Tag: central new york

Meet Your Local Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers

Hairy Woodpecker perched on a tree trunk, showcasing its distinctive black and white plumage with a red spot on the head.
Downy Woodpecker
Photographer © Evan Lipton/Macaulay Library
A Hairy Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker perched on a feeder, illustrating the differences between the two species.

Dear Curious Woodpecker Followers, 

Here in Central New York, our feeders are the hot spots for Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. Think of them as distant cousins showing up to a family reunion in matching flannel shirts, but with very different vibes. These two may look like twins at a glance, but one’s the petite party animal, and the other’s the burly introvert. Let’s break it down.

Downy Woodpecker: The Tiny Dancer

Meet the Downy Woodpecker, North America’s smallest woodpecker at a dainty 6.5 inches, like a house sparrow on steroids. This little dynamo zips onto your feeder like it’s headlining a concert at the Empower Amphitheater at Lakeview. Dressed in a sharp black-and-white suit with a confetti-spotted tail (think Wedding Crashers at The Springside Inn), the Downy’s all about the buffet: suet, black oil sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, and even a sip of oriole or hummingbird feeders. This bird’s basically the friend who shows up to Seed Stock, invites the whole flock, and dances like it’s auditioning for “Birds Got Talent.”

Hairy Woodpecker: Like a Rock

A Downy Woodpecker perched on a branch, showcasing its distinctive black-and-white plumage and small size.

Now, meet the Hairy Woodpecker, the gym bro of the woodpecker world. At a solid 9 inches, think robin-sized, but with a protein shake obsession at Blazing Nutrition. This bird could bench-press a pinecone. Its pristine white tail feathers are as dapper as tuxedos at Men’s Wearhouse. Its bill is like a railroad spike, like one you could find anywhere in Central New York. Unlike the social birderfly Downy, the Harry’s a bit of a hermit, preferring to hunt insects in old trees over mingling at your feeder, even though they will come to those with rural settings. It’s like that cousin who prefers to hunt on Thanksgiving day rather than endure Aunt Judy’s small talk.

How to Tell Them Apart

Size is your biggest clue. The Downy’s a lightweight, like the friend who orders extra toppings at Angelo’s Pizza but leaves half the slice uneaten. The Hairy? It’s been hitting the weights at Edge. 

•  Bill Size: Downy’s got a dainty, third-of-its-head bill; Hairy’s is a pointed, head-length beast.

•  Tail Feathers: Downy’s tail is speckled like Mini-Mouse’s polka-dotted closet; Hairy’s is crisp white, ready for a celebrity wedding.

•  Vibes: Downy’s doing the jitterbug at Muranda Cheese Company; Hairy’s sipping herbal tea from Finger Lakes Tea Company, contemplating the birdiverse.

But, Are They Related?

They may look like siblings who shop at the same Country Max, but Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are more like distant cousins with similar fashion sense. Hairy has ties to the White-headed and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, while Downy’s drama involves Ladder-backed and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. Their similar looks? Just evolution’s version of matching pajama pants, snicker-worthy yet fabulous.

Do They Hang Out Together?

A Downy Woodpecker and a Hairy Woodpecker perched on a tree trunk, highlighting their distinct black-and-white plumage.
Borrowed from WildBirdScoop

You’d think these two would be besties in the forests at Baltimore Woods. Nope, they’re more like squabbling siblings at the feeder. The bigger, badder Hairy often bullies the Downy, chasing it off like a bouncer at Ugly Disco. Talk about bird drama? If I catch any bullying at my feeder, I’m waving Hairy back to Lime Hollow with a stern “Not on my suet, Mister”!

Quick Recap

Downy Woodpecker

  • Length: ~6.5 inches, sparrow-sized with big dreams.
  • Bill: Short and sweet, like a cocktail straw.
  • Vibe: Life of the party, rocking the suet.

Hairy Woodpecker

  • Length: ~9 inches, robin-sized with a gym membership.
  • Bill: Long and in charge, ready to knock on an old tree.
  • Vibe: Lone wolf, probably singing “He’s So Shy” in the forest.
  • Who’s the Star of Your Feeder?

In Central New York and the Finger Lakes, Downy Woodpeckers are the social like a retired women’s happy hour at Foxy’s. Hairy Woodpeckers? They’re more likely hanging at Macaulay Library at Sapsucker Woods. 

After studying these two guys, I stopped using my brain’s measuring tape . Downys are the most likely heroes at my patio party. You birders with open air backyards, you could see both.

