Stoney Point - Feb. 10, 2013 - It feels like it has been forever since we have had a new bird sighting in our backyard. We have had an ongoing battle keeping seed in the feeder thanks to the countless squirrels in Stoney Point. In addition to that, my camera had been broken for a few weeks.

We bought a new feeder and filled it yesterday - and waited. This morning we first saw a male Red-Bellied Woodpecker come for a visit. He made a quick stop and then disappeared to the neighbour’s house. Shortly thereafter the Downy Woodpecker stopped in our tree. After she left, the Red-Bellied came back for a little bit longer visit.

Wikipedia describes the Red-Bellied Woodpecker as a medium-sized woodpecker of the Picidae family. It breeds in southern Canada and the northeastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. Its common name is somewhat misleading, as the most prominent red part of its plumage is on the head; the Red-headed Woodpecker however is another species that is a rather close relative but looks quite different.