Downy Woodpcker

Male Female

The Downy Woodpecker common throughout North America and it is known to be a regular at back yard suet feeders. Downy Woodpecker makes their home in cavities of dying or decaying trees trunks or limbs. These cavities are excavated by both male and female and lined with wood chips and may take up to two weeks or longer to construct.

Downy Woodpecker have a unmarked white belly and back, white-barred with black wings, have a black eye line and crown. Its bill is short and stubby , tail is mostly black spotted with white outer tail feathers. Features of the male are a small red patch on the back of head, as for the female she lacks the red patch.

Other than being attracted suet feeders Downy Woodpecker feast on insects and their eggs, cocoons, larvae and also been known to eat nuts and seeds.

Sometimes confused with its close relative the Hairy Woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker is smaller by 2 inches and is considered dainty because of its relative smaller size. Just like the Hairy Woodpecker the Downy is designed to peck away at trees with its bill. To help cushion its skull from the constant hammering the Downy Woodpecker has a strong bill along with strong neck muscles, a reinforced skull that is flexible and its brain is tightly packed in its protective cranium. What is shared by other woodpeckers is it ‘s feathered nostrils, what is also known as a filter system to help prevent breathing in of saw dust as they peck.

Downy prefers wooded environment, deciduous and mixed forest, also areas with tall deciduous shrubs. Hairy Woodpecker have been known to make home in less wooded areas or conifer-dominated, but this is rare.

Last the Downy Woodpecker has a long unbroken trill, its pik or ki-ki-ki-ki is sharp or a whiny queek queek.

March 11, 2026 at 8:56 pm | Backyard Birds, Birds | No comment