A Pair of Downy Woodpeckers: Regina Backyard Birds

This morning, both the male and female Downy Woodpeckers dropped by to savour the suet in my Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard. (And it was, in fact, called Woodpecker Suet, or Suet for Woodpeckers, which would be somewhat better...)

The female perhaps saw me through the lit dining room window. She took off. The male stayed long enough to pose on the nearby lilac tree — and then show off his suet-tackling skills.

Downy Woodpecker, waiting to launch onto my backyard bird feeder. © SB 

These little birds — barely bigger than our ever-present sparrows — a) are extremely wary; b) have excellent eyesight; or c) dislike me and/or my camera. Whenever I show up at the window when they're feeding, the Downy Woodpeckers track my movements for several seconds, and then take off. (My co-resident, however, claims he can tramp around the back porch snow without disturbing them, so he's opting for c), in spite of my claims that either a) or b) are clearly more likely to be true.)

Downy Woodpecker clasping suet holder. © SB

What is this? Downy Woodpecker 
Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada  
Photo date: December 2, 2014.

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