Whenever I see woodpeckers, I am reminded of the Woody, the Woodpecker cartoons that I used to see when I was a child growing up. As I remember it, though, I believe Woody was a Pileated Woodpecker. These pictures that I have here today are of a Ladder-backed Woodpecker. The male, I photographed yesterday morning. Both images of the female I captured earlier today. All were at San Angelo State Park in San Angelo, Texas. Enjoy the photos, and as usual, click on any of them to see enlargements.
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - male
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - female
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - female spreading her wings
Happy Birding!!
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
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Love these Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. I’ve had one hanging around my suet feeder all winter. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, Linda. I live in a little patio home, and have no room for a real back-yard bird habitat, except for one feeder. I spend most of my time at San Angelo State Park, and as a membaer of the “Friends” I and my wife care for the bird blind, and do much bird photography. It is convenient as it is only 3 miles from home. We have Ladder-backs\ed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, as our predominant woodpecker species.
Bob
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Lovely shots Bob, I too like the one with her spreading her wings! I seldom see the Pileated Woodpecker that you helped me identify, although I heard that they were back in the rea recently.
Thanks, Michael. I have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker. That will be a lifer if I ever do.
Bob
Good photos, Bob, I don’t often see photos of the Ladder-backed for some reason. It is a truly beautiful bird.
Thanks, Dave.
That was a sunflower seed. Thanks for the compliments, Cindy
Bob
How wonderful that you caught him with his prize in his beak. I really love the last one of the female showing off the very attractive patterning on the underside of her wings.
Thanks for bookmarking me! 🙂
The colors in your photos (esp the red of the woodpecker & the blue of the sky) are so vibrant & beautiful!
Thanks, Jen,
I’ll be looking forward to some of your images of Michigan.
Bob
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The woodpecker is one of my favourite birds Bob, and reminds me of those cartoons on TV when I was a kid. He always looked so comical to me, I loved him!
Once again, you have produced some stunning photos!
Thanks, Barb. I agree. Those cartoon woodpeckers of by-gone years were pretty funny. But there is an Acorn Woodpecker that lives a little further west of me that is a riot to look at. Maybe soon I will put up a picture of it. 🙂
Bob
Those ladder-backs are gorgeous! Was she flirting with you? 🙂
Could be. I’m a pretty likeabl guy. 🙂
Excellent as always, however Woody was a true Red headed woodpecker
Thanks. It has been a long time since I have seen the cartoon. 🙂
Bob
Love this. In Virginia we have Downy, Pileated and Red-Bellied woodpeckers in abundance. I have never seen a ladder-backed and these photos are great.
Katherine
Thanks, Katherine. We also have the Golden-fronted, the Acorn, and occasional Downy. Plus the Flicker. Thanks for commenting.
Bob
Very impressive – especially the last photo!! Whenever I hear about Woody Woodpecker, I’m reminded of when I did a book report long ago on Mel Blanc (the voice of Woody). He actually came up with the laugh when he was in school, he would skip down the hallways laughing like that, and later decided to use it!
Mel Blanc was a very talented guy. He was the “voice” of many characters. Thanks for commenting, Holly.
Bob, your photos are just so beautiful and the shots you capture are stunning. While I like the male woodpecker for it’s colours, the female spreading her wings against such a blue sky is my favourite of the three here. 🙂
Thanks, Rose. I have so much fun photographing these birds.
Bob