photographs by Douglas Herr - Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

order Piciformes

family Picidae: woodpeckers

Downy Woodpecker #24, Sacramento County California 08 February 2024

Downy Woodpecker #23, Sacramento County California 30 December 2023

Downy Woodpecker #22, Sacramento County California 07 July 2023

Downy Woodpecker #21, Essex County Ontario 05 May 2023

Downy Woodpecker #20, Essex County Ontario 07 May 2023

Downy Woodpecker #18, Sacramento County California 27 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #17, Sacramento County California 27 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #16, Sacramento County California 18 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #15, Sacramento County California 18 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #14, Sacramento County California 17 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #13, Sacramento County California 17 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #12, Sacramento County California 17 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #11, Sacramento County California 07 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #10, Sacramento County California 07 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #09, Sacramento County California 07 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #08, Sacramento County California 07 March 2023

Downy Woodpecker #07, Sacramento County California 07 March 2023

Field identification tips: The Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a familiar sight in many suburban yards in North America north of Mexico. The bold white blaze on the back helps identify this species, a field mark shared with the Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus. Distinguishing D. pubescens from D. villosus can be tricky because their apperance is very similar. D. pubescens is a smaller bird, barely larger than a chickadee or nuthatch. This species also has a proportionally smaller bill, not quite as long as the bird's head, and dark spots can often be seen on the white outer tail feathers while D. villosus is larger, about the size of the American Robin, has a bill nearly as long as its head, and un-spotted white outer tail feathers. Males of both D. pubescens and D. villosus have a red spot on the nape. In the western part of D. pubescens' range the breast plumage is cinnamon-colored vs. white in eastern birds.

Typical range: This bird is a year-round resident over much of North America, north of Mexico.

Habitat: D. pubescens is found primarily in deciduous open woodlands, including orchards, parks, and suburban yards. This bird may also take advantage of wooden fence posts to breed, feeding in nearby tall weeds.

last updated 28 November 2024