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Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Yes, my mother told me the story. Her mother told her and so on, and so on. It may be a regional folk tale, not really sure of its origins. But I always think of it when I see this bird. And you're more than welcome ...
I've never heard of that before. Interesting story suzmonk! Thanks for sharing.
Do you know the folk story? It seems an old, old lady lived in a house all by herself. She always wore a long black dress with a white shawl and a red kerchief on her head. One day, a stranger knocked on her door. He said he was homeless and hungry and asked if she would give him something to eat. Being a kind person, the old lady invited him to sit at the kitchen table while she cooked for him. He ate his meal, but then turned mean ... wanted to know where she kept her valuables because he intended to take them. The old lady was poor and didn't have anything of value in the house. This made the man even madder and, in his frustration, he raised his hand to kill her. Looking down on this scene, God transformed the old lady into a bird so that she could fly away and escape. And that's why the Red-headed Woodpecker still wears the black dress, white shawl and red kerchief the old lady wore that day.
Woodpecker? If there is a long, pointed nose I believe it could be a woodpecker.