It was a swift attack... over in seconds.
It wasn't territorial.
It wasn't defensive.
It was all about a big fat bug.
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A young inexperienced American Robin didn't know what hit him. The big fat insect was snatched out of his beak stunningly fast. He could only watch his meal fly away.
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The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a bit of a bully.
He has the size and he has the weapons. When it's time to eat, he eats first... others give way.
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He has a mate, too. She looks similar, only less red on her head. They may have a nest, but I haven't found it.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are woodland birds, but you'll see them in the suburbs. You can drawn them in close with suet and peanuts.
(Click any picture to enlarge)
![]()
This male is sort of a slob though.
He'll cast aside anything that isn't a peanut. The black oil sunflower seeds go flying till he's down to what he wants.
No real harm. The ground-foraging birds eat the cast-offs.
![]()
I didn't make it easy for him to make this mess. He's too big to perch and eat, so he hangs in contorted positions. But he manages well enough.
To not judge nature, that big juicy insect might have been intended for the female or maybe even nestlings.
I'll never know.
Allan
(Click any picture to enlarge)
Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds
A young inexperienced American Robin didn't know what hit him. The big fat insect was snatched out of his beak stunningly fast. He could only watch his meal fly away.
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a bit of a bully.
He has the size and he has the weapons. When it's time to eat, he eats first... others give way.
He has a mate, too. She looks similar, only less red on her head. They may have a nest, but I haven't found it.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are woodland birds, but you'll see them in the suburbs. You can drawn them in close with suet and peanuts.
(Click any picture to enlarge)
This male is sort of a slob though.
He'll cast aside anything that isn't a peanut. The black oil sunflower seeds go flying till he's down to what he wants.
No real harm. The ground-foraging birds eat the cast-offs.
I didn't make it easy for him to make this mess. He's too big to perch and eat, so he hangs in contorted positions. But he manages well enough.
To not judge nature, that big juicy insect might have been intended for the female or maybe even nestlings.
I'll never know.
Allan
(Click any picture to enlarge)
Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds
