Hairy Woodpecker oil painting

Before I came to Michigan, I had only glimpsed a woodpecker twice in my life, from a distance. Because at our house we feed suet as well as birdseed, the woodpeckers come several times a day. I love the red head of the pileated, and how small the downy woodpecker is, but my favorite is the hairy. 

Above is a painting I did this past week of one clinging to a tree. He’s looking down, getting ready to peck a spot; I think it’s amazing the angles they can hang at, as they crawl up and down a tree. They are real acrobats on a tree!