Downy or Hairy Woodpecker?

[BarbK]

Today when I looked out at my bird feeders, I saw my ever present Downy at the suet feeder.  Then I had to take a second look.  The red patch on the back of this Downy-look-a-like was much larger, looking more triangular.  He might have been larger than the Downy, but I couldn't tell, and my camera was not at hand.  My bird book didn't mention if Hairy's had a larger red spot.  Forgot to Google it before I wrote this.

[hazelrunmama]

We have some Hairy males with large red patches, some with smaller patches, and a few with a split patch. Same goes for the Downy males. I wonder if the size of the red patch has to do with the age of the bird? At any rate, I don't think the species can be told apart by the size and shape of the red patch--it seems to be pretty variable. At the very least, though, it sounds like you've got some personally identifiable males there--it's always fun to be able to tell individuals by variations in plumage!

[BarbK]

That's so interesting, Hazel. So, the red patches can vary in size. I'm used to seeing that round patch. Now if I see him again, I'll know who he is. I had that with a Mourning Dove. I kept seeing this dove with a while lower feather and thought that he was distinctive and I could tell him apart from the others. Didn't work out that way--later on I saw a few with the same white feather. Wouldn't it be wonderful it we could recognize our birds and know them individually?

[hazelrunmama]

I wish we knew more of them!  Some of them, like our lady cardinal with the white patches above her nares, are pretty distinctive, but for the most part I just assume the ones I see are residents but can't tell for sure.    It would be awesome to know more of them 'personally'...