Here are some winter familiars for this #featheredfriday by
Here is the first familiar a red-bellied wood pecker at a feeder in Starved Rock State Park.
This is why they call them red-bellied woodpeckers. They have some red feathers on their belly, fortunately the feeder structure allowed me to actually get a shot of its red belly.
Here is a nuthatch looking to dive bomb the feeders below.
It had a successful divebomb and scored a sunflower seed. I love the way these guys can crawl on any surface.
The tufted titmouse is also common here during winter, in fact I only see them during winter.
They are quite small and bouncy, very difficult to get clear shots even at the feeder.
Quite a few chickadees were hanging around the feeders as well. This was one of the few clear shots I got of them. The rest turned out blurry from them bouncing around.
There were also a couple cardinals but they were hiding up in the tree shade getting scared away by squirrels hogging the feeders.
Goldfinches stay here year-round feeding on prairie grass seeds. It is much easier for these two to get their millet from the feeder.
Eventually in spring they will molt and get bright yellow colors to attract a mate. In winter they lose their bright yellow and you can barely see any of their bright yellow colors. The white wing bands are the best way to identify them.
Sadly on this trip I didn't see any good shots of bald eagles, that's why I usually go to this state park. There was just one way off in the distance on a tree. Next time I come here I'll have to show up earlier in the morning when they are hunting for fish. That's all for now happy hunting :-)
