Western area of the continent during summer and nesting.

Numerous in woodlands, parks and suburbs including backyard feeders. Feeds mostly in trees moving deliberately.

Male has a deep orange breast, collar, rump, sides, and lower back. Head and upper back are black, wings are black with spots and white patch. Belly can fade to yellow.

Females and Immatures have buff, unstreaked breasts.

The first time I saw this bird was in May of 2007 when he came to my feeders and found the suet. He came back a couple of times that year and again in 2008.

I am sure he came back in 2009 but I was on a journey to Yellowstone at that time, however, I did leave suet in the feeders.

It has become a regular thing for this male to come to my deck and thus far, it has been in May when he first arrives. This year, like previous years, he wants some of the suet that I always have out.

However, earlier this year, I began to hang the suet horizontally, keeping the plastic container facing upwards with the suet access from the bottom, requiring any bird to hang from the underside, which all woodpeckers can do. I did this so the starlings will not have direct access to the suet and destroy it in short work. What I mean by destroying it is that they pull it all out of the feeder, dropping most to the ground where they can better access it. This also attracts rats to my back yard.

When he arrived this year, he seemed puzzled about the feeder. I decide to wait and photograph him as he endeavors to access the suet. What fun this proved to be providing many a laugh from his antics.

I can just imagine what he is thinking.

I did not see him for about two weeks and then he shows up again looking to find some suet to eat. Not wanting to dissuade him entirely from returning to feed here, I was expecting his return and put out a vertical feeder just for him.

He came one day finding the horizontal feeders, he ate some and then returned the very next day, when I was able to watch him get his fill on the suet.