Favorite Birds

The downy woodpecker is one of the few non-sparrow regulars at our feeders. He eats only the suet. We got this "upside-down" feeder in the hopes of defeating the sparrows, as only woodpeckers and the like can allegedly cling to the suet cage on the bottom. Nevertheless all of the birds travel around to the various feeders together, and last year I saw sparrows imitating the downy by clinging to the bottom of the feeder with one claw and beating its wings to maintain its position. I eventually saw even evil starlings doing it too. This year I have not seen *any* sparrows doing this, and it's all for the downy, plus a nuthatch couple (new this year). The lack of activity at the suet feeder has allowed me to spot a second downy...are they a couple? I guess so!