Four woodpeckers perched on a branch, displaying distinctive black and white markings with orange accents.

So, who’s stealing the show at your feeder? Can you tell between the Downy or the bulked-up Hairy? Drop a comment and let me know. I’m dying to hear about your backyard bird drama!

Sources:

How to Tell a Hairy Woodpecker from a Downy Woodpecker?

Woodpeckers in New York

Cornell’s All About Birds

Why Finger Lakes Birds Go Silent in Summer: Understanding Molting

Photo borrowed from PetMojo

Dear sweaty and bored birdwatchers,

The Finger Lakes seasons are often like a roller coaster at the New York State Fair, winter gloom, wet spring to a humid summer. Yet, often Fall can be colorful and temperate. In spite of the crazy weather, bird watchers gotta bird no matter what.

As the heat wave continues in upstate New York, wild birds often go into hiding much like snow skiers at Song Mountain in Tully.

Where have all the birds gone?

The woods become eerily silent, perhaps because even birds are too exhausted to sing or gossip about complaining humans. The birds look tired and lose their flashy breeding feathers.

Birdwatchers tend pack away binoculars until fall to avoid the sweat and frustration. In July and August, fewer submit sightings to eBird, likely because we’re busy slurping ice at Footie’s Freez in Cortland.

Birds sing mainly to amaze their secret crushes and keep other birds from stealing their eats. By July, most young birds have flown the coop. Even the Carolina Wrens go radio-silent by early August.

Some birds might keep singing a little longer just to help their little ones master the local dialect. But many throw in the towel on territorial bragging rights and start mingling in flocks. Showing off territory in the summer is about as exciting as a flat beer at Summerhill Brewing. Which never happens by the way.

Piece by piece, each species drops out of the glorious morning chorus, leaving only the most persistent singers to perform solo like Virgil Cain, a Finger Lakes favorite.

Sitting on my patio with my coffee, I’ve come to realize that the mornings are quieter and, frankly, a lot less enjoyable without my birds.

Let’s go molt at the spa

Molt is like a bird’s version of a spa day at Mirabeau Inns and Spa Skaneateles. From hummingbirds to penguins, every bird has to go through this annual feather-fest to survive, since their feathers take a beating from sunburns and physical wear. Think of it as their natural sunscreen and wardrobe overhaul. Usually, in late summer for temperate species, birds embark on a full molt to sport a fresh set of feathers for the seasons ahead.
After breeding, birds enter the molting season, which is like The Rockettes after the Christmas season, taking some R&R sipping wine, without makeup in their Rockette cozy nests.

As birds sprout new flight feathers, they might feel as awkward as trying to fit into oversized hiking boots from Davidson Shoes in Canandaigua which are crucial for a perfect fit but definitely a step out of their comfort zone. This awkward phase can leave them more vulnerable to predators, who might think it’s open season.

Ironically, the silence and secretive behavior of birds make them harder to find just when they are most abundant, because all the new young birds increase adult populations.

Instead of thinking about the ‘dog days’ of summer, consider calling them the ‘bird days.” Your bird feeders might be quiet, but it’s also a period so busy with winged activity that even the most dedicated birdwatcher might need a nap. They’re just a little harder to find, that’s all.

Keep on birding

A closeup shot of a European robin bird in a winter park covered with snow

Go where birds go once they’ve finished nesting and are no longer defending territories. Look in the trees the bushes, behind Wegmans, go to one of the Finger Lakes, and keep your binoculars with you. And keep in mind, you might be the only person counting birds in your yard or town, making your checklists as valuable as a birdbath at a Little York Plantations.

When you understand molting, you’ll realize that a bird’s ragged, patchy look in late summer is just its way of showing off its fashionable new feathers. Plus, you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for how birds enthusiastically prepare for their epic fall migration, almost like nature’s own travel agents. Who knew this phase could be so interesting?

A molting cardinal on my fence. Photo taken by my iPhone 15

This cardinal did not want me to see him, but alas, “have iPhone will travel,” even it it’s only to my patio window.

Have you seen a Northern Cardinal lately that looks like he was in an ax throwing contest? No, he wasn’t at Bad Ax Throwing in Syracuse, he was just molting. But anyway, take pictures and send your entries to eBird. They will be thrilled to hear from you. Send some pics to me too!!

Until next time, GO FINGER LAKES BIRDS!

Sources and further reading:

Audubon Magazine: Why (and How) to Look for Molting Birds This Summer

Birds&Blooms: Bird Molting: Why Birds Molt and How to Spot It