I recently got back from a wonderful trip to Anchorage, Alaska to visit with my youngest brother. It was a marvelous trip with plenty of family time, fun, birthday celebrations (both my Mom and brother had birthdays while we were there), incredible scenery, and wildlife. My brother is a wildlife biologist, so he was a great guide for the Florida clan to the wildlife of Alaska. One of my favorite places at my brother’s house was the dining room table that looks out onto his back deck and bird feeding station. He had a seed dish, bird bath, and suet available. All had to be hung up on the second story deck to keep from attracting bears. The feeder brought in quite a variety of birds, some I was familiar with and some that were new to me. One of the most common visitors were the downy woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens). They’re actually a species that can be found in Florida, too, but I have never been lucky enough to see one.

The downy woodpecker can actually be found in most of the United States and Canada. The only places it isn’t found is in the desert southwest and in the arctic tundra. Neither of those habitats has the trees that these birds require for nesting and for foraging. They seem to prefer deciduous forests, but can also be found in brush or weeds at the edges of the woods, in fruit orchards, in parks, and in wooded yards. Like most woodpeckers, they eat mainly insects that they find in tree bark or deeper in the trees. In the fall and winter, though, they will supplement their diets with seeds, berries, and suet. Interestingly, they are the smallest North American woodpecker. Their small size makes them a little more acrobatic than some of the larger birds in their family, but they still have the characteristic rising and falling flight these birds are known for.

It’s kind of funny that I had to go all the way to Alaska to see a bird that is found in Florida, but sometimes that’s the way it goes with wildlife. I was just happy to be able to see and photograph these special little birds. I will try to keep my eyes open around here and perhaps I can spot one of the Florida birds. They are supposed to be somewhat lighter in color with brighter whites than the western birds. It would be great to see the difference for myself.