![]() ![]() As with other woodpeckers, it makes very little noise when digging into wood when feeding or nest-building the drumming sound characteristic of woodpeckers instead plays a role in communication. This is an acrobatic species, and may be seen hanging upside down on tree trunks or branches as it foragesįor insects, seeds, and berries. Other woodpeckers with similar colouring, which are mostly not found on the Central Coast, lack the bold white back stripe of the downy and hairy woodpeckers. Click here for a more detailed comparison. Size along with a longer bill and pure white (not barred or spotted) outer tail feathers are its main differentiating characteristics. The hairy woodpecker ( Picoides villosus) is a very similar-looking but larger bird with an almost identical range. It is found year-round throughout much of North America, excluding some areas of northern Canada, northern Alaska, and the southernmost United States as well as Mexico.įind more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas here. Although downy and hairy woodpeckers share some of the same. In winter it may be spotted in mixed flocks with other bird species like chickadees and nuthatches. Observe Habitat Preferences Consider the habitat when comparing a downy vs hairy woodpecker. The downy woodpecker is commonly seen at backyard feeders, in parks and orchards, and in open forests and weedy or shrubby forest edges. Click here to listen to the downy woodpecker's high-pitched call. At 14 to 17 cm long this species is the smallest woodpecker in North America. The white underparts and back stripe is more pale greyish-brown on birds found on the Central Coast and other areas of the Pacific Northwest. Its head bears bold black and white stripes, and males have a bright red patch at the back of the head. ![]() Its undersides are all white, and its tail is black but bordered with white feathers barred or spotted with black. Identifying each bird by their call is another way to tell the difference between a Downy and a Hairy. Its black back is marked by a wide white stripe, while its black wings are checked with white bars. The downy woodpecker is a small black and white woodpecker with a short chisel-like bill that looks a bit too small for its head size. ![]()
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