In the world of Cardinal Woodpeckers, the youngsters are often bolder and more curious, which explains why they may treat your window like a playground.
In todays video, we have two juvenile male Cardinal Woodpeckers who have decided that a windowsill is the hottest hangout.
Since these feisty guys are rocking red crowns, we know they're the "boys of the brood," likely brothers practicing their moves before they head out to claim their own acacia trees.
Why are they so obsessed with the glass? "The Mirror Match." They think those handsome reflections are rivals! It's a bit of "shadow boxing" as they learn to defend their territory.
The Super-Slurp Tongue: Watch closely for that long, snake-like tongue. It's not just for show. It's coated in a natural "glue" to catch bugs, though here it looks like they are just giving the window a deep clean!
The Hype Squad: Listen to the background! The other birds in the garden seem to be acting as a cheering section (or maybe they are just waiting for the "construction" to be over).
From their "salt and pepper" suits to their rhythmic pecking, these little guys are the heartbeat of the Kenyan grassland.
They might not find any grubs in the glass, but they have certainly found a way into our hearts!
Location: Kajiado County, adjacent to Nairobi National Park, Kenya.
Did You Know?
Woodpeckers have a special "shock absorber" at the base of their beak, and a skull that wraps around their brain like a helmet.
This allows them to peck at high speeds without getting a headache, even when they are mistakenly trying to excavate a window pane!
Poem: Window Watchers
Upon the pane where glass meets grass,
Two spirits of the woodland pass.
They wear caps of crimson flame,
Salt and pepper coats on modest frames.
With rhythmic tap on transparent stone,
They claim a kingdom not their own.
A flickering tongue, a serpent's grace,
To clean the beak and etched-out face.
The savannah sings a chorus loud,
From feathered friends, a cheering crowd,
While in the glass, their shadows play,
The rhythmic pulse of a Kenya day.
Small architects of bark and bough,
Are curious window-visitors now,
A flash of red, a staccato beat,
The wild and home - where wonders meet.
Storyteller/Nature Poet: JohnMak
Listen to nature sounds on my Safaripod Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390342