Monday, July 26, 2010

White-headed Woodpecker


At the same Hot Spring Campground near Garden Valley, Idaho where I had the Nuthatch Trifecta, we had several White-headed Woodpeckers.  I enjoy all woodpeckers, but this was only my second time seeing White-headeds and it was my first time seeing them in Idaho!  White-headed Woodpeckers are most common in the states along the west coast of the United States, but are occasionally seen in Nevada and of course in Idaho.


This last photo I include because I thought the branches of the Ponderosa Pine looked cool and it shows the common habitat for the White-headed Woodpecker.  I was able to watch them glean bugs or larvae from the bark.  All About Birds mentions that they rarely drum, so I consider myself fortunate to have heard and seen it several times over the four days we camped there.  All About Birds also reports that they chip open pine cones while hanging upside down, which I did not see.


Garden Valley is less than an hour north of Boise, Idaho and is a great destination for birding, camping, hiking, kayaking, and even for musical plays at the Starlight Mountain Theater.


10 comments:

  1. I would so love to see this bird! I love the last shot and I am glad you included it. BTW, if you ever wanted to move to AZ, my house is for sale. We are moving to the east coast. My husband got a job transfer.

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  2. Great pics on these Idaho birds. I'm looking forward to a visit, from our home in Florida, to your state this October for my daughter's wedding in Moscow. I have never been to the Northwest and am anticipating some great birding and more than a few lifers. Any suggestions or advise is appreciated.

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  3. @Kathiesbirds Thanks for the comment! If you end up changing your blog with the move, let me know. I want to continue to enjoy your reports and photos!

    @Tom Obrock - thanks for visiting the Idaho Birding Blog! Idaho will be glad to welcome you. I have a birding friends in Moscow that I want to put you in touch with. Please email me by clicking on the blue square in the right column of this website that says "Ask the Idaho Birder".

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  4. I'd never even heard of white headed woodpeckers, but I've never really been West of the Rockies, either. Thanks for sharing your photos!

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  5. Great photos of an interesting bird. I especially like the second photo showing some beautiful habitat.

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  6. Like you Robert, I love all woodpeckers and the White-headed is right up there. Great shots you captured! They are fun birds to watch!

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  7. Wonderful sighting and photos. I love watching woodpeckers. In Holland the Great Spotted Woodpecker is quite common but notoriously difficult to photograph, because it's quite shy.

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  8. Thanks for introducing me to the White Headed Woodpecker. Your photos are fantastic!

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  9. WOW, I would love to see one of these Woodpeckers. Beautiful captures!

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  10. Great photographs and these are also a bird I havent seen in the wild and in Uk, very jealous

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