Bird of the Day: February 25

February 25, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Photo by Heather Wolf

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Downy Woodpecker, a December sighting in Brooklyn Bridge Park. This species is the smallest of the ‘peckers’ in North America. Scientific name: Picoides pubescens. Woodpeckers are constructed to absorb 97 percent of the shock energy of ‘pecking’ in their bodies, so the brain is protected. In addition to foraging for insects on tree trunks, they also have the power to carve out holes in the wood for shelter and nesting. Pecking also can be used as a signal to proclaim their territory (they have been known to peck on manmade objects for the resonating effect) or for mating signals. Photo by Heather Wolf, author of BIRDING AT THE BRIDGE. Join the Eagle family of supporters and get daily updates and features (like bird of the day).