A recent trip to Marquette always nice to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers. A nice number of the woodpeckers were seen today about the woodland. Beautiful day, with temps around 72 and mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on June 22, 2021.
The Red-headed Woodpecker showing its best…
Always nice to see the return of Red-headed Woodpeckers in Marquette County. 4 of this species have made a late return this year, hopefully more will follow. Beautiful day, with temps around 60 and mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on May 8, 2021.
The Red-headed Woodpecker…
Seeing the Red-headed Woodpeckers in Marquette County Wisconsin is always a treat. A gorgeous day with temps around 76, low winds and a little sunshine. Images were taken on August 4, 2020.
Always enjoying the Red-headed Woodpeckers when visiting Marquette County Wisconsin. A gorgeous day with temps around 80+, low windows and plenty of sunshine. Images were taken on July 20, 2020.
Always enjoying the Red-headed Woodpeckers when visiting Marquette County Wisconsin. A gorgeous day with temps around 70+, low windows and plenty of sunshine. Images were taken on May 15, 2020.
Best birds of the day were a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers in Marquette County. Other species to note, a Bald Eagle, Tree Swallows, Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Pheobe, Song Sparrows and other common species we see this time of year. The day started out foggy but gave way to full sun late morning. Images were taken on April 5, 2020.
Red-headed Woodpecker, there were 2…
I have hit Lake Park in Milwaukee almost daily this week in hopes to see the large numbers of the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers that come through. This year like last, I may have missed the big event. Stops have had numbers of just 3-5 birds and some times not even photograph-able as they were high up in the trees. Maybe they are still coming but I think it is just one of those things that I won’t see that event. The few I have seen have been stunning as always, actively feeding on sap, making new holes in trees for more sap, they seem to know where to go. Most of the birds I have seen were higher in trees, not low near the truck. I would think that has to do with the sap situation in the tree. Still exciting to see these birds come through even if it was only one. Images were taken on the 8th and 12th of April 2019.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male, working on a hole getting sap too…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male working on a hole…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female-left, male-right
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male, they like to hide when someone is around and come around corners slow…
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Getting sap
Working the hole and then getting more sap…
Female getting sap…
Getting sap…
Doing some birding I came across a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. One bird was bringing insects to the nest hole in a dead oak. The other adult perched at a distance off a ways from the nest hole. I hung around for 3 feedings and then let them be. It was a beautiful day, mostly sunny with some gusts of winds which made for a stunning day out there, and no mosquito’s. Images were taken on June 11, 2018.
Red-headed Woodpecker leaving the nest hole after feeding young…
Bringing the insects to the young after a few minutes…
Going into the nest hole…
Before entering the nest hole…
Leaving…
Just standing by, the young know that…
Another bill full for the young…
Just before entering…
Perched in a nearby tree by the nest hole…
Taking a look around, watching the nest hole too…
While birding Lake Park in Milwaukee one of the highlights was watching the Northern Flickers, yellow-shafted feeding on a couple of clumps of Staghorn Sumac plantings in a ravine. 3 or 4 different Northern Flickers hit these plants hard for seeds probably with anticipated snow coming and the ground having 4″-5″ of fresh snow down now. I have never seen Northern Flickers on sumac before. Very many American Robins and Black-capped Chickadees hit these plants hard too while I was there, even a brief stop by a pair of Eastern Bluebirds even checked out the seeds but did not stay. I think of the different species of birds that have hit these plants over the years is amazing, and this is just a couple of plants I am sort of watching. It was a cloud day with brief sunlight, cold temps around 30 degrees and winds off the lake, made for a cold day out there. Images were taken on April 17, 2018.
