Maybe something’s on your mind. So you go to the woods, away from it all.
You see two woodpeckers on the same tree, and they take hold of your thoughts.
One is a Downy. The other, a Hairy. The Downy’s not downy and the Hairy’s not hairy. Each one is mostly stiff feathers. Birds are saddled with stupid names.
But, it gets weirder. These two are different species, yet identical except for size.
Picture it this way:
Look in the mirror. See your face, features, clothing? Now imagine someone joins you, same face, features and clothing. But a foot taller.
The big stranger says to the mirror, “Hey, me and mini-me.”
That’s what it’s like with Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers. Me and mini-me.
You have to wonder what they think about each other. But, maybe they don’t think anything about each other and their similarity. Maybe they just think about bugs in bark.
Yet, you think about it. And while you do, you’re not thinking about anything else.
Hairy Woodpecker. Or is it a Downy?
I think it’s a hairy. Am I right?
We go into the woods to cure our souls. What do people do who haven’t learned that?
It’s a Hairy with feathers.
Great lesson, nice thought. Thank you.
should be called big-billed & little-billed
Have both along with Red Headed and Red Bellies visit me each day just off our porch…we live in the woods…a good place to live.
Hairy or downy they are all cute.
January 26, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I have had a “Hairy” at my suet going for broke!