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GALLERIES > BIRDS > PICIFORMES > PICIDAE > DOWNY WOODPECKER [Picoides pubescens]    [plot on map]


Downy Woodpecker Image @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Venice, CA
GPS: 34.0N, -118.5W, elev=27' MAP
Date: February 10, 2018
ID : B13K5778 [4896 x 3264]

bird photography

Downy Woodpecker Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: North Chagrin Park, Willoughby Hills, OH
GPS: 41.6N, -81.4W, elev=895' MAP
Date: January 12, 2009
ID : 7C2V3599 [3888 x 2592]

Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: North Chagrin Park, Willoughby Hills, OH
GPS: 41.6N, -81.4W, elev=895' MAP
Date: January 12, 2009
ID : 7C2V3490 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Chagrin River Park, OH
GPS: 41.7N, -81.4W, elev=594' MAP
Date: May 9, 2012
ID : B13K7173 [4896 x 3264]

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Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Chagrin River Park, OH
GPS: 41.7N, -81.4W, elev=594' MAP
Date: May 9, 2012
ID : B13K7148 [4896 x 3264]

nature photography

Downy Woodpecker Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Chagrin River Park, OH
GPS: 41.7N, -81.4W, elev=594' MAP
Date: May 28, 2009
ID : 7C2V8242 [3888 x 2592]

Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Chagrin River Park, OH
GPS: 41.7N, -81.4W, elev=594' MAP
Date: May 28, 2009
ID : 7C2V8254 [3888 x 2592]

nature photography

Downy Woodpecker Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: Magee Marsh (Crane Creek), OH
GPS: 41.6N, -83.2W, elev=573' MAP
Date: May 3, 2008
ID : 9903 [3888 x 2592]

Downy Woodpecker Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: El Dorado Park, Long Beach
GPS: 33.8N, -118.1W, elev=29' MAP
Date: October 25, 2007
ID : 6800 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: El Dorado Park, Long Beach
GPS: 33.8N, -118.1W, elev=29' MAP
Date: October 25, 2007
ID : 6799 [3888 x 2592]

Downy Woodpecker Photo @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: El Dorado Park, Long Beach
GPS: 33.8N, -118.1W, elev=29' MAP
Date: October 25, 2007
ID : 6792 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

Downy Woodpecker Picture @ Kiwifoto.com
 
 
Location: El Dorado Park, Long Beach
GPS: 33.8N, -118.1W, elev=29' MAP
Date: October 25, 2007
ID : 6796 [3888 x 2592]

bird photography

SPECIES INFO

The Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens, is the smallest woodpecker in North America. Adults are mainly black on the upper parts and wings, with a white back, throat and belly and white spotting on the wings. There is a white bar above and below the eye. They have a black tail with white outer feathers barred with black. Adult males have a red patch on the back of the head.

It is virtually identical in plumage pattern to the much larger Hairy Woodpecker. These species are not closely related at all, and they will certainly soon be separated in different genera (Weibel & Moore, 2005; Moore et al., 2006); the outward similarity is a spectacular example of convergent evolution. Why this is so cannot be explained with confidence; it certainly is interesting to note that the species exploit rather differently-sized foodstuffs and generally do not compete very much ecologically.

Their breeding habitat is forested areas, mainly deciduous, across most of North America to Central America. They nest in a tree cavity, excavated by the nesting pair in a dead tree or limb. The Downy Woodpecker can also be found east of Newfoundland and Labrador, on the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

These birds are mostly permanent residents. Northern birds may migrate further south; birds in mountainous areas may move to lower elevations. Downy Woodpeckers roost in tree cavities in the winter.

Downy Woodpeckers forage on trees, picking the bark surface in summer and digging deeper in winter. They mainly eat insects, also seeds and berries. In winter, especially, Downy Woodpeckers can often be found in treed suburban backyards and will feed on suet at birdfeeders.




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downy_woodpecker's Range Map Click here to see the Downy Woodpecker's range map!
Listen to the Downy Woodpecker Song:



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