Male Redbellied woodpecker but...is he a young one or in danger? (1 Viewer)

[LadyDeeDee]

Hi, this little guy is in my backyard in suburban, southern NY (Long Island) USA. Suffolk County, near the South Shore.
He's (as far as I can tell) a redbellied woodpecker. I thought he was the only one in my yard and over the last few weeks I noticed sometimes he'd come right up to me (nearly) or ignore me. I just discovered the other day I have another (more wild/shy) male woodpecker.

Okay, here is my point. This little guy doesn't seem to fly. He just hops around the bushes. He looks "smaller" than the other woodpecker. He has all his feathers (except maybe not on his tail?) and knows how to cache food. He seems to be functioning in life fine but I've never seen him fly.

He knows me and will come up quite close and isn't skittish.
My questions are 1) Do you think he is just a young one and will fly (I don't see any tail feathers) 2) do you think he's in any danger because he can't/doesn't fly. Winter is coming soon enough and I may be moving so what can I do for him?

By the way, his name is Clicky.
Here's a video I took (linked to my youtube page) Sorry for the poor quality and my mumbling in the audio. I was just shocked to see him let me film for so long. Any info you all could provide (tips) would be great. I am mainly worried for his safety.

Thank you so much!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkFlzwGevYU

 

[jmorlan]

He's missing his tail. Woodpeckers use their stiff tail feathers to hitch up the trunks. Without a tail he cannot do that. Probably lost his tail in an encounter with a domestic cat or other predator. Please keep all cats indoors!

 

[LadyDeeDee]

Yes, I thought so! I hate cats roaming around! We have a few in the neighborhood. Will his tail feathers grow back? Poor Clicky

Also, thanks for replying.

 

[Birdbrain22]

Yes they will grow back, but it will take some time(2-3 weeks). Since the whole tail(feathers) are lost they will grow back instead of waiting until next molt (as would happen if only damaged feathers). Hopefully he has enough low bushes and brush to provide hiding. Many birds will have trouble flying without a tail and some does fly at all since it acts as a rudder(if you will) and also provides balance. As stated the woodpeckers also use the tail to prop themselves up against the truck as the climb. Hope he makes it.

 

[KC Foggin]

He looks to be an adult and fingers crossed that his tail grows back quickly.

 

[Peter Audrain]

Would it be worth taking him to a bird rehabilitation center until they do grow back? He's already had one run-in with a cat, and probably the same one would be delighted to kill him completely now. I don't have any personal experience with bird rehab, or feathers growing back, but he really does look helpless, not being able to get up the tree.

Recommended reading for the neighbor whose cat did this, delivered with a plate of cookies: https://press.princeton.edu/titles/10809.html

 

[LadyDeeDee]

Update

Unfortunately I haven't seen him since Monday (last week).
Our neighbors as well as my parents had the landscapers in and they pretty much removed all the leaves, twigs and so on that the birds love to use as shelter.

The little guy probably moved on or was "taken" by some hawk I keep seeing around the house. I'm sad about it.

I'm going to make the video private now. Thanks for all the replies. I agree keep your CATS locked up and maybe it would be nice if homeowners could leave a bit of their gardens/yards wild and messy for the birds.