It was around this time last summer that I photographed this adult male Red-bellied Woodpecker. I saw him practically every day at the feeders.

Male Red-bellied Woodpecker in summer, Sebastian County, ArkansasMale Red-bellied Woodpecker in summer

The male Red-bellied Woodpecker was busy with his mate raising at least one of their young. He was showing the fledgling or fledglings where to find food, including at the suet feeder.

So far this year I haven’t seen any young Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and I’m also seeing the adults less frequently than I did last summer.

I do hear the Red-bellied Woodpeckers in the neighborhood, so I know they’re around. They might be a bit leery of coming to the suet feeder because the new male Eastern Bluebird is pretty aggressive, and this is their nesting season too.

I didn’t get to see, hear, or photograph Red-bellied Woodpeckers in the decade and a half that I lived in Utah, so I’m delighted when I see or hear them now. Getting photos of them now is always a wonderful bonus.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-bellied Woodpecker photos plus facts and information about this species.