Binomial name: Colaptes auratus
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 12.5” long, 20” wingspan
Weight: 4.6 Oz
I watched a pair of male and female Red-bellied Woodpeckers moving around on a Red Pine tree at Grant Park. I captured the two and put together a collage for comparing the two sexes. Such beautiful birds. Images taken on January 12, 2018.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers, the male left, female on the right in a collage photo…
Red-bellied Woodpecker, female
Red-bellied Woodpecker, male
Lake Park in Milwaukee had some Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers today. I probably saw a good half-dozen at the north end of the park. Like usual, if they have some good trees with sap running they return to those trees on and off. Sap looked great today with the warm weather, it was just oozing out. I don’t recall seeing any males, these were females. Last year there were nice numbers too at Lake Park, on April 8th, only two days off from last year. Images were taken on April 10, 2017.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker along with the sap running out of the tree
Binomial name: Sphyrapicus varius
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 8.5” long, 16” wing span
Weight: 1.8 oz
Getting that running sap…
Look at all that sap and holes in the tree, the sap is just oozing out…
Working a hole for some sap or future sap
Getting that sap
Getting that sap…
The tongue…
I stopped at Lake Park late morning today to check things out. The highlight was numerous Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers licking sap from new and old holes in trees. Some would sit lower towards the base of the tree as there may be more sap at those locations. It was interesting to sit and watch as this continued while I was present. Snow fell for most of the time I was present, a gloomy day with some winds. Birds around where very active. A couple species to note where a Golden-crowned Kinglet and my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year. Images where taken on April 8, 2016.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Binomial name: Sphyrapicus varius
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 8.5” long, 16” wing span
Weight: 1.8 oz
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male with sap on bill
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, female getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male working on getting sap
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, male
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
I made the run up to Trempealeau County early am with hopes to see the reported Lewis’s Woodpecker. I left in darkness, arrived in darkness. After some light arrived, so did the woodpeckers. Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and then the beautiful male Lewis’s Woodpecker! This Lewis’s should be the 4th state record for Wisconsin if I am correct. Its normal range is Colorado and west, what an exciting bird to have show up in Wisconsin. They did not waste anytime, all the woodpeckers were active most of the time I was there. The Lewis’s pretty much stayed in about 1 acre of the front yard at the home. On 2 occasions it flew north and south what appeared to be long distances but returned. Dan B showed up after awhile and the Lewis’s gave nice views but remained higher in branched trees. Daryl showed up, the bird was active for a while but left the area for about 45 minutes and did not return, I headed for home. The bird only hit the suet feeder once while we were there, and it was a split second. We gave this bird plenty of space. One sometimes wonders how these birds are found. Amanda the mother told me that Isaiah the son found the bird, the daughter Zaila identified the bird immediately. Great find Isaiah, great ID Zaila! Zaila is a birder working on a life list etc, congrats to all of them. I hope I got this information correct. The bird was found this last Sunday. A big thank you to Amanda the mother, the outstanding host for all the birders who have showed up and to all the family for letting others come see this rare bird that is visiting in their yard. Thanks too, to everyone that has kept updates on this bird and excellent directions to the location. A life bird for me and a cool one at that. It was a very fun morning for all of us on a beautiful late November day! Hope the bird hangs around for others to see. Images were taken on November 24, 2015. UPDATE: To my understanding, the Lewis’s Woodpecker was still being seen as of Friday February 5, 2016.
Binomial name: Melanerpes lewis
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 10.75” long, 21” wing span
Weight: 4 oz
Cool fact: Normal Range is Colorado west, far northern Mexico north to lower Canada
Always looking for insects!
Looking in all the loose bark openings for insects!
Looking in all the loose bark openings for insects!
Just resting
Early morning sun just sitting
Scratching, early morning sun
Early morning sun, just taking a break
Getting those insects!
Getting those insects!
Always looking for insects!
With possible acorn
In action
In action
In action
In action
In action, looking for insects
In action, looking for insects
In action, looking for insects
From the barnyard pole!
I did some birding in Marquette County Wisconsin today. I always enjoy watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers working from sun up to sun down. They get acorns from live trees, break them up in pockets of dead trees and bury the pieces within dead trees or under bark of dead trees. They store these pieces for winter food no matter how deep the snow is, it will always be available. They always seem to store the pieces in trees near nest holes that will probably be used in spring for raising the young. I have a water hole I watch and two of the highlights today were a Brown Creeper and a Red-eyed Vireo. The Red-eyed Vireo is listed as a rare bird for this date in Marquette Co. This bird moved very fast in the couple of seconds I saw it, I just barely got a photo. I have never seen a bird drink like today. It flew across the pond, barely touched the water, opened its bill and grabbed a drink for a second and never slowing down, off it went like a bullet south. Other common birds gave nice shows which is always a treat. Images were taken on November 7, 2015.
Red-headed Woodpecker with a piece of acorn after splitting one up in the top of this dead oak tree, early morning sun
With acorn piece
Hammering a piece of acorn into the hole of the dead tree for winter food
Hammering a piece of acorn into the hole of the dead tree for winter food
Putting a piece of acorn into the hole of the dead tree for winter food
Putting a piece of acorn into the hole of the dead tree for winter food
Just looking around after storing some winter food
Putting a piece of acorn into a crack of the dead tree for winter food
Going to put a piece of acorn into a crack of the dead tree for winter food
Splitting up an acorn in the pocket in the dead oak
Splitting up an acorn in the pocket in the dead oak
Don’t need this shell of the acorn, out it goes!
