Bird of the Day - Downy Woodpecker

 The Bird of the Day today is the downy woodpecker.  It is smaller than its larger cousin the hairy woodpecker.  Downy woodpeckers have a shorter bill than the hairy woodpecker, and a shorter call note (pick vs. peek).  If you look closely, you also see the distinguishing feature of faint dark bars on the tail, which the hairy does not have.

I was thrilled to find that I had photographed this woodpecker eating its meal!  Both of these pictures were taken in Roseville, Minnesota when the woodpecker was foraging on a large stump.