[CT Birds] Goldfinches; male downy/hairy plumage

[Tom and Dorothy Wadlow]

We have a resident flock of about a dozen goldfinches at our sunflower heart
and thistle feeders here in Stonington.  They also frequently drink from my
heated water dish.  Still waiting for the siskins and redpolls to appear.

 

I noticed that the male hairy woodpecker which has started to visit my suet
feeder has a black line dividing the red patch on the back of his head in
half.  One of my regular downy males also has that plumage but the other two
do not.  I looked in the guides I have, but they all show the woodpecker
heads from the side and don't mention this pattern.  Has anyone else noticed
this difference?  Does anyone know if this is age related or just a plumage
variation?  It certainly makes it easier to recognize the individual birds.

 

Dorothy Wadlow