Life and Wildlife along the Little Buffalo River

Taken by the Henson Creek valley in November 2011 against a backdrop of shortleaf pines. They are fairly common in the Boston Mountains.

Hairy Woodpeckers are the larger of two look alikes, the Hairy Woodpecker is a small but powerful bird that forages along trunks and main branches of large trees. It wields a much longer bill than the Downy Woodpecker’s almost thornlike bill. Hairy Woodpeckers have a somewhat soldierly look, with their erect, straight-backed posture on tree trunks and their cleanly striped heads. Look for them at backyard suet or sunflower feeders, and listen for them whinnying from woodlots, parks, and forests.

This picture is of a male; given the red head feathers:

Hairy Woodpecker (male)