Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryobates
Species: Dryobates pubescens

Introduction

The Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) is a small woodpecker that is about 17 centimeters long, has a wingspan of 30 centimeters, and weighs roughly 27 grams (Sibley, 2016). When looking at them from their back they have black “W” shaped rectrices, black wings with white dots, white rectangle back patch, black auriculars that meet on their neck, white nape, and a distinguishable red patch between the nape and black crown. From their underside they have a crissum, flanks, belly, and throat are a light gray. The under rectrices feathers (these would be displayed as the outer rectrices in flight) are white with thin black bands.

The Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) are very similar in their looks unless they are seen next to each other. A few ways that you can tell them apart is through body and bill size. The Downy Woodpecker is smaller in overall size than the Hairy Woodpecker. The bill for the Hairy Woodpecker is the same size as its head or slightly larger were the Downy Woodpecker has a bill that is smaller than its head.

Here is a comparison of the two. With the Hairy Woodpecker on the left and the Downy Woodpecker on the right.

Photos taken by me (Brandie Horn) located at a bird feeder in her backyard taken 2019 FEB.

Distribution
Habitat
Food Habits
Sounds
Behavior
Literature Cited
Population Trends and Conservation Issues
About the Author