![]() The yellow-bellied, Williamson’s, and red-naped sapsuckers are also superficially similar to the downy woodpecker female, but these birds are all darker in appearance, especially when the underparts are visible.This species looks very similar but lacks the large white back patch and has more white on the side of the face. Red-cockaded woodpeckers ( Dryobates borealis) overlap with the downy woodpecker in southeastern states from Eastern Texas through Florida and north to Virginia.This species has clearly defined black and white stripes across the back. ![]() The Ladder-backed woodpecker ( Dryobates scalaris) overlaps with the downy woodpecker in states like Colorado and northern Texas.Its head is also more boldly marked with less white plumage. This species has black and white barring across the back without the large white patch. Nuttall’s woodpecker ( Dryobates nuttallii) overlaps with the downy woodpecker in California.The outer tail feathers of the downy woodpecker are also spotted in black, while they are pure white in the hairy woodpecker.Ĭheck out this article for a more in-depth look at the difference between hairy and downy woodpeckers Hairy woodpeckers are much larger than downy woodpeckers and have a proportionately much larger bill. This is probably the bird that is most likely to be confused with the female downy woodpecker. The hairy woodpecker ( Dryobates villosus) overlaps with the downy woodpecker across much of the United States and Canada. Landscapes,Kingdom: Animalia,Phylum: Chordata,Class: Aves Order: Piciformes,Family: Picidae,Genus and Species: Dryobates pubescens,Birds,Woodpeckers.Read on to learn how to tell female downy woodpeckers from some similar species. The female downy woodpecker is quite easily confused with other woodpeckers from the Dryobates genus, especially where their distributions overlap. Read on to learn more interesting facts and useful methods for identifying female downy woodpeckers out in the field.ĭistinguishing female downy woodpeckers from similar species Female downy woodpeckers are also more likely to be seen foraging for insects on the trunks of trees and other major branches.Īpart from the absence of the red nape bar, there are important behavioral clues that can help birdwatchers distinguish female downy woodpeckers from males. The easiest way to tell female downy woodpeckers from males is to look out for a red spot on the back of the head. If you have a backyard bird feeder, you might well be visited by these birds, especially if you put out suet. These busy birds are common in a variety of woody habitats and are no strangers to backyards.ĭowny woodpeckers do not migrate, so you can see them throughout the year in suitable habitats. The downy woodpecker ( Dryobates pubescens) is the smallest of the North American woodpeckers and can be seen across most of the United States and Canada. He had been banded in the same state in 1985.Can female downy woodpeckers raise young alone? The oldest known Downy Woodpecker was a male who was at least 11 years, 11 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased in 1996 during banding operations in California.Also note the small black markings on the white outer tail feathers. Focus on the bill: Downy has a very short bill, much shorter than the length of the head. Black-and-white plumage is nearly identical to the larger Hairy Woodpecker. Downy Woodpeckers have been discovered nesting inside the walls of buildings. Tiny woodpecker, common and widespread across much of North America.Feeding birds make surprisingly little noise even when they’re digging vigorously into wood. Downy woodpeckers are found throughout North America, from southeastern Alaska east to Newfoundland, extending south to southern California and Florida. Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, but they drum loudly against pieces of wood or metal to achieve the same effect.Due to their small size, the Downy Woodpecker eats foods that larger woodpeckers cannot reach, such as insects living on or in the stems of weeds.Males keep females from foraging in the more productive spots. Males feed more on small branches and weed stems, and females feed on larger branches and trunks. ![]()
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