Well, an immature red-headed woodpecker last week made yard bird #102 here in Maine. I got decent looks and heard it vocalize, but never got a picture. I'm certain of my ID though - and one just showed up an hour south of here, so I wonder if it is the same bird, wisely moving south?

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Wow, congratulations I didnīt realize that was an uncoomon species there. I guess itīs more western.

It's just uncommon this far north, Peter - they're tough to find even in New Jersey.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

Congratulations Jill! That is a rarity You lucky duck!! I think I've only seen one once and it was on a fence post on a farm on the way to French Creek State Park from Twin Valley High School in June 2006. That's just awsome!! I am just a bit green with envy!

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Yes they are, especially since changing forest conditions force colonies to move fairly regularly. That is just a super yard bird for Maine. You have open pasture conditions with red oak woodlots right? It is a yard bird you have on me. How was your acorn crop this year? If it is gathering nuts and stashing them in hollow trees and branches it could mean it is planning to stay. That is what they do around here.

I have open pasture conditions, but not many oaks - this guy was only around for a couple of days and was visiting the feeders presumably (I seemed to only catch him leaving). An immature was just reported an hour south of here, so I wonder if it's the same bird, heading south. I was very excited to see it, but I do wish I could have gotten a photo to prove it to others.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

At least an immature R-H Woodpecker is easy to write up if needed - I for one never questioned your ID.

It is a pretty hard bird to misidentify, isn't it? The only thing that threw me off was the grayish head, since I am most familiar with adults. I had to go back about 12 years to when we lived in North Dakota to remember what an immature looked like. But there just isn't another woodpecker around here that has those big white and black patches, and the call is pretty distinctive, too. I am just frustrated that it didn't pose for me - the one down south has been photographed extensively, but it is foraging in an overgrown orchard and has been down there for several days.

Jill

Benton, ME
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Canon EF70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM

In Missouri if you are out on a Hawk Watch in the Fall you see them as well as Monarchs migrating. I donīt know where those birds go.