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Strange Names

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Wed, 05/02/2012 - 00:44
chris3755
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This fellow is known as the Red Bellied Woodpecker! Perhaps you notice there is no red on his belly and ask why that name and not Red Headed Woodpecker? Perhaps because there is a Red Headed Woodpecker that has it's whole head plumed in brilliant red. This is actually a close relative to the flickers and sapsuckers so that is no help either. I guess we have to accept that whoever named him knew why. Chris P.S. I was bored and couldn't shoot so I was taking pictures of birds!
 
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Mon, 05/07/2012 - 19:39
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chris3755
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I guess nobody was willing to

I guess nobody was willing to solve the mystery of the Red Bellied Woodpecker's name! No bird lovers here? Anyway the answer to its name is that the bird has a small area of pinkish red plumage low down on its belly but it is most often covered by the creamy white feathers around it so 99.9% of the time it is never seen. The red streak is only visible when the bird hangs on a feeder or branch in such a way to expose its lower belly and show the red area. In these two photos the red is just barely visible. Chris
 
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