The drumming of Downy Woodpeckers is a sign
that winter is coming to an end. They can be attracted to
your backyard with suet, and seed feeders, water, and a little
landscaping.
Identification and Pictures
(Picoides pubescens)
They are the
smallest, and most common backyard woodpeckers in North
America, about 6 ½ inches. The top of the head is black and
they have a fairly small bill. The sides of the head are
white with a black mask that extends from the eye to the back
of the head.
They have a white back, and belly. The wings and
inner tail feathers are black with white patches. The outer
tail feathers are white with black patches. Males have a
red nape patch.
Photo by Keith Lee. The camera I use is
the Canon EOS
40D and a 70-300 zoom lens.
Downy woodpeckers can easily be mistaken for the larger Hairy
woodpecker, which is closer to 9 ½ inches. Both
birds were named for the feathers between the bill, and the
forehead. The Downy has a patch of downy feathers, while
the Hairy woodpecker's are more bristly. The two birds can
be distinguished by the bill size compared to their heads. The
Downy woodpecker's bill is about half the width of the head, and the
Hairy woodpecker’s bill is about the same as the width of the head.
There are others such as Ladder-backed or Nuttall’s
woodpecker that look similar. Two other woodpeckers that look
similar but are easier to distinguish from the Downy are the
Three-toed and Black-backed woodpeckers.
Song and Call
The Downy uses drumming as a call. Both sexes
drum on wood. They also give a high-pitched descending whinny
of notes as well as a sharp pick. During courtship they make
a queek-queek sound.
Note on some browsers you will not be able to see or use the
drop down sound list. If you can't use it try the sound
links below.
There are three types of pecking. Loud
rapid drumming on hollow trees can be to define a territory,
keep track of a mate, or in search of a mate. Softer
pecking is usually searching for food, and they will chip away
at trees. The third kind of pecking is cavity excavation,
and is usually done in soft or partially rotted wood.
Habitat and Range
They can be found year-round throughout most of the
U.S. and Canada. Preferred habitat is open forests, orchard,
river groves, and backyards with trees, and shrubbery.
Photo by Keith Lee. The camera I use is
the Canon EOS
40D and a 70-300 zoom lens.
Nesting and Breeding
Downy Woodpeckers breed in woodlands,
orchards, and parks with scattered trees from April to July.
Members of a pair will have separate overlapping territories
until late winter. At this time they will begin to coordinate
activities, drumming on trees. Courtship, and defending of a
territory begin in spring with behavior such as chasing in
flight, and up trees, bill waving, and loud calls.
Both birds work together to excavate a cavity 10 to 15 inches
deep with an entrance hole of about 2 ½ inches. The nest
hole will usually be in a tree trunk or limb, often on the
underside of a limb.
Both birds will incubate 3 to 6 small white glossy eggs for
around two weeks. They only have one brood but will replace
lost clutches of eggs. Both adults will feed the young, which
will climb to the entrance in around 17 days, and leave the
nest in 30 days. The young birds will rely on the adults for
another two weeks. Downy woodpeckers are generally year
round residents.
Food and Feeding
About 75 percent of their diet is animal
matter mostly of harmful insects such as beetles,
caterpillars, ants, and weevils. These friendly birds
are likely to forage for insects in trees next to your
house. they also eat
fruits, seeds, and nuts. They can be attracted to both suet,
and seed feeders. Beef suet is preferred, but they will also
come for cracked corn, sunflower seeds, doughnuts, and fruit.
Like most birds that visit backyards, food, cover, and water
will attract them. Downy Woodpeckers do not drink at birdbaths as often
as other birds so food and cover are a priority.
Hand feeding
Downy woodpeckers will eat out of your
hand. The trick is to get them used to you being by a
feeder, then hold sunflower seeds in your hand.
They are the
smallest, and most common backyard woodpeckers in North
America, about 6 ½ inches. The top of the head is black and
they have a fairly small bill. The sides of the head are
white with a black mask that extends from the eye to the back
of the head.
Like most birds that visit backyards, food, cover, and water
will attract them. Downy Woodpeckers do not drink at birdbaths as often
as other birds so food and cover are a priority.
Woodpecker posters
baths, feeders
and more...