Thank you Lesley for this look into the world of the Downy.

Your stories are so sweet; I know your heart breaks when one of your special friends go missing.

Smart little birds.

Downy woodpecker are an incredible beautiful bird. It’s great to see them make the cavity for the night stay in those winter night. They are one of my favorite birds. Blessings and thanks.

Thank you, I have 2 pairs. They sure love the suet cakes. Such darling birds.

One of my favorite

Cute pine Martin

And downy woodpeckers too male and female. Sooooo. Beautiful

Woodpeckers, notably Downy and Hairy, always raise my spirits!! Thank you.

So good getting your insights on this! Woodpeckers are so cute with their head poking out of the tree!

Wow, that was your lucky day! Such incredible footage you captured of the Downy excavating her cavity. A few weeks ago, I noticed a Pileated banging away on a tree about 30 feet up, while I was on my daily hike in the nature preserve behind my house. I see Pileated woodpeckers all the time (especially this past year, there have been TONS of them, for whatever reason), so this is a very common occurrence around here in CT. I'd assumed that he was just drilling a food hole, searching for ants and grubs, etc. But I kept seeing the same Pileated at that same hole, day after day, drilling away like a bird possessed. It dawned on me that he wasn't drilling for food, but excavating a new nest cavity for this upcoming Spring nesting season. I sit there (even today!) and watch him go into the cavity and then reemerge a few minutes later with a beak full of wood chips that he drops to the ground (there's a pile of fresh wood chips at the base of the tree). I'm guessing that the excavation will be done soon, and I'm looking forward to see what happens next. Will he attract a mate with his fancy new cavity? Will she like it? Will there be babies in the summer? Who knows! But I'll be keeping an eye on it! Thanks for another awesome video, Lesley!

I always have them at my back porch suet feeder. I have a whole lot of dead standing trees in the woods behind my home. I'm so happy to know there are possible downys sleeping out there! Thanks for another informative video and all that snow looks awesome! We've been robbed of snow this winter in Southern NY lol

Sending love & light to all Be the light in 2023 5:22

I love it when I see these beauties in my backyard. They are so busy and I could watch them for hours. I enjoy watching them come to my peanut and suet feeding station. Your videos always make my day. Thank you for sharing your love and appreciation for birds with us.

These are my favorite woodpeckers. They are just so freaking cute.

Omg I would have loved to see 46 winter wrens piled into one nest LOL That would have been so amazing to see them all huddled up together. I would love to see even a dozen birds in one nest. That would be the cutest ball of fluff lol.

Its so puzzling why some birds roost together and others do it solo, you would think the added body heat would be enough to convince them to at least pair up if not 5 or 6 family members to a hole. I suppose its easier for each bird to find a hole than it would be to find holes large enough for a brood. Such fascinating little creatures and I sure am appreciative of your work, Lesley, you are doing great things out there.

I wonder why she carved this facing north instead of east. So wonderful your timing was perfect to film her process.❤️

Our most frequent visitors❗❗❗ We LOVE Downy Woodpeckers❗♡♡♡ Thank you for the great video ❗❗❗

I feed the chickadees and the Downy Woodpeckers all winter to help them out. Great video as I often wondered where they hung out to sleep, shared it!

I love seeing Downys... with their quick movement, and jumping from tree to tree while pecking away at wood curiously to look for food, they seem incredibly intelligent to me... especially compared with Doves, haha.

Love this video. ❤️ thank you Leslie

Downy woodpeckers are so small lol and cute. I have a pair that I put suet out for. The male and female take turns eating. It’s become a highlight of my day watching them 😊

Thank You For another lovely video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was just talking about woodpeckers with a friend, and passed him a link to this!

I was watching a "red-bellied" on top of a power pole the other afternoon. Smart-alec starlings kept buzzing it. Not quite dive-bombing but still picking on it. It would lunge and squawk back in protest, but NOT budge. It was so funny.

Very infomative! It's neat to see how they survive the nights.

Great video. Thanks for sharing

I leave my dead trees for them. I have a bunch

I love my lil Kin Kin!

I enjoy your videos very much. I live in Wisconsin in a small city and I have a pair of downy woodpeckers that have been visiting my suit feeder all winter. I’ve always wondered where woodpeckers roost. Thank You for sharing this information with us.

They are so crafty ! The answer to human lumberjacks 🪓 😄

I saw one pecking at a telephone pole this morning and boy these are some adorable little birds. I see them in Breckenridge a lot to especially in the summer/fall months. Love them. ❤

I ❤️love your Videos 🥰🐦

Thank you, very interesting.

