Backyard visitors - Do you have a Downy Woodpecker in your future?

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Downy woodpeckers are the "most likely woodpecker species to visit a backyard bird feeder". In addition, their range map shows that they are are common year round across most of Canada.

I have one of these cute little guys in my yard and I find him foraging about for insects on the tree bark of some of our older trees. Downy Woodpeckers, though, will eat more than just insects. They like suet but will also eat black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, fruit and may even sample some of the other seeds at your feeders.

A little acrobat, the Downy Woodpecker can hang from a suet cage very easily. They will travel up and down trees with ease and have similar agility to a nuthatch. They are often found among other types of birds and seem to get along with everyone.

If you want to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard, have a good supply of suet available and offer pure black oil sunflower and skinless peanuts in their respective feeders.