Just saw this bird on my deck....

[jmdrake]

I love living in the country.

 

[Bruno]

Red-bellied woodpecker - those little guys make appearances in our suburban yard, too. Haven't seen them since fall, can't wait for the return.

Which reminds me - need to purchase and put up a woodpecker box for nesting.

 

[Deborah K]

I can hear the them head banging out in the eucalyptus grove. And these guys help us keep the snail population under control on our land.

 

[rancher89]

This is a Pileated Woodpecker, we had them at the last house I lived in. They are wicked cool!

"Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the common woodpeckers found in most of North America. These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests."
from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/pileated-woodpecker.html

 

[pcosmar]

I'm waiting (and looking for) Robins.
None yet. Nice weather all week, but I am not fooled.
http://pcosmar.blogspot.com/2008/04/spring-april-fools.html

I don't trust UP weather.
But I do trust the Robins.

 

[Ninja Homer]

They're pretty, but I hate 'em... they poke holes in my wood siding. I get some pileated woodpeckers in my backyard as well. Also pretty, and so far they've left my house alone, but they could destroy a wall in no time. When they peck a tree it sounds like somebody's pounding a hammer and you can see big wood chips flying.

Here's one out the window of my friend's cabin. It's about a foot and a half long.

 

[angelatc]

This is a Pileated Woodpecker, we had them at the last house I lived in. They are wicked cool!

"Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the common woodpeckers found in most of North America. These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests."
from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/pileated-woodpehtml

Yes, I used to get those in Indiana, but haven't had any luck at all here in MI. They're huge!

 

[Deborah K]

The holes they peck in the eucalyptus trees are perfectly round.

 

[Ninja Homer]

The holes they peck in the eucalyptus trees are perfectly round.

So are the ones they poke in my siding.

 

[Cowlesy]

We get pileateds and downys back home.

 

[Deborah K]

So are the ones they poke in my siding.

Cats will cure that problem. Here's my Bella:

 

[Bruno]

So are the ones they poke in my siding.

I had to chase a few red-bellied rascals away from our siding, too. Grrr.

 

[jmdrake]

I see pileateds every so often too, but I haven't seen one in 2010 yet. Just saw a bluejay. Hey, if I keep this up I'll earn my birdwatching badge!

 

[Bruno]

Northern Flicker

Keep an eye out for these guys, too (male pictured). They often travel in groups of three to five. Beautiful birds!

 

[rancher89]

Downy's are cool birds, my sister had a pair eating out of her hand one year. The next year they came back with their fledglings. I wish I had a picture of that!

We have mockingbirds here in abundance. Years ago the neighborhood mockingbird used to sing with/to my canary. They would sing each others' songs, sometimes singing together, sometimes taking turns. Unfortunately, they would start around 3 AM

 

[dannno]

This is a Pileated Woodpecker, we had them at the last house I lived in. They are wicked cool!

"Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the common woodpeckers found in most of North America. These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests."
from:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/pileated-woodpecker.html

 

[rancher89]

Here's one for you:

Brown Thrasher:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/id

You really don't notice them most of the year, but when they sing, you know they aren't mockingbirds. (although the mockingbird will pick up their song, it will mix it in with other snippets)


and just so happens to be the Georgia State Bird
http://www.50states.com/bird/brthrash.htm

 

[rancher89]

Danno, I wondered how long it would take for someone to post that!

 

[pcosmar]

Danno, I wondered how long it would take for someone to post that!

http://members.tripod.com/infinite_creativity/woody2.wav

 

[amy31416]

Pretty! I've seen several cardinals and a whole lot of crows thus far, that's about it.

Believe it or not, the daffodils are already starting to come up too.