Huey and Henrietta
A couple of weeks ago I posted Texas Hummingbirds-Baby Huey with a close-up picture of a Golden-Fronted Woodpecker feeding on one of our hummingbird feeders. Since then Baby Huey has been back several times every day to feast on the sugar-water that the real hummers grudgingly share with him. Now his mate has joined him We can tell it is a female because Henrietta (we had to name her also) is smaller and does not have the red cap that males have.
The above photograph captures them both feeding. Huey is on the left; Henrietta is on the right. He is hanging awkwardly while Henrietta perches daintily much the way a hummingbird does.
According to John L. Tveten in his book, “The Birds of Texas,” a pair will share pecking out a nest for their young and describes it this way.
“Working together, the pair will take a week or more to excavate their nest, and they will then share in the incubation of their four to seven eggs and the raising of their young. Starting with an opening about two inches across, they dig straight back and then down, perhaps for a foot or more, finally enlarging the cavity at the bottom and leaving a few woods chips as the only pallet for their pending brood.”
Daily we hear them pecking on our metal chimney. Why? Is it rusting? Do they think it is a tree? There is a perfectly fine oak tree near the feeders, and there is a wonderful old mesquite tree next door. We may have to inspect our chimney!
THE COASTAL CRONE 
oye………made the Tin Man’s chest hurt to think of that pecking on tin……….lol
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I hadn’t thought about the Tin Man! Thanks for the like, comment and stopping by. I will check out your delicious looking blog.
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Thanks for following The Tin Man’s alter ego blog! It is the repository of all my recipes from work. Hope you enjoy it!
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Oh, he has a mate, how wonderful! The little blurp at the bottom regarding their habits reminds me a little of the mating procession of penguins, and how both the male and the female share the burden of parenting.
Do you watch Planet Earth, Jonel? I think you would love this show.
Better get that chimney looked at . . .
~ Cara
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No, Cara, I don’t watch Planet Earth but maybe I will check it out. I love it when the males help out with the young! Have a great day!
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Birds are simply fascinating.
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They keep us entertained and we like sharing our space with them. Thanks for the comment.
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love the photo of the interopers – I’m thinking they think they hear insects in the chimney…
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Perhaps they did think they heard insects in the chimney! Thanks for stopping by and liking some posts.
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Here on the West Coast we live on a fly way. For bird watching it is nothing short of spectacular. But my absolute favorite, the bird that’s thrills me to tiny little pieces – is the humming bird. I had a bouquet of brilliant orange silk poppies in a window. Had to remove it because the little scutters were trying valiantly to get in the window. Virginia
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This area is great for bird-watching also. I love the humming birds too and put feeders up twice a year. They are all gone for now but should be back in September. In the meantime I have left one feeder up for the the pair of woodpeckers that love the sugar water. Thanks for the like and comment.
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We had a nest of baby woodpeckers (golden fronted, I think) in an oak tree in our front yard in San Antonio this spring. The mom and dad pecked a sizeable hole about two feet off the ground, then I noticed them constantly bring tasty bug morsels to the hole. I listened at the opening and could hear the babies chirring…that was Memorial Day weekend. They must have flown the coop because the hole is now silent. This is June 19. Would they have matured that quickly? I really wanted to see them leave, but missed it.
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How special to have seen the parents at work and then to hear the babies! The pair we had stayed for several weeks and were hitting the hummingbird feeder several times a day in our back yard. If they had a nest we never found it – we have an oak tree in the back yard. The pair have been gone for about a week and I miss them! I don’t know how long it would take the babies to leave but it does seem a bit short. I will have to check it out. This is the first time we have had a pair come and stay this long. We live near Corpus Christi.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and making a comment!
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How wonderful it is to have a pair of hummingbirds nesting in the backyard!
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