Dryobates pubescens
America’s most common woodpecker is also its smallest. The boldly marked Downy Woodpecker is a familiar little bird of forests, woodlands, and backyards across the United States and Canada.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker female
Downy Woodpecker fledgling
Downy Woodpecker foraging in woodland
Female Downy Woodpecker sitting on a fallen branch during the winter
Downy Woodpeckers are small woodpeckers with short, straight bills and contrasting black and white plumage. They are pure white to grayish brown below and on their back. Their wings are black, with numerous small white spots, and their head is boldly striped in black and white.
Their tail is also black but bordered with white outer feathers (rectrices). These outer feathers are spotted, which is a helpful identifying feature visible when birds are perched or seen in their characteristic dipping or undulating flight path. Their eyes and bills are black and their legs are gray.
Male and female Downy Woodpeckers are similar but easily identified if you get a good look at their head. Males have a bright red spot on the nape, while females have an all-black cap and nape.
Juveniles are similar to adults but have duller plumage. Again, looking at the head is the best way to identify young birds. Juveniles of both sexes have a red cap, unlike adult males that have a red nape, and adult females that have no red markings at all.
The Downy Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Hairy Woodpecker, but that species is much larger (more than double the weight) and has a longer bill. Check out this in-depth comparison guide for more information on telling them apart.
Downy Woodpecker Male
Downy Woodpecker Female
Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest member of their family in North America. Males and females are similar in size.
Most adults measure about 5½ to 6⅔ inches or 14 to 17 centimeters.
These birds weigh ¾ to one ounce or 21 to 28 grams.
Their typical wingspan is approximately 10 to 12 inches or 30 to 35 centimeters.
Downy Woodpecker foraging on tree bark for insects
Downy Woodpeckers make a sharp ‘Pik’ call, either singly, at long intervals, or in a rapid series that speeds toward the end. Both sexes also drum rapidly.
Downy Woodpecker sitting on a branch calling
Downy Woodpeckers are mostly insectivorous, although they will take seeds, berries, and acorns. Their favorite prey is ants, beetle grubs, and caterpillars which they find in soft wood, under bark, on tree trunks and foliage, and occasionally, on the ground. These birds are regular visitors to well-stocked bird feeders where they enjoy suet, peanut butter, and sunflower seeds.
Read this complete guide for more information on the Downy Woodpecker diet.
Downy Woodpecker chicks eat insects supplied by both parents.
Downy Woodpecker feeding his young
Downy Woodpeckers prefer deciduous forests and woodlands, although they are adaptable and can be found in parks, backyards, orchards, and other human-altered environments.
Downy Woodpeckers are restricted to North America, where they are widespread from Alaska to Canada’s Maritime Provinces and south through the Contiguous United States to Florida in the Southeast and coastal California in the Southwest. They do not occur in Mexico.
Downy Woodpeckers spend most of their lives in trees and other tall vegetation. They are expert climbers that use their specialized zygodactyl feet to cling to tree bark, easily hanging upside down. These birds also descend to the ground to forage, bathe, and drink.
Downy Woodpeckers are the most numerous woodpeckers across much of their range. They are common birds in suitable habitats and regular backyard visitors.
Downy Woodpecker in natural woodland habitat
This species occurs year-round in every state in the Continental US, including the south of Alaska. However, they are absent from parts of the Southwest, including western California, Arizona, New Mexico, and eastern Texas.
Look and listen out for Downy Woodpeckers everywhere from deciduous woodlands in wilderness areas to city parks and backyards. American birdwatchers can also encourage these birds by putting out their favorite foods and a bird bath.
Downy Woodpeckers occur in suitable habitats in every province and territory in Canada except for Nunavut.
Downy Woodpecker, female, feeding on sunflower seeds
Downy Woodpeckers have been known to live for over eleven years, although their average lifespan is just a few years.
Many small predators will take Downy Woodpeckers if given the chance, although adults are most vulnerable to small birds of prey like Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks. Domestic cats are also a potential threat to low-foraging birds. Their eggs and chicks are safe from most large predators, although snakes and squirrels may access their nests.
Downy Woodpeckers are a protected species in the United States and Canada.
Downy Woodpeckers are a common and secure species with a ‘Least Concern’ status on the IUCN Red List.
Downy Woodpeckers male (left) and female (right) feeding from a garden feeder
Downy Woodpeckers nest in cavities excavated in trees. They do not build a nest at the end of the tunnel, although wood chips create a soft bed for their eggs and chicks.
These birds prefer dead trees or dead branches of living trees that are easier to work, and they will nest anywhere from three to sixty feet above the ground. Both partners work together to build the nest, which usually takes one to three weeks.
Downy Woodpeckers nest in spring and summer between March and July. They produce a single clutch of eggs which hatch after about twelve days. The young birds leave the nest some three weeks later but continue to rely on their parents for several weeks after fledging.
Check out this article for much more on Downy Woodpecker nesting.
Downy Woodpeckers lay three to eight plain white eggs, each measuring about ¾ inches long and ⅗ inches wide (19 x 15 mm).
Downy Woodpeckers are monogamous in the breeding season, although they may pair up with different partners in their lifetime. Some pairs will remain together throughout the year or reunite before the following nesting season.
Downy Woodpecker excavating nest cavity
Downy Woodpecker feeding his young at the nest
Downy Woodpeckers are very aggressive in the breeding season and do not tolerate other members of their species near their nest. They respond by displaying, calling, drumming, and even physically attacking the intruder if necessary.
Downy Woodpeckers sleep in holes that they drill into trees. They may also use nest boxes or drill their holes into buildings.
Downy Woodpecker looking out from its nest hole
Downy Woodpeckers are primarily sedentary, although birds from the far north of their range may undertake irregular southward winter movements in some years.
Downy Woodpeckers are native to the United States. Each of the seven known subspecies occurs at least partially in the USA.
Downy Woodpecker feeding on suet from a garden feeder
Birdwatchers can attract Downy Woodpeckers by hanging out suet cage feeders. They will also visit other bird feeders to snack on oily, energy-rich foods like peanut butter and sunflower seeds. A native woodland-style garden will also attract these entertaining birds, along with many songbird species.
Downy Woodpeckers forage on a wide variety of trees, although they definitely prefer deciduous species over conifers. They are commonly seen feeding and nesting in trees like maples, willows, aspens, beeches, cottonwoods, and birch trees.
Downy Woodpeckers usually do not harm trees. They prefer to excavate nesting and roosting chambers in trees that are already dead or on limbs that are dead or dying from fungal infections.
Downy Woodpeckers are regular visitors to bird feeders in backyards across North America. They feed from various feeder styles but are best adapted to hang from suet feeders and mesh tube feeders.
Downy Woodpeckers have a sweet tooth. These birds are known to feed on nectar from hummingbird feeders, but only if there’s a spot for them to cling or perch.
Unfortunately, Downy Woodpeckers are known to peck on houses for various reasons, including:
Downy Woodpeckers drill holes to make a cozy chamber for nesting or sleeping at night. They also peck to make noise because timber walls provide a resonant surface for attracting a mate or deterring other woodpeckers in the area. Lastly, woodpeckers might peck on rotten or untreated timber to access woodboring beetle larvae living in the wood.
Length:
14cm to 17cm
Wingspan:
25cm to 30cm
Weight:
21g to 28g
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