Visual Search | Wizard | Browse

Bird name:

Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescensOrder: PICIFORMES Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Codes: Common Name: DOWO Scientific Name: PICPUB ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178259

Breeding Location:

Forests, coniferous, Forest edge

Breeding Type:

Monogamous

Breeding Population:

Widespread

Egg Color:

White

Number of Eggs:

3 - 7

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Both sexes

Nest Material:

Cavity lined with chips.

Migration:

Nonmigratory

General

Downy Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black-and-white upperparts and white underparts. Hindcrown patch is red. Tail is black with black-spotted white outer tail feathers. Female and juvenile are similar but without red patch on head.

Range and Habitat

Downy Woodpecker: Resident from Alaska across Canada and south throughout the U.S. except in the southwest. Preferred habitats include woodlands, parks, and gardens.

Breeding and Nesting

Downy Woodpecker: Three to seven white eggs are laid in a bare hole in a tree. Eggs are incubated for approximately 12 days by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Downy Woodpecker: Diet consists of insects and seeds; male forages higher in tree than female; feeds on suet at feeders.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Downy Woodpecker: Song is a quiet "pik"; also a descending rattle.

Similar Species

Downy Woodpecker: Hairy Woodpecker is larger, has a longer bill, and lacks spots or bars.

Percevia^® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The Percevia field guides, database and search protocol patent pending.

The best bird guide and bird watching search engine to identify birds!

Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker: The smallest woodpecker in North America. Has a white back, black nape and black wings with white spotting. Underparts are white. Face is white with black stripes. Hindcrown patch is red. Tail is black with black-spotted or barred white outer tail feathers. Bill is black and short.

● Song: "pik"

● Foraging & Feeding: Downy Woodpecker: Diet consists of insects and seeds; male forages higher in tree than female; feeds on suet at feeders.

● Breeding & nesting: Downy Woodpecker: Three to seven white eggs are laid in a bare hole in a tree. Eggs are incubated for approximately 12 days by both parents.

● Similar species: Downy Woodpecker: Hairy Woodpecker is larger, has a longer bill, and lacks spots or bars.

Flight Pattern

Rapidly beating wings., Undulating flight.

● Range & Habitat: Downy Woodpecker: Resident from Alaska across Canada and south throughout the U.S. except in the southwest. Preferred habitats include woodlands, parks, and gardens.

^BreedingMonogamous

^PopulationWidespread

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight1 Ounces

Underparts

Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.

Upperparts

Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.

Outer tail feathers

The tail feathers farthest from the center.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Downy Woodpecker

Breeding Location:

Breeding Type:

Breeding Population:

Egg Color:

Number of Eggs:

Incubation Days:

Egg Incubator:

Nest Material:

Migration:

Recommended Products:

General

Range and Habitat

Breeding and Nesting

Foraging and Feeding

Readily Eats

Vocalization

Similar Species

Downy Woodpecker

Flight Pattern