Monday, January 20
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5892_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C788&ssl=1)
My camera says it was 8:09 am when I took this picture of a male Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoying some suet for breakfast.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5893_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C789&ssl=1)
Little did I know what fun I would have watching a bird fight during the next four minutes – after a European Starling decided he also wanted to have breakfast at the same suet block.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5896_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C806&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5897_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C716&ssl=1)
It got a bit noisy.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5899_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C664&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5903_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C838&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5906_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C824&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5908_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C764&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5909_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C587&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5910_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C880&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5914_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C623&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5918_InPixio.jpg?resize=983%2C1024&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5923_InPixio.jpg?resize=1018%2C1024&ssl=1)
The female woodpecker (left) joined the mix while the male rested on the upper right.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5924_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C970&ssl=1)
The female ate in relative peace for a short time.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5926_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C788&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5929_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C849&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5932_InPixio.jpg?resize=919%2C1024&ssl=1)
When the male returned to the suet, the fight intensified.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5934_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C956&ssl=1)
Ouch!
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5935_InPixio.jpg?resize=983%2C1024&ssl=1)
Now, maybe he will stay away.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5940_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C770&ssl=1)
That hurt. I think it may be wiser to eat dropped suet from the ground.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5942_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C881&ssl=1)
Finally I have a bit of peace.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5944_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C737&ssl=1)
It didn’t take long before the starling wasn’t satisfied with suet droppings and the fight started again.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5945_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C715&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/dorishigh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/DSC_5947_InPixio.jpg?resize=1024%2C909&ssl=1)
Finally – as far as I could tell – the fight ended when the starling gave up and the woodpecker ate in peace.
The sparrows at my feeder are always fighting! I have to keep out suet cage closed with a twisty tie so the squirrels don’t run off with the whole cake of suet. One time they even took the cage. We never did find it. Maybe it was a raccoon that took it?
I don’t think we ever had a squirrel run off with a suet cake – or cage. 🙂