Downy Woodpecker: Kennebunk, Maine, USA — On the “things you don’t see every day” theme, the Downy Woodpeckers that frequent our feeders have learned to eat whole sunflower seeds…while that is not unheard of, it is certainly not, as far as I know or can discover in a casual google search, common behavior. They do seem to enjoy sunflower chips when they are on offer, but whole seeds of any kind are not a big part of their diet, and sunflower seeds require a specialized technique…mastered in different ways by the titmice, chickadees, and nuthatch clans…to open and get at the kernel. I certainly do not begrudge them the sunflower seeds…but I am still at the point when I have to smile when I see a Downy on the tube feeder. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Taken through the thermopane glass of the deck door during a snowstorm. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1 EV exposure compensation.