[Maine-birds] 9/11: Cooper's Hawk vs. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yesterday morning my favorite yard bird, the boisterous male Red-bellied Woodpecker who successfully fathered a brood of 2 this year, had a most unlucky encounter with a Cooper's Hawk immediately after his last meal of suet.  Hearing frantic squealing in the backyard, I looked out and saw the woodpecker pinned to the ground and trying desperately to defend himself with his bill from the hawk, which only prolonged his suffering as the hawk was obviously not going to remove its talons.  I went out and took a few photos but wasn't particularly excited about having the opportunity... more torn between the ideas of rescuing the woodpecker vs. letting nature work itself out.  In the end I decided that Cooper's Hawks need to eat as well.  The hawk eventually flew up over the ridge with the woodpecker still making noise.

Then, an hour later, another male Red-bellied Woodpecker, which I had just noticed at the feeder for the first time two days earlier, came down and had a meal of suet.  This woodpecker, which I'm not sure is an immature coming into adult plumage or an adult going through seasonal molting (perhaps someone can help me on this?) did not spend 5 minutes barking out his presence at the top of the feeder tree the way the other normally would.  Instead he descended very quietly, took his food, and flew off.

Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.

Yesterday's list with photos of the encounter: https://ebird.org/checklist/S73479272

9/9 list with more RBWO photos: https://ebird.org/checklist/S73401368

Sean Smith

Hiram

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