Woodpecker

[Tyke2]

I thought Woodpeckers were "pecking" in spring time? but there is one hammering away outside my window now 21st December?

[stella1know]

They eat all year round They peck away at bark to get to the insects underneath. They aren’t making a nest at this time.

If you put fat balls out for them, in a long vertical feeder, they will be very grateful. Lucky to have them, enjoy the view.

[BambooWhoosh]

I think they do that anytime to look for insects under the bark. Lovely to hear it though.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

Fabulous sound.

[dudsville]

We have a beautiful one in my area, red up top and a polka dot body. Fabulous birds.

[abstractzebra]

I've been looking for a woodpecker along my way for about 2 years now! I can hear him somewhere along a section of old railway near my house.
I've not seen him once
I might try and lure him with fat balls

[GerundTheBehemoth]

They peck at bark to find food all year round. From late winter/early spring they 'drum', as their version of territorial song, this is a very, very fast series of taps on a resonant branch - each burst of drumming lasts about two seconds and almost sounds more like a creak than like fast tapping.

[stella1know]

They need a long feeder (3 or 4 fatballs tall) because they use their stiff tails to balance against the feeder. They can’t eat well if there is only one ball left in the feeder or if it is too short or curved. And they are good at breaking into the fatballs so that Smaller birds can nibble better.

[Tyke2]

I've seen him in the tree as there is no foliage to hide him away.

[InvisibleToEveryone]

We have a red headed woodpecker, it eats the sunflower seeds!

We had parakeets last week, and a sparrowhawk not long ago too.