Woodpeckers are so cute! 🥰

Have a great weekend

Amazing video! Never really thought about how certian birds get through such cold winter nights ♥

I have one that frequents my feeders. Such a cute and busy little guy/gal.

Leslie...you make life better for birds in so many ways! In this one video alone, I learned several things that could help, or even save birds lives! I'm just very grateful to have found your extremely , informative, thorough, caring and compassionate channel! Many good blessings to you! ❤️

I have a friendly Downy that will come and get a peanut and loves the suet.

What a timely video! I have a lot of dead trees full of woodpecker holes around my home and throughout the woods... I was just trying to find out where they spend the night. I would have been amazed if they didn't take advantage of cavities. The woodpeckers have been very happy this year, sometimes there are 8 of them around the feeder tree. Mostly hairy and some downy, I have a pileated in the area but he does his own thing and stays away.

Enjoyed this fascinating look at this woodpecker. Just bonus information to find out they sleep in tree holes they fashion out themselves. Thanks Leslie!

Another great, informative video, Lesley! Just love Downy Woodpeckers, and enjoy watching a male and female come to our suet feeder and grab peanuts from another. They are so cute!😊🤍🖤

Been feeding a male Downy all winter and I wondered where he goes at night! Lol I have plain, apple and pecan suet cakes...he prefers the pecan cakes :D

Very interesting.

I am so excited!!! Finally after 6 or 7 years of seeing Woodrow the red bellied woodpecker. His smaller counterpart showed up a few weeks ago. My goodness she is A LOT smaller. I wonder if they are a couple.

What gorgeous snow...: and beautiful sweet birds ❤

L♡ve your "super knowledge tips & info" on our favorite Feathered Friends. You have taught me tons!

Thank you Lesley for sharing this with all us other bird nerds 😊. I learn so much from you.

Great video as always. Super informative and I love the close ups you got of the woodpecker!

Delightful! Ty! ❤

You speak of very relevant! ...and pertinent topics!!..I love it!

Thank you for this wonderful, informative and interesting video, Lesley.

How clever! I just love those dear little downies! Thank you for another beautiful and informative video!🙂

my cat loves watching your videos

Another wonderful video, Lesley!

Lesley, Hi from Traverse City, Michigan! What may seem obvious now, I am no longer felling trees just because they are dead. If they pose a hazard, then sure. I have come to appreciate the value dead trees provide for food, i.e., bugs, and shelter for woodpeckers and other birds. Love your videos.

Love the Little Downy...Love all Woodpeckers...my fav is the Red-bellied. I've had several generations of these beauties bring their young and beak feed them suet cake - the males seem especially caring and dedicated Fathers. You are Right On!!! about leaving dead trees - they are Prime Home Habitat!!! We have a large Maple with a center dead limb that's been home to Woodpeckers and at least 4 litters of Gray and maybe 1 or 2 Red Squirrels Families. I just Love all my Wild Neighbors!!!

I adore woodpeckers. Thank you for this lovely video, so informative, great shots! I had downy woodpeckers visit my mother's feeder, they are fun, acrobatic little sprites! Thank you again for this!

At my dad's house we have an adorable pair of nearly fearless downy woodpeckers who are regulars at the feeders, especially the suet!! It made me so happy when suddenly we went from only seeing one, to always seeing them in a pair now 😊

Thank you, I enjoyed the video, and I learned some things too.

We recently moved to the northern portion of the United States and I fulfilled a dream of having my own bird feeder. We get downies all the time, and they are fearless. A few let me get within a few feet of them, and have shown little fear around the outdoor cats around our place. I have a three year old and she calls all woodpeckers "pecker" and downies are "little peckers" to her while the hairy, red bellied, and pileated are big peckers. 😂

I saw some woodpeckers in Breckenridge that look similar to this. Man they were special. ❤

i love seeing downys at my feeders! i’ve always wondered where they go during these cold months in minnesota 😅 downys are sooooo cute

🤗🥰❤️🤗🥰❤️

They are cute. I have at least two in my yard that I feed. ❤️

Thank you for these informative videos. This Minnesota winter I have had more woodpeckers at my suet feeder than in previous years. I love them.

Very much enjoy your videos and the information you enrich us with.

I often wondered about how they sleep. Thank you so much.

And here I thought they slept in their down sleeping bags …oh well.🤔😉🤭

It's great to see your videos Lesley!..

