Red-bellied Worries

I didn't want to type "Worried About a Woodpecker" in the title, of course. People might get the wrong idea.

We've enjoyed a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers who've been frequenting our suet feeder for some six months now.

He's about as regal a bird as you see in the suburbs. He and his mate visit as regularly as clockwork. He'd been battling a few starlings the past ten days or so, but nothing too vicious that we could see.

That's why I was surprised to see him just standing on the tree, doing nothing. While I watched he stretched his wings, just standing there, then kind of fell to the ground (while very weakly flapping his wings). Upon hitting the ground he just laid there with his wings spread out.

I went outside to get a better look and see if maybe I could collect him to take to a lady we know who specializes in rescues, but he flew (albeit weakly) back up to the tree. A minute later he took off and flew over the house. I went around to the front looking for him but didn't see him.

Later in the day, while on a walk, we came across the same bird two blocks away. Again he was hanging out at the base of a tree looking a little confused. This time I realized he was a juvenile. Yet again he took off flying, easily clearing a two-story house.

Maybe he struck a window. Who knows? Hopefully he'll be OK.