Tawny Downy Woodpecker

Every so often an image is uploaded to the Wingscapes Photo Gallery that makes us stop and scratch our heads. Such was the recent reaction to this picture of a Downy Woodpecker uploaded by Chris from Madison, Connecticut.

   

Rather than sporting the black and white feathers that are a hallmark of this as well as many other North American woodpecker species, this little Downy looks as though it has been soaking in a tub full of tea. While darker plumaged subspecies of both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are common in the west, this one more likely may be affected by a genetic condition that produces more than the usual amount of melanin in its feathers, making them in this case a tawny brown instead of white.