He regularly dines at the birdfeeder while the female mostly forages seed droppings on the ground.
The indigo bunting was my favorite bird with its teal-colored feathers though buntings are seasonal and come but for a short while. Cardinals and woodpeckers, both with equally stunning feathers, stay with us through all seasons.
While watching birds from the breakfast table a woodpecker took short hops up the old oak tree. I announced, “There goes a red-headed woodpecker.” Sam noted the bird had no red on his head. He told of a time he saw a pileated woodpecker. I looked up woodpeckers.
The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in the southeast. They can be between 15-19 inches tall with a black body, a few white patches on the neck and wing, and a large red crest on its head. Their wingspan can be up to 30 inches. This woodpecker is about the size of a crow. We host a number of crows. The pileated woodpecker hangs out in mature forest around dead trees and fallen trees. They hammer out little square boxes in the bark to store their food. Strong winds have covered the ground with acorns, loved by woodpeckers, squirrels, possums, raccoons, and deer.
The red-headed woodpecker has a large red head and a bill that is longer than most woodpeckers, excepting the pileated. His back is entirely black with some wraparound white patches and belly.
One of the most common woodpeckers in Mississippi is the downy woodpecker. It’s a smaller bird, a bit larger than a house sparrow, with a black cape feature on its back and black and white streaks toward the tail feathers. There’s a tiny spot of red on the male’s nape. The downy’s bill is also small. This bird has adapted well to its habitat. It can be found in backyards, parks, cemeteries, and subdivisions as well as woodlands.
The hairy woodpecker is black and white all over with a small spot of red on the male’s head. They have an erect posture and range from 9-11 inches. The hairy woodpecker has a bill about the size of its head. While the bird might prefer mature woodlands they too are found in backyards, parks, and cemeteries. In winter they can be attracted with suet.
The red-bellied woodpecker is a dominant bird at the bird feeder and will run other birds away. This fellow prefers woodlands. They have a bright red cap on their heads. Their bellies are tan, not red. The back is barred black and white.
Now I suspect it was the downy woodpecker we spotted from our breakfast table that morning.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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