Downy Woodpecker Photo Gallery
Male (Eastern)
Small with a short bill. White below, upperparts mostly black with a white back and bold white spots in the wings. Head striped black and white, with a red nape. Note spotting on white outer tail feathers.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, February 02, 2017Male (Pacific)
Birds along the Pacific coast are dingy brownish-gray below.
© Grace Oliver | Macaulay LibraryWashington, February 05, 2017Female (Eastern)
Picks and probes bark for insects and larvae.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArkansas, July 20, 2004Not all videos have soundFemale (Pacific)
Birds along the Pacific coast are dingy brownish-gray below. Females lack the red spot on the nape.
© John F. Gatchet | Macaulay LibraryWashington, March 08, 2017Female (Eastern)
Males and females drum steadily on trees to defend their territory, attract mates, or maintain contact with their mate.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryArkansas, March 14, 2005Not all videos have soundJuvenile
Juveniles have red feathering on the cap.
© Jay Langford | Macaulay LibraryUtah, July 18, 2016Female (Pacific)
White outer tail feathers with some black spots.
© Ryan Merrill | Macaulay LibraryWashington, November 09, 2016Male (Eastern)
Common visitor to backyard bird feeders, especially suet feeders.
© Matthew D. Medler | Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 29, 2014Not all videos have soundMale (Eastern)
Will sometimes perch on branches like a songbird, and occurs in a wide variety of wooded habitats.
© Matthew Plante | Macaulay LibraryOhio, November 26, 2020Adult male and juvenile
Males and females feed their young up to 3 weeks after they leave the nest.
© DAVID BROWN | Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 01, 2004Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)
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