Downy Woodpecker - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

ORDER: Piciformes
FAMILY: Picidae (Woodpeckers - 23 Species)
SPECIES: Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a common visitor to the bird feeders. The majority of downy woodpeckers throughout the geographic range are year-round residents.
SIZE	The Downy is the smallest (6")Woodpecker in North America. It similar to a Hairy Woodpecker, but much smaller and less aggressive.
DESCRIPTION	The Downy Woodpecker has a black head with a white stripe above and below the eye and a small black bill. The Downy has black-and-white upperparts with a white stripe down the back and white underparts. The tail is black with a white outer tail feathers, barred with black. The male has a red patch on the back of his head. Female and juvenile are similar but without the red patch on head.
NESTING	Clutch size ranges from 3-6 eggs, which are incubated in 12 to 14 days. Both male and female excavate a nest cavity together, usually in a dead tree or fence post and both incubate the eggs.
SPECIAL	Most all woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet, that is feet with two toes forward and two backward. This helps woodpeckers grasp tightly onto the side of the tree. This along with their stiff, spiny tail feathers gives them the balance and climbing ability required to maneuver swiftly around trees. Most songbirds have three toes forward and one backward. Exceptions to woodpeckers with four toes are the American Three-toed Woodpecker and the Black-backed Woodpecker.
RANGE	Reside throughout most of North America from Alaska across Canada and south throughout the U.S. except in the southwest.
HABITAT	The Downy Woodpecker Preferred habitats include open deciduous forests and woodlands, parks, and gardens.
DIET	The Downy Woodpecker use its bill to dig into the tree bark to find food like insects, beetles, wasps, moths and larvae. It also eats berries, sunflower seeds, grains and suet.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Downy Woodpecker

Groton Township Tompkins County, New York


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Downy Woodpecker Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes