‘You’re gonna need a bigger bit.’ Straining to pry its prize from the hard wood, this Downy Woodpecker twisted its head upside down as it drilled into the trunk of an apple tree last month on Barranca Mesa. Local wildlife photographer Jonathan Dowell, Ph.D. took this photo. See more of his photos on Instagram @SnowyEgretPhotography

Downy Woodpeckers
By Jonathan Dowell

Although Downy Woodpeckers are found in Los Alamos County all year long, they are somewhat reclusive and make themselves less common than other woodpeckers at neighborhood feeders. The smallest of North American woodpeckers, Downys can be distinguished from the larger look-alike Hairy Woodpeckers by small black spots on the Downys’ outermost white tail feathers. Look closely and you will find those spots in this picture.

See birds and learn more about birding by joining the informal birding group for all ages in the Observation Lounge at PEEC Nature Center at 10 a.m. each Wednesday. Learn how birding benefits your physical, mental and spiritual health at the free presentation by Holly Merker, author of the book Ornitherapy, at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center.