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Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Interesting and Fun Facts: The Downy will join with flocks of chickadees and nuthatches; they do not sing songs with the other birds, but will drum for the same effect. It may not sing, but does have a "pik" call and a "kee-kee-kee-kee."
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides |
Audio for Species
Call
Song
from Macaulay Library |
Species Related Links
Additional Downy Woodpecker Pictures
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Female
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Description
Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm) Weight: 0.7-1 oz (21-28 g) Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in (25-30 cm)
The Downy is smaller and has a shorter beak than it's lookalike, the Hairy. Black wings, shoulders and upper parts with white spots.The tail is black with the outer tail feathers being white with black spots. The Downy has a broad white stripe down the middle of the back, and the belly, throat and chin are white. The head stripped with black and white. The male supports a bright red marking on the back of their head.
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Male
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Habitat, Range, and Feeding
Their habitat is open woodlands, particularly deciduous woods and along streams. They nest in dead trees or in dead parts of live trees; both mates excavate and build the nest, that can take three weeks. The clutch size is 3 to 8 eggs, that are completely white.
Donwys eat mostly insects, but love suet and sunflower seeds. They are good for farmers in that they feast on pest insects like, corn earworm, tent caterpillars, and apple borers.
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Bird Page Created By: Don Wallac. Photography: © 2011 Don Wallace
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Railroad Bridge Park, 2151 West Hendrickson
Road, PO Box 2450, Sequim, WA 98382
360-681-4076 - rivercenter@olympus.net |
| Web Development Don Wallace |
