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Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay

Red-headed woodpecker = Melanerpes erythrocephalus Blue Jay = Cyanocitta cristata

Photo by MrsPbio
Published on Project Noah
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29.1872, -82.1401

Field Notes

Description:

Red headed woodpecker, both sexes, have a blood-red head, all the way to the shoulders, Belly is pure snow-white. Back is deep black. Flight feathers are white, creating a broad white stripe across the lower back when wings are folded. Tail is black, except for the tail coverts, which are white. Unmistakable.

Jay is common... blues, longish tail, sassy crest. Also easily ID'd.

Habitat:

These two were found in a Turkey-oak/Longleaf Pine Sandhill, in Silver Springs Shores, Ocala, Florida, about 200m from my home! :D

Blue Jays are common, and not very particular. The Redhead is a bit more finnicky. They usually like more rural areas with dead snags, although I've seen them once or twice in downtown Ocala as well.

Notes:

These two were squabbling over perching rights at the top of the snag. I was photographing the Silver Croton (another PN spotting) and the Chapman's Pea (ditto..) when a flash of black white and red swooped right past me. I followed, only to have it land waaaay up in a tree. BUT... hah! I have my new camera with a killer zoom feature! Only after focusing did I see the Jay. Yeah... two for the price of one! Loved it.

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