Red-Bellied Woodpecker sits on window feeder

by Patti
(Stayton, Oregon)

I was standing in the kitchen and was talking to my 12 year old daughter when this huge bird decided to sit on the window feeder.

Now mind you the feeder is attached to the window with only two suction cups that are not very big. We turned around and there was this beautiful bird who did not fit at the feeder at all. We mostly have purple and gold finches in it.

Well she was pecking at the shelled sun flower seeds inside and was hanging on with her feet. I was not sure what it was at first, I knew it was a wood pecker of some sort but now I know it is a female red bellied woodpecker.

She is beautiful and has come back today. It sure is funny to watch her hang on she is twice the size of the bird feeder.

I hope they are nesting in the big oaks we have in the yard. We live in the Willamete valley of Oregon. We don't see this kind of bird often. How wonderful I hope she stays.