Look at that redhead!

Ever since I hung a suet feeder outside our living room window shortly after Christmas, we've been visited by a sweet little downy woodpecker and a northern flicker (another type of woodpecker), both with small red stripes on the back of their heads.


Today's visitor, however, was far more resplendent: a red-bellied woodpecker. Really, the belly doesn't look red to me (although the bird book describes it as a "red wash"). But that bright head! Magnificent. Caroline and I stared while Michael aimed his camera.


This male woodpecker used his extra-long beak to vanquish a small flock of starlings that tried to chase him off the suet cage. Power to the ’peckers!