Woodpeckers regular winter feeder visitors Downy, hairy types enjoy suet

Pik! Pik! Pik!

The sharp, high-pitched notes reached me even through closed windows the other morning. They were followed by a short, rapid drum roll – a sound I wasn’t expecting to hear for another month or two, yet.

Although I already knew the identity of the noisemaker, I looked out in time to see a hairy woodpecker fly to the bottom of a post on the front porch. From there it proceeded to hitch its way up, coming level with the basket of suet hanging from the porch roof. In that comical way peculiar to woodpeckers, it methodically swung its upper body to and fro, quickly and repeatedly scanning around both sides of the post. Satisfied the coast was clear, it again uttered its distinctive call notes, then hopped onto the suet feeder. Short, powerful thrusts of its bill dislodged bits of the energy-rich treat, some of which fell to the deck to be picked up by the ever-watchful chickadees.

I wasn’t surprised by this woodpecker’s visit; for months both downy and hairy woodpeckers have been regular visitors to the feeders in the front yard. Most of the time they went after their favorite food, which was the suet. Often, though, one of the hairys would avail itself of the hulled black oil sunflower seeds. These seeds were in a slender, cylinder-type feeder suitable for up to six small birds such as chickadees and finches. The hairy could not fit on one perch; instead, it set its claws on the lowest seed-port hole, then stretched its neck to reach the next porthole up. Then – especially if the level of seed was lower than the porthole – the woodpecker would extend its tongue into the feeder and seemingly “slurp” up the seed.

Many birds have specialized structures with which to obtain food, and the woodpecker’s tongue is one of them. Their long tongues are supported by a set of bony and muscular structures called hyoid apparatuses, which extend back, around, then up over their skulls, wrapping around the right eye in hairy woodpeckers (some woodpeckers can extend their tongues up to five inches, thanks to this strange arrangement). In addition, they are covered with barbs, which, together with a sticky salivary secretion, enables them to snag anything within their reach with ease.

A woodpecker’s toes and tail also help it to obtain food. Hairy woodpecker toes are in what is termed a zygodactyl position, which is to say simply that two toes face forward and two toes face rearward. This gives the bird more support and dexterity in climbing. Likewise, its tail is rigid and curved, allowing it to brace itself against a tree or other vertical surface.

Oh, and the drumming I mentioned at the beginning of the column? Not related to food – at least, not directly. Drumming is a territorial behavior, and one that increases as spring draws ever nearer.

Hey, I know it’s tentative – but I’ll hold on to any sign of seasonal change when the mercury hits minus-20F.

Chris Corio, a volunteer at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, can be reached at fieldspond@juno.com