Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Adult male
- Black above, white below; wings spotted white
- Black-and-white face
- Red patch on back of head
- Short, chisel-like bill (shorter than depth of head)
- © vidular, IL, Wheaton, October 2008
Downy Woodpecker
Adult female
- Black and white striped head
- White patch in middle of back
- Short, pointed bill
- © Ronaldok, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, December 2008
Downy Woodpecker
Juvenile
- Like adults, but with red cap
- © wreckingball34, NJ, Lake Telemark, January 2007
Downy Woodpecker
Adult male
- Red patch on back of head
- White patch in middle of black back
- White spots on black wings
- Black tail with white outer feathers; outer feathers with black bars or spots
- © Byard Miller, NH, Marlborough, June 2008
Downy Woodpecker
Adult female
- No red patch on back of head
- White outer tail feathers have black barring
- © B from Ohio, OH, January 2009
Downy Woodpecker
Adult female
- All white underparts
- Black and white striped head
- Black tail with white outer feathers; outer feathers with black bars or spots
- Short, chisel-like bill (shorter than depth of head)
- © kbuechner, January 2009
Downy Woodpecker
Juvenile
- Red cap
- © Bob Baker, VA, Greene Co, August 2007
Downy Woodpecker
Adult male
Downy Woodpecker
Adult female
- Black and white striped head
- White patch in middle of black back
- White outer tail feathers have black barring
- © ashockenberry, Ontario, Canada, September 2008
Similar Species
Adult female
- More patterned
- Black and white barred back
- White stripe on shoulder
- Red crown and forehead
- © Robert J. Baker, VA, March 2007
Adult female
- All white face and underparts
- Black crown and nape
- Blue-gray back
- Reddish brown patterned undertail
- © Matt MacGillivray, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, April 2008
Adult male
- Larger size
- Larger, longer bill (usually almost equal to the depth of the head)
- Usually no barring on white outer tail feathers
- Variation (in sexes and geographically) like Downy
- © Gary Mueller, December 2006
Adult with Hairy Woodpecker
- Larger size
- Larger, longer bill (usually almost equal to the depth of the head)
- © Nancy Loos, December 2006
Adult
- Range overlaps slightly in southwestern U.S.
- Black and white barred back
- Red crown
- © Joan Gellatly, Tucson, AZ, February 2009
Adult
- Uncommon; range overlaps in southeastern U.S.
- Black and white barred back
- White cheek, essentially no red on head
- © Gerry Dewaghe, November 2006
Adult male
- Red on hind crown (no red on female)
- Black and white barred back, black wings with white spots
- Black and white striped face
- Spotting and barring on sides and flanks
- White forehead
- © encouragement, Placer Co., CA, February 2009