The Big and The Small

The Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) on the right and the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) on the left are almost identical except for size. The six inch Downy is two-thirds the size of the nine inch Hairy. Check out that difference in bill size.

When Hairy decides he wants to perch on the feeder where Downy is sitting, there is no argument. But when Red-bellied Woodpecker arrives, both Hairy and Downy decide they can wait a bit for their suet.


Two different species of squirrel nest on our property - the larger Eastern Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) on the left and the smaller Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) on the right.

As with many species in zoology and botany, the common names we use for these squirrels are used in other geographic locations for completely different species. Even within SW Michigan, there are people who call the Fox squirrel a Red squirrel. Makes sense. It is red.

I've even heard the uninformed call the Red squirrel a baby Fox squirrel. It's not. The little Red squirrel in the picture is completely mature and as big as it's going to get. Although it may get plumper if it keeps feasting on our sunflower seeds.


My current desktop picture, son John and his daughter, my granddaughter, Sydney taking a nap together.

Sydney will be two years old on April 5 and I'm booked to arrive in Idaho on April 4 to help her celebrate.