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I'm assuming you eliminated the woodpeckers that look most like or are a similar size as the Downy; the Hairy which is very similar and the Northern Flicker which looks quite a bit different. My best guess is another woodpecker: Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker whose male sometimes has a sizable crest. The third picture down in the following link shows the more distinct crest. Is that the topknot you saw?
Thanks J&Em. We have, and have IDd, all those you mentioned. This one is the smallest of the lot and has definite Downy markings. When I saw it the first time I thought that some way it had ruffled it's head feathers in the process of feeding, but it comes back several times each day. So, I guess, we have a Downy with anomalous head feathers. Too bad I can't get a photo of it. Oh well.
Feeding on our suet is a bird that looks like a Downy Woodpecker except it has a topknot. I can't find this bird in any of my bird books. Any ideas?
This is such a coincidence .. I just posted in the "11 trees you shouldn't have in your yard" thread about two Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers that are drilling into my maple trees ! I also have suet hanging out in the backyard but need to remove it. You cannot see their yellow bellies under the down, but they are small, and they are diligent. I need to get them to vamoose, soon.
I'm assuming you eliminated the woodpeckers that look most like or are a similar size as the Downy; the Hairy which is very similar and the Northern Flicker which looks quite a bit different. My best guess is another woodpecker: Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker whose male sometimes has a sizable crest. The third picture down in the following link shows the more distinct crest. Is that the topknot you saw?
Yep .... that's what I've got too. Little carpenter beasties, drilling holes in my maple trees!
All woodpeckers can be dangerous to trees in the yard but most go after trees already suffering damage from insects because they are looking to eat the insects. It's a bad feeling when you have a wood shingle home and they decide to take a liking to that instead of your trees. We were worried that it meant insect problems in our home's walls but it turned out to be male woodpeckers who like the sound and were trying to attract mates. On the other hand the sap suckers actually actually eat the "sap" and some of the inner wood of healthy trees, leaving leaky holes behind that attract other pests. I haven't had to fight them off (yet) but if I remember correctly there aren't many ways to keep them away once they find a tree beside wrapping up the bark with hardware cloth or burlap.
All woodpeckers can be dangerous to trees in the yard but most go after trees already suffering damage from insects because they are looking to eat the insects. It's a bad feeling when you have a wood shingle home and they decide to take a liking to that instead of your trees. We were worried that it meant insect problems in our home's walls but it turned out to be male woodpeckers who like the sound and were trying to attract mates. On the other hand the sap suckers actually actually eat the "sap" and some of the inner wood of healthy trees, leaving leaky holes behind that attract other pests. I haven't had to fight them off (yet) but if I remember correctly there aren't many ways to keep them away once they find a tree beside wrapping up the bark with hardware cloth or burlap.
Thank you J&Em, it looks like that is what I'll have to do, get someone to wrap the tree. It seems the bird is only picking at one of my two maples, but I will probably have to wrap both so he doesn't simply move on to the other one. I already had 3 of the (ugly and messy) tan river birch trees removed because they are so messy and always shedding. Now my pretty maples. Ugh, darned sapsuckers. Off to the ag store today.
My understanding is that the Sap Suckers are pecking to get the sap oozing for their food, not insects. And other than being unsightly, there is no damage to the tree.
Location: A Very Naughtytown In Northwestern Montanifornia U.S.A.
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No "Top Knot" on a Northern Flicker but look what it's doing to our house.
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