What's Black and White and Red All Over?

When outside gardening comes to a screeching halt in winter, we find other ways to entertain ourselves. We have our houseplants and the conservatory, of course, but those aren't labor intensive and don't take much time to care for. I've always got plenty of reading material and a cold, snowy day is a good day for catching up.

It's great for birdwatching, too! We have a covered platform feeder just outside the family room and I have a perfect view of it from my "couch desk." Today, we had a new visitor. I've seen him on the nearby maple tree, pecking his way up and down the trunk.

The red-bellied woodpecker is a beautiful bird and is even more so, against the snowy landscape.

The red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is native to the eastern United States, most often seen in forests and woods. They favor oaks and hickories, as well as pines. They often visit backyard feeders, where they enjoy munching on peanuts, sunflowers seeds, and suet. They love the berries on hawthorn trees, too. We have several of those in our yard, so perhaps those are what attracted them.