BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER REDUX

A few days ago, I walked up one of my ridge trails to feed my chickadees. I began to think I could have stayed in my yard, because most of the chickadees are there at my winter feeders... but a number of them came along when I whistled for them and ate hulled sunflower seeds from my hand. I positioned myself by a deadfall covered with lichen, so I could get a few photos of them on the decorative branches.

Black-capped Chickadee

I was with them for a half hour or so, when I heard a familiar "tapping" sound from a cedar wash about a hundred yards away.

I walked through the deep snow onto the packed down deer trails in the cedars. I would stop and listen for the pecking sound, because I was quite sure I had heard a Three-toed Woodpecker. Over the years, I have learned to discern the rhythm and torque of the three-toed variety. It is quite different sounding from the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers... the intermittent pecking is a giveaway, as they stop to pry and scrape the dead bark away on the dead spruce... searching for the spruce beetles, larvae, etc. When I heard his tell tale "chirp", I knew it was one of the three-toed woodpeckers.

Black-backed Woodpecker

I waited until he resumed pecking; this blue collar woodpecker is so focused on his work, that if you are patient, you can walk right up to him... which I have done many times.

Black-backed Woodpecker

This time it happened to be the Black-backed Woodpecker, who used to be called the Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker... the lessor observed one of the north woods is the Three-toed Woodpecker; which has a ladder back and is a tad bit smaller. The bonus with this little beauty was that he was the male, with the perfect yellow "dollop" decorating the top of his head.

Black-backed Woodpecker

I proceeded to take a number of photos and spent quite a bit of time watching him work, until a red squirrel came into the area and chased him away...

Nemesis

I don't get a huge diversification of birds here in the winter, so the finding and capturing one of the sought after "recluse woodpeckers of the north woods," was a highlight of my winter.