Downy woodpecker - male

These are great shots. I'm never able to get close enough to them to take a decent photo. I did have a pileated woodpecker in my oak tree the other day - but they stay pretty high up so a pic was impossible.

Thanks! Lucky you having Pileated about - I have never seen one!

They're hard to see because generally they stay way up in the trees - I'll often see downies flitting about but pileateds only rarely. It's unfortunate because they really are impressive birds.