The photo is a classic sapsucker pattern. There are several sapsucker species in CA. We have the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker here. Oh, I see Cap just answered your question...
Anyway, funny this has come up on this thread as I was fielding a lot of woodpecker questions at our store today. Typically when woodpeckers are working on a tree, they will peck holes vertically following a seam or carpenter ant tunnel through the heatwood. If they are feeding on borer larvae, the holes will be more randomly distributed. A nest cavity will be excavated 2-4" diameter and deep into the heartwood.
Things are slow at bird feeders in many areas in the midwest. There was a very good mast and wildflower crop this year, and the warm winter last year meant a lot of carryover of insects that survived the winter. Bottom line is that there is plenty of natural food out there for the peckers and other wild birds. A little further into winter and some more snow and they should hit the feeders regularly once they discover them. Out west, especially in fire ravaged areas, there is a real need for bird feeding right now as the natural food reserves are very low. Many birds have migrated out of those areas.
Nutty Butter suet (
@Oldhenlikesdogs) or any good quality suet with peanuts is good. The colder it gets, the more they will crave and need digestible fats and high calories like you get in suet, nut meats and oil seeds (sunflower, safflower). Stay away from the milo, wheat and red millet found in high percentages in many seed blends-good price but too low a nutritional value for winter subsistance. Same with bread and most table scraps as they will eat this at the expense of more nutrient rich natural foods. The birds are better off with oil sunflower rich blends or oilers alone.
