Downy Woodpecker

Black and white checkered upperparts, white back, white underparts, and white spotting on the wings. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head, which females lack. Juveniles have similar patterns with some red on the crown.

Small size, short bill, white back, black-and-white striped head, and spots on outer tail feathers.

Length: 14-17 cm (5.5-6.7 in), Wingspan: 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in), Weight: 20-33 g (0.7-1.2 oz)

A sharp, high-pitched 'pik' call and a short, descending rattle call that speeds up and then slows down.

Insects, beetle larvae, ants, caterpillars, seeds, and berries. Forages by pecking and probing along tree bark and branches.

Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, suburban parks, and backyards with mature trees.

Permanent resident; non-migratory across its range.

Excavates a cavity in a dead tree or branch. Clutch size is typically 3-6 white eggs. Both parents incubate and feed the young.

Hairy Woodpecker. The Downy is much smaller with a significantly shorter bill relative to its head size, whereas the Hairy has a larger body and a bill almost as long as its head.

Helps control insect populations by feeding on wood-boring larvae and bark beetles. Their excavated nest cavities also provide vital homes for secondary cavity nesters.

Least Concern, with stable or increasing populations.

Frequently visits backyard suet feeders, especially during winter. Listen for their sharp 'pik' call or drumming on dead wood.

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker species in North America.