![]() ![]() These two different species are dressed in nearly identical outfits. But for some reason, there was a total lack of imagination when the Hairy and Downy were invented. Of our state’s seven species of resident woodpeckers, five species (Red-Headed, Red-bellied, Pileated, Northern Flicker and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) look nothing alike and could easily be picked out of a lineup. This is probably more info about our woodpecker history than you wanted to know, but when you write your eventual doctorial thesis on this very topic, you’ll thank me. This has resulted in the re-growth of the forests and the return of woodpeckers. In reality, woodpeckers don’t much care for pastures, green or otherwise.) In more recent times, farming and lumbering have become less important to the local economy. (BTW, Ethan, “greener pastures” is just an expression old people use. They were eventually forced to leave the Bay State for greener pastures. Without trees, woodpeckers had nothing to peck on. Early settlers had cut down all the forests for lumber or to create farmland. A few centuries ago, trees, and therefore woodpeckers, were in short supply. Conversely, if you aren’t a woodpecker fan, you might want to travel back to the Colonial era. Are the kids in fifth grade still wearing paisley shirts? I’m sure they are, because that’s one fashion that will never go out of style…at least it hasn’t for me.Īnyone who likes woodpeckers is living in the right time period. Since you weren’t even alive when I first wrote about Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, I’ve decided to write you a fresh column. ![]() That’s before you were born and back when I was in the fifth grade…or not. After checking my files, it turned out that I actually wrote that particular column in 2002, sixteen years ago. But then I discovered my idea of “recently” was a bit off. When I first received your note I was simply going to send you a copy of a column that I had recently written on this very topic. I’m not sure which one we have in our yard. Right now my biggest challenge is trying to identify a Downy Woodpecker from a Hairy Woodpecker. ![]() 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.I’m a new bird watcher who is particularly interested in woodpeckers.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.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. Can female downy woodpeckers raise young alone? ![]()
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