Downies love mullein

Great shot Lori, have not seen a downy in a few years. Lucky you!

Having never heard of a downy, are they good for the garden?

Hi Wohlibuli..I enjoy watching the downies (pecoides pubescens) .they often visit the mullein...and seem to like to travel with flocks of goldfinches and I've seen them at the same time as the singular nuthatches.... they are a North American specie from what I can find, Chris, they are the smallest woodpecker and have the shortest beak hence their feeding preferences are on a smaller scale than the hairy woodpecker which it resembles...the hairy wp males don't have the red patch on the back of their heads...they are insect eaters so I would say...yes they are very good for the garden...

Which var. of Nuthatch to you get there Lori? The only one we get reg is the southern brown headed and rarely the white breasted.

They look a very close relative of our greater spotted woodpecker.

Hi Wohlibuli... the nuthatch we see are the blue ones! pretty little flashes of blue and white hopping headfirst down the tree. they really are quite pretty and reclusive...

Hi Chris..could be...they're very interesting birds..Diohio has some lovely photos of the redheaded wp and the big pileated wp..if you haven't already seen them...have you seen her pic of the peanut butter tree?

Thanks Lori. I found Di's photos of the woodpeckers. Fantastic. Thanks for alerting me. I don't manage to see everyones photos, especially when we are away from home, and that was one of those times.

Update: the male downy woodpecker has been back with his mate!!