With a new piece of acorn to go store it for the winter
Red-eyed Vireo, a RARE bird for this date in Marquette Co. WI. 11/7/15
Red-eyed Vireo, a RARE bird for this date in Marquette Co. WI. 11/7/15
Brown Creeper
Brown Creeper
Brown Creeper
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco bathing
Blue Jay calling
Blue Jay
Blue Jay calling
Black-capped Chickadee bathing
Black-capped Chickadee just out of the water
Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Blue Jay on alert!
Blue Jay looking back
Blue Jay posing
I did a little birding in the South Kettle Moraine State Forest in Waukesha County and came across a bird feeder with some common winter birds. A few of the species that showed were Black-capped Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nut-hatches and American Goldfinches. These birds gave a little spark to an otherwise slow day. Images were taken on January 19, 2015.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker hiding the seed
Black-capped Chickadee
American Goldfinch
The American Three-toed Woodpecker that had been reported in Burnett County was found at the location that was reported. A very rare bird for the state of Wisconsin, and what I read is viewed by few people because the location of it’s habitat. Chris W, Daryl C and I made the trip up leaving very early Wednesday morning getting there shortly after light. Deb P met up with us there and joined the group. It was a gloomy morning with low winds, just a few inches of snow on the ground with temps mild in the low 20’s, and balmy. This bird came into the area reported a few times for nice viewing. When the bird came into viewing, it worked different trees continually pecking non stop, at the tree it landed on. It moved to a few different trees on occasion continually pecking and as I remember not even stopping to look in the direction we were. With the continued action of the feeding bird, higher more than low in the heavily twigged trees, just to get a couple of photos was a challenge. After the short time of viewing the American Three-toed Woodpecker, we traveled north and east of that area looking for boreal species in boreal habitats for the rest of the day. What a beautiful part of the state! A couple of the highlights were 2 adult American Bald Eagles working a deer carcass near a roadside and a flock of 300 plus Pine Siskins. We saw many flocks of Common Redpolls too working the roadsides high and low for seeds. No Hoary Redpolls to be found. Many thanks to Jim H, a local birder for finding this exciting bird and getting the report out for others to enjoy. I have also just now received information in a email of a person that knows someone that had viewed this species 2 miles from where it is currently being seen in 2013. I am waiting to hear back from the contact person on any other information on this event. When you see a report like Jim’s, one always has to wonder how many rare birds could be out there that are missed. A life bird for me and a state life bird for the others! It was just a full day of excitement getting out and spending the day birding with some great birders and friends. I did take a couple so-so images to share, you just have to take what you can get with conditions given. Images were taken on December 10, 2014.
Binomial name: Picoides dorsalis
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 8.75″ long, 15” wingspan
Weight: 2.3 oz
Habitat: They prefer boreal forests with mature or old growth larch, pine, fir and spruce. They can also be found in areas flooded, logged or burned with dead trees that have large infestations of boring beetles or insect outbreak.
Diet: Bark beetles larvae and boring beetles. Other insects are also eaten along with various fruits.
Nesting: A nest cavity is excavated by both adults in a dead tree or limb. Both adults incubate the eggs for an average of 13 days and young part from the nest on an average of 24 days.
Cool fact: A bird that is not seen by most people because of boreal habitat it typically lives in.
American Three-toed Woodpecker working the tree, distant doc shot
American Three-toed Woodpecker working the tree, distant doc shot
American Three-toed Woodpecker working the tree, distant doc shot
American Three-toed Woodpecker doc shot
American Three-toed Woodpecker flaking in the bark, doc shot
American Bald Eagles in in a tree taking a break from trips to the deer carcass they are feeding on.
Pine Siskin feeding on Alder seeds.
Common Redpolls on the back roads in Burnett County
I stopped for a short time today at the Fox River Sanctuary in Waukesha Wisconsin to do some birding. I watched a pair of Downy Woodpeckers excavating a nest hole in a dead tree. First I observed the male working at the nest hole and then the female took over for a while. They really put some time into doing this between breaks. Yellow-rumped Warblers were in large numbers late morning, but then that slowed early afternoon. A couple of Palm Warblers made a brief appearance and a handful of Cedar Waxwings hung around feeding on a few berries that made it through the winter. Images were taken on April 23, 2014.
