This Hairy Woodpecker appeared to be making some different food choices this morning aswe saw it feeding at this feeder filled with a finch mixture of seeds. We had never seen a woodpecker feeding at a bird feeder before. peanuts and suet feeders, yes, but not seeds in a feeder. However, it didn't stay there long at the feeder before moving to a more traditional feeding place, that being the bark of our Russian Mountain Ash tree.
It appeared to have found something interesting on the Mountain Ash to eat as it removed a small patch of bark from its trunk.
From the Ash it returned to another bird feeder full of seeds and only left there as I appeared trying to get closer with my camera and frightened it away.
From the feeder it next chose tree trunk feeding again as it flew to our Japanese Silver King Birch tree.
MY question is ; do woodpeckers usually feed on bird seed in feeders? Before today I would have answered "No".
Great pictures!! I've seen our little Downy woodpeckers at the feeder--I don't know what they're enjoying there, but have wondered if it's not the pieces of fruit in the mix--They're not telling me, so it's only a guess! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes,I have often seen them come to the feeder to pick up a sunflower seed and then go to a tree to eat it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
Great pictures, maybe your woodpeckers were out for bit of treat.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting for sure. rlr
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends what is in the seed mix. My woodpeckers love sunflower seeds and feed at the feeders that have those, but I haven't seen them eat other seeds.
ReplyDeletewe have 2 woodpeckers female and male..they love the sunflower seeds ans believe it not they feed from our humming bird feeders...they're here everyday three or four times a day drinking the juice..they love it..this is the first year this has happened here....took a lot of pictures of them feeding on this juice....it is quite funny....
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