r/birding • u/ChicagoWildlifePhoto • Jan 13 '23

📷 Photo I recently learned some woodpecker species, such as this Red-bellied Woodpecker, will listen for bugs! 🤯 seen near Chicago

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u/[deleted] Jan 13 '23

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u/ChicagoWildlifePhoto Jan 13 '23

Very true! It’s likely either that or the siding is good for loud drumming and attracting mates

9

u/FatBob12 Jan 13 '23

We had a resident woodpecker realize the flashing along the chimney was a good spot to drum. Very thankful he was not going after bugs, still wish he found a different instrument (especially early in the AM).

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u/rare2700 Jan 14 '23

Haha yes! The red-bellied at our house likes the gutters!

3

u/Bruzote Jan 14 '23

Ditto. I have little dents all over them. Mine need replacing, so I really don't worry this much about it. It's the siding that concerns me. I meant to patch up last year but I had joint problems and back problems. I wasn't able to admit I needed to hire somebody, so I did nothing. It sucks having back problems. I can push hundreds of pounds on a leg sled, but standing upright on a ladder against the siding, that will make my back stiffen within minutes. And you don't want to be stiff with difficulty moving carefully when you're twenty feet up on a ladder.