While at a birding event I was visiting with a rehab center that had a different species of woodpecker. As part of her presentation about the bird she would hold a bowl of sugar water next to the cage, it was a treat for the bird only during educational programs. The bird would extend its tongue out to get a bit of sugar water. I was surprised at the use of sugar water but she said it was not unusual. By the way, I think everyone needs to see this demonstrated. It is one thing to know a woodpecker has a long tongue, it is completely different to see it fully extended. Rebecca Hinkle Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: Robert Evans <[log in to unmask]> Sender: Ohio birds <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2012 14:27:56 To: <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: Robert Evans <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Downy Woodpecker at hummingbird feeder Here at our farm we have been seeing similar behavior the past few days, also a female downy woodpecker, also from an apparently clean hummingbird feeder, with no insects when it was cleaned and changed. I don't recall seeing it in previous years. Strange, but energy is energy... Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 1:16 PM, Bill Heck <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Syd Richards, a Columbus area resident, reports that a female Downy > Woodpecker has been visiting -- and apparently feeding at -- her > hummingbird feeder regularly for a couple of weeks. I've seen a picture of > the bird sitting on a perch at the feeder and it certainly appears to be > feeding somewhat like a hummer. > > My first thought was that this bird was feeding on insects rather than > nectar (sugar water). However, Syd reports that there are no ants on the > feeder (not preferred woodpecker food anyway) and there do not seem to be > significant numbers of other insects there. > > Has anyone else run across this behavior? It's a new one for me! > > Thanks, > > -- > Bill Heck > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]