I too have found downies roosting in my bluebird boxes in the winter, here in Southern NJ. They've never nested in one though.

I really love these birds , they are so friendly , really cool video thanks .

I’ve left several dead Ash trees and I have a couple old old maples with open holes. I love birds and squirrels. They hav a good time by my house… We once had 4 different wood peckers at one time at my suet feeder. Lots of downy.

thank you

Lesley---beautiful little bird...we have some of these little guys.....nice to see some snow....take care stay safe

Thanks Mrs Leslie ! You bring joy and peace ,lwith your videos of our busy little winged friends! Thanks again!

Nice video ..... very informative, another one of my favorite winter time visitors.

How fascinating! I had no idea downy woodpeckers did this. I loved this video and learned so much about these sweet birds that I simply adore. I can't believe how many incredible facts you managed to squeeze into 5 min - you are amazing Lesley! I witnessed a downy woodpecker pair nest in my dad's backyard tree last year; it was a first for me and it was spectacular watching them raise two young. Thanks yet again for another wonderful video and for taking us with you on your adventure!

2:29 that woodpecker just can't decide whether to stay or go.

Nice video. Good luck🌹👍

Had one at my suet feeder today. she is beautiful!!!

I've been wanting more downy woodpecker content. I live in the Boston metro area and have been getting into birding these last couple years. A pair of downies were the first to discover my house sparrow (and starling) proofed feeder and still visit multiple times per day. They tend to visit around the same time as each other so I assumed they may be nesting together but from the sound of it that's not the case in the winter.

Thanks for always sharing the best content, keep up with the great work 👌👍

Thank you so much for sharing! You have inspired me so much over this past year, because of you I made friends with five red breasted nuthatches, two pairs - Dip & Dash and Ned & Nelly and one random male, Mr. Dare. They are so sweet! I’ve also managed to befriend a few chickadees! It’s been a wonderful journey starting to backyard bird watch! We have observed around twenty species here in our yard and coincidentally, the female downy woodpecker (I’ve named Roberta Downy Jr. lol) finally trusted me enough to take a peanut just the day before yesterday!

Animals know better....when hurricane Ian was on its way to FL. A large terrestrial native tutle came out of the nature preserve and stay in our yard in a safe dry area, the preserve flooded so her burrow was probably underwater for a week, after 2 weeks she went back home when the floods had dry out 😃🤩😃🤩

Beautiful

I love my Downey and Hairy woodpeckers...I shove peanuts into bark for them too, like I do for the Titmice and Nuthatches. I've noticed that the Cardinals have caught on tho...I put the whole peanuts out for my Blue Jays, but they will grab every shelled peanut if I put them on my platforms, so I started hiding single peanut halves in bark crevasses in my trees for the little guys who don't stand a chance against the Jays and Red Bellied woodpeckers...

What a very cool video! Down here in Virginia, the winters can be chilly, especially when it is windy! We had the same experience as you, but our pair roosted in a bluebird nest box, as I've seen them flying in and out around dusk! Love your videos! Keep it up!

Wow, this is absolutely🪶fascinating💕 Thank you for sharing this with us❤!!~*

Thank you for another great, informative video.

Thank you Lesley. I have Downey at my suet feeder and entertain a couple types pf Peckers. I have actually been wondering where all my birds friends are sleeping in this Northern Ontario winter. We are having record snows. Good to know. They certainly show up daily.

I'm pretty sure the expression "I feel it in my bones" must have an equivalent in Bird Land. It's often called instinct, but it could also be intuition, a subconscious use of experience and logic. Birds aren't stupid, you know. ;-)

👌Great video 😀

Thanks Lesley! I didn't know about nesting holes.

My mom has a pleated that occasionally visits her yard/feeder. It's been coming off & on since last year. It's amazing it keeps coming back because there's a lot of traffic in & out of their place. I haven't seen one at my feeders in over a year! Nice video!

Our little common wrens in UK are known for their communal roosting behaviour: the highest number recorded is 63! We are very poorly off for woodpeckers with only three species perhaps because so much of our woodlands have been sacrificed.

Downy woodpeckers are the cute one of the woodpecker family. I don't get suet because it brings more aggressive birds. Like starlings, house sparrows, and mockingbirds. I just put out chuncky peanutbutter.

Wonderful video Lesley! I watch Downys at my feeders everyday. And I've wondered about this. Although I'm in Oregon and our winters aren't nearly as cold or snowy as Canada.