hi everyone
is it normal or - at least, not worrying - to have a juvenile woodpecker sitting on a feeder for 5-15+ minute stretches?
we have a woodpecker that has recently arrived in our garden and is now visiting the feeder at least twice a day, since wednesday. currently it's at our feeder and has been sitting there for over 15 minutes now!
it's clearly a juvenile because of the red crown and off-white front. it's got a good appetite. but because of wariness about illness particularly trichomonosis, i am wondering if its behaviour is funny but fine for a woodpecker (particularly a young one) or if it indicates it isn't very well? the idea of this of course changes our joy at its arrival into sadness/worry
it sits on the feeder for really long stretches after having eaten a bit, and is quite fluffed up. it does look alert in terms of looking around quite frequently, so it could just be relaxing.
either way once it's left now I'm definitely going to clean all the feeders and replace the food. we're probably overdue to do that anyway having been away for a bit...
not sure how to tell and not much info online!
thanks