Who’s That Knockin?

Did you know that woodpeckers are descendents of an ancient lineage that dates back more than 50 million years? In fact, I’ve often thought our pileated woodpecker species resembled the Pteranodons and Pterodactyls I used to read about as a kid.

Of the 28 or so species of North America woodpeckers, B.C. has twelve, and five of those are fairly common here in the lower mainland. Even more fortunate is that all of them can be drawn to the backyard if the proper attractants are placed out. Obviously trees are a necessity, preferably older living conifers and deciduous along with snags (dead trees) that harbor lots of tasty insects for those woodpeckers to feed on. Suet, which is a high protein insect substitute should be a staple of any backyard feeding program along with shelled peanuts in a steel mesh peanut feeder. Many people also have luck attracting woodpeckers with hulled sunflower chips. Just make sure your tube feeders have a nice wide tray for the larger Northern Flickers to perch on. And don’t forget to offer fresh water in a bird bath for drinking and bathing. Here are your most likely visitors:

The Downy (pictured on the right above) will likely be the first woodpecker species to visit a backyard suet or shelled peanut feeder. These are the smallest woodpecker species in North America and can be identified by their small size, and black and white coloring. Males have a red spot on the back of the head. They are often seen hitching up tree trunks or along branches. Their call is a high-pitched “teek” call, or a call that sounds like a descending, chattering, whinny of a miniature horse. Male and female downies often maintain separate feeding territories in winter.

If you see an oversized Downy it is likely a different species called the Hairy Woodpecker (pictured on the left above). Hairies are of similar coloring to Downies except they are about 1 ½ times larger and have a much longer beak. They are usually less common though, requiring larger trees. Their call is similar to the Downy but higher and sharper, and their whinny call is one pitch not descending. Hairy Woodpeckers (and Downies) occurring west of the Coast and Cascade Mountain ranges tend to be of dingier coloring than their brighter interior cousins.

A woodpecker with an all-red head, yellowish belly and blackish back is likely to be a Red Breasted Sapsucker. These birds quietly drill evenly spaced holes in live trees seeking out sap and the insects attracted to it. Also, keep on the lookout for Anna’s Hummingbirds flying in the vicinity as they will often seek out these sap wells.  Unfortunately, Sapsuckers are not as likely to visit bird feeders as other woodpecker species. Their call consists of nasal mews, and squeals.

The Northern Flicker is a brown, jay-sized woodpecker often seen on the ground seeking ants. The red-shafted form that we predominantly see in this area has a spotted breast with black crescent above and displays flashes of red when flying. It is a frequent visitor at bird feeders and can be attracted with suet, shelled peanuts, or sunflower chips. Flickers are notorious for drumming on metal street lights or other surfaces in breeding season when looking for mates.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the big kahuna of woodpeckers in this area. Large, loud, and boisterous it is unmistakable. This mostly black woodpecker with red crest  requires big trees, digging deep into dead wood for carpenter ants and other insects. The male sports a red moustache and forehead. Its call is a series of wild-sounding “kuk” notes sung in rapid execution. Pileated’s tend to be irregular visitors to suet and shelled peanut feeders.