Sunday afternoon visitor

A female Downey Woodpecker dropped by this afternoon. She stayed for some time, banging away on the suet block adjacent to the sunflower seed. I wonder how this smallest of the woodpeckers  can make it through the day, much less through life, while banging away at trees and suet. The thought of a lifetime of banging one's head against trees gives me a headache...   

From the Cornell Labs "All About Birds" website:
"Size & Shape
Downy Woodpeckers are small versions of the classic woodpecker body plan. They have a straight, chisel-like bill, blocky head, wide shoulders, and straight-backed posture as they lean away from tree limbs and onto their tail feathers. The bill tends to look smaller for the bird’s size than in other woodpeckers.
Color Pattern
Downy Woodpeckers give a checkered black-and-white impression. The black upperparts are checked with white on the wings, the head is boldly striped, and the back has a broad white stripe down the center. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. The outer tail feathers are typically white with a few black spots.
Behavior
Downy Woodpeckers hitch around tree limbs and trunks or drop into tall weeds to feed on galls, moving more acrobatically than larger woodpeckers. Their rising-and-falling flight style is distinctive of many woodpeckers. In spring and summer, Downy Woodpeckers make lots of noise, both with their shrill whinnying call and by drumming on trees.
Habitat
You’ll find Downy Woodpeckers in open woodlands, particularly among deciduous trees, and brushy or weedy edges. They’re also at home in orchards, city parks, backyards and vacant lots"  (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Downy_Woodpecker/id).

keep smilin'