A different Hummer

This Downey Woodpecker has been eating out of our Humming bird feeders, regularly. Is this normal? It seems odd to us, which is why I tried to get some pictures. And, tried, and tried.... After seeing her a few times this evening, I decided to setup and wait. Of course she was a no-show. Had to quite when the lighting was gone. 20 minutes later, I look and there she is. I was able to click off about 20 shots, getting closer with each.

Not very crisp, but I thought worth sharing. Against me: ISO400, 1/25 SS, Lens wide open, but the worst part was the VERY dirty window I was shooting through.

Hope you enjoy.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Great behaviour shots. I have that same feeder and have seen the Downies try the same thing but I never could get the shot of it. Downy Woodpeckers will also peck holes in flowers such as Trumpet Creeper and I think this is pretty normal.

Thanks for the info. So, this is normal?

It's fun watching. It lands on the chain holding the feeder, and shimmies its way down to the feeder, where it has trouble hanging on to the slick plastic. You can see how she's squatting down and gripping the plastic best she can.

We have two of these feeders, the other one is smaller. She falls off the smaller one, and never gets a drink.

The humming birds just sit off the side and wait for her to finish.

guess she learned a trick to get a tasty snack huh? nice shot of a new "hummer"

Out here in Arizona I've seen Gila Woodpeckers also drinking from hb feeders.

Cool shots ~I get em at the feeders ..

These are great, wish I had somewhere to hang a few feeders (apartment dweller here) around here.