With the leaf fall of autumn nearly complete, a curtain has been pulled back to reveal the main characters of the now bare old-growth forest. American Robins, Blue Jays, and Northern Cardinals, plenty of sparrows, a couple of hawks, and many others are still here in Inwood Hill Park, but if my walk yesterday morning provided any evidence, woodpeckers thrive in this stark world of old bark and decay.
A circular walk through the Clove and up around the higher eastern edge became a veritable woodpecker tour. I saw multiples of three different kinds – Downy Woodpecker, the larger Hairy Woodpecker, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker. I have seen other members of the bird family Picidae here, too, on other days, including a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flickers, and the rare Pileated Woodpecker.
The woodpeckers always seem to be working, flying from tree to tree to excavate the insects and seeds from the bark. They scurry up the tree limbs, frequently making circular passes, to pick the most promising spots for drilling. They will also hit the fallen trees for excavation sites. Rarely do they seem to take a break.
The morning walk on Monday came after a day of constant rain. The weather had cleared for the most part, but the forest was damp and muddy. The bark proved malleable for a woodpecker’s strong beak, revealing plenty of insects for a good feast.
The Red-bellied Woodpeckers, in particular, are both easy to follow and fascinating to behold. Throughout the autumn, I’ve watched them scurry up the tallest trees at the top of the park as well as flitting around their own territories. There’s one that I often see at the entrance to the Clove near the athletic fields, sometimes in the nearby company of a Northern Cardinal and a Blue Jay. They long ago made their peace. I often see another Red-bellied Woodpecker near the main entrance of the park along the path between the first hill and the tennis courts.
Woodpeckers tend to vocalize and talk amongst themselves, so it’s relatively easy to find them. And then, of course, the drilling sounds will give them away. Now that the leaf drop is nearly complete, they can be as easily seen as they are heard.
Cover: Red-bellied Woodpecker. December 4, 2023. 10:40 a.m.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers from November 2023
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Sightings for December 2023
Between posts, check the Sightings page for December 2023 for everyday sightings.
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