Pair of Downy Woodpeckers – the male (r), female (l) looking at the nest hole.
Binomial name: Picoides pubescens
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Size: 6.75” long, 12” wing span
Weight: 0.95 oz.
Habitat: Breeds in open woodlands, parks, backyards, vacant lots, orchards mostly in deciduous trees. Their breeding range is from Alaska east through central Canada and all of the US except the Southwest.
Diet: Insects are their main diet, but they also eat berries and seeds. They are a frequent visitor to backyard bird feeders for suet and black sunflower seeds. The Downy has also been seen drinking from hummingbird feeders.
Nesting: Both adults share the work of excavating a nest hole in a dead tree or limb. It takes the pair 1-3 weeks and the cavity is 6”-12” deep and is usually 1.5” or less across at the bottom. The bottom is lined with only wood chips where usually 3-8 eggs are laid.
Cool Facts: The Downy Woodpecker is typically a permanent resident to an area. They look very much like a Hairy Woodpecker but smaller and their bill is short and stubby where the Hairy bill is long. Adult males have a red patch on the back of their head. Woodpeckers do not sing, they just drum on wood to get the same effect. People think their drumming has to do with food, but they are actually very quiet eaters. The Downy is the most common woodpecker in backyards in North America. These woodpeckers and can peck up to 1200 times per minute while excavating a tree nest hole.
Downy Woodpecker – female, working on the excavation.
Downy Woodpecker – male, working on the excavation.
Downy Woodpecker – male, working on the excavation.
Downy Woodpecker – male, working on the excavation.
Downy Woodpecker – female, just checking out another hole.
Downy Woodpecker – female, just checking out another hole.
Downy Woodpecker – female
A Red-headed Woodpecker adult and juveniles storing acorns for the winter in Marquette County, WI. Photographs taken November 19, 2013.
Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn
Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn
Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker pulling acorn from tree top
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker after removing acorn cap by striking it
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker after dodging acorn cap
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn piece
Adult Red-headed Woodpecker with acorn piece
Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker just after storing an acorn piece in tree cavity
To see the gallery of images, please click here.
While birdwatching in Marquette County, I was able to photograph Eastern Bluebirds, a Red-headed Woodpecker, and others on October 26, 2013. Images were taken near a small water source where birds were coming and going, bathing, preening and drinking.
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Red-headed Woodpecker, Juvenile transitioning to the red head
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
To see the gallery of images, please click here.
A Red-headed Woodpecker storing acorns for the winter in Marquette County, WI. Photographs taken October 13, 2013.
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Binomial name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Category: Woodpeckers and Allies
Description: Red head with black back and white underparts. The wings are black with white wingtips. Adult males and females have identical plumage (sexually monomorphic).
Size: 7.5″- 9.8″ long, 16.7” wingspan
Weight: 2.0 oz. – 3.4 oz.
Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous forests, orchards, swamps, wetlands, and farmland
Diet: Insects, fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds
Nesting: Nests are built by both partners in cavities of dead trees or utility poles. The males do most of the cavity excavation. Females lay 3 to 10 eggs at one time, up to two broods per season. The first brood is laid in May and incubated for 2 weeks, and hatchlings remain in the nest for 24 to 31 days. Red-headed Woodpeckers often reuse the same nesting cavity year after year.
Notes: The Red-headed Woodpecker stores food, only one of four species in North American known to do so. It may hide nuts, seeds, and insects. In fact, Red-headed Woodpeckers awesome store grasshoppers still alive, stuck in tight crevices or covered with bark. The Red-headed Woodpecker was also featured on a stamp from the United States Postal Service in 1996 and from 1999 – 2006.
Red-Headed Woodpecker with acorn piece to hide under bark
Red-headed Woodpecker just finished breaking apart the acorn with its bill in tree limb pocket
Red-headed Woodpecker just finished breaking apart the acorn with its bill in tree limb pocket
Red-headed Woodpecker takes flight to a nearby tree limb to hide the acorn piece behind bark
Red-headed Woodpecker takes flight to a nearby tree limb to hide the acorn piece behind bark
Dead oak where Red-headed Woodpecker was photographed
Red-headed Woodpecker hiding acorn piece
Red-headed Woodpecker hiding acorn piece
Red-headed Woodpecker takes flight to a nearby tree limb to hide the acorn piece behind bark
For the gallery of images, please click here.
