I got a message today that Mr. Neil’s sapsucker was looking a little funky. I think his exact words were, “It looks like it’s been dipped in KY Jelly.” I joked, “Well, it is mating season.”
And there was a long pause.
I’m not sure if the joke wasn’t all that funny or if people aren’t used to me making bird jokes. I told him to email me some photos and the sapsucker, the sapsucker who looked so fine in April and even rather dapper in May, looks downright ratty in June.
Check out the horns! So, I’m not sure what’s going on here. Did he arrive fresh from a neighboring birdbath? Did he not pay attention to his drilling and slip into some sap? Did he sleep in a tree cavity with a hole over the top and get rained on? Is he doing the flight of shame?
We shall just have to keep our eyes open for him and see what happens, he’s still coming in for nuts and sunflower hearts on the copper feeder, that’s a good sign.
Awwwwww… that matted-feather look is one I see when the Finches or Grosbeaks get sick. I don’t know what causes it…but one of the things that comes with it is a sort of conjunctivitus; stuff sticks to their bills after awhile too, and they caugh and sneeze a lot. Eventually, they get so worn out they won’t fly when approached…they hang out by the water dish and seem unnaturally thirsty. It hurts to watch. They don’t last long at that point.
I certainly hope your pretty baby just got into some jelly or something! I’ve not seen a sick woodpecker and I have a couple pairs each of Downys and Harrys. I just keep tossing food and dipping feeders in bleach-solution.
Maybe he had just heard that chicks think Jack Nicholson’s eyebrows are hot and since it’s the mating season…
Blague à part: I do hope this little guy is not down with something.
Well, I was going to make a joke about late-night pub crawls, but now I’m worried he’s sick. I hope not.
:-/ I hope he’s not sick.
I spotted a male Williamson’s Sapsucker in my yard just yesterday, and it was so exciting. First time I’ve seen one.
I think it’s refreshing to have a bird blogger with a sense of humor – you crack me up all the time!
I had a sapsucker on my feeder last Sun. that looked like that, he didn’t linger long enough for a good look. When I saw him fly in I thought what is that. It looked like a mini Pileated. this in IN.
The KY Jelly/mating season joke made me giggle.
~other Sharon
It was a joke? You were making an inaccurate birding joke?
Who are you and what did you do to Sharon Stiteler?
Maybe he is worn out from taking care of chicks–both the male and female sapsuckers incubate/raise the brood.