Mate Feeding

We been watching two downy woodpeckers, one male and one female, interact. The male gets some food from the food cylinder, then meets the female and feeds her. I've not seen this before mostly cause I haven't watched closely, but apparently it is fairly common. Research I did talks about this being mating behavior, prior to the couple getting together. Also, it seems that it occurs occasionally with adults and young, though exactly why I couldn't determine. The one being fed was capable of flying and foraging for food on the tree, perhaps the food on the cylinder is too hard for her?  Anyway it's been a fascinating time!