DOWNY WOODPECKER VS HAIRY WOODPECKER HOW TO
DOWNY WOODPECKER VS HAIRY WOODPECKER PATCH

These can be fed in an open tray feeder or even a window feeder for up-close bird viewing. Peanuts and black oil sunflower are also favorites of the Downy Woodpecker. As with other woodpeckers and insect eating birds, suet is a safe bet when trying to attract these checkered visitors. Suet feeders with extended bases provide space for these bottom-heavy birds to prop their tail for comfortable feeding, much like they would naturally on the trunk of a tree. These small woodpeckers can be found in open woodlands and also frequent orchards, vacant lots, city parks, and backyards making them quite common at feeders. Right: Male Downy WoodpeckerĪttracting Downy Woodpeckers to your feeder:

DOWNY WOODPECKER VS HAIRY WOODPECKER PATCH

Males are easily differentiated by a bold red patch on the back of their heads.

The center of the tail is black, outlined by white border feathers that are typically lightly speckled with black spots. Sporting a black and white checkered appearance, both males and females have a white underside, black upper wing and checkered lower wings with a boldly striped face and white stripe down the center of the back. Compared to other woodpeckers, the Downy Woodpecker's bill is significantly smaller in relation to its head, however it is still a forceful tool for extracting insects from trees.

DOWNY WOODPECKER VS HAIRY WOODPECKER HOW TO

They will be even more fun to watch now that you know how to tell them apart.Ranging from 5.5 to 6.7 inches in length and featuring a straight, chisel-like bill, blocky head, and wide shoulders, the Downy Woodpecker is a small version of the standard woodpecker build. So put up a suet feeder and enjoy the company of these beautiful, resourceful, and beneficial birds.

They tolerate our presence well and are easy to attract if you have trees. Downys are the most common woodpecker in Wisconsin occurring in about twice the numbers as Hairys and the population numbers of both species appear stable. Male Downy Woodpecker, courtesy of Cathy Carnes.Īccording to Alan Haney’s wonderful bird book, Jewels of Nature, the Downy and Hairy are the only two species of woodpeckers found in all 49 states of the continental U.S. When excited both species may produce a wing noise in flight – a brr in the Hairy and wing ruffle in the Downy.įemale Hairy Woodpecker, courtesy of Joel Trick. This is also why woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects – to be heard! Drumming may be done to establish and defend a territory, as part of courtship and mating, to attract a mate, or in response to an intruder. The stout bills of both sexes of the two species are also used to drum on trees as a means of communication – like a bird song. Cavity trees (trees with holes in their trunks) provide food and nesting sites for woodpeckers, a good reason to keep old trees standing. Woodpeckers like these help control insect pests such as bark beetles and codling moths in orchards. They also enjoy the suet and sunflower seeds in backyard feeders and the smaller Downy may feed at hummingbird and oriole feeders as well. About one fourth of their diet is plant material e.g., berries, acorns, and grains. The Downy’s pik, and whinny (downward descending call) are softer and higher pitched than that of the peek and slurred whinny of the Hairy.Īccording to TheCornellLab, “All About Birds” website, both species use their chisel like bill to secure meals, eating mainly insects like beetle larvae that live inside wood or tree bark as well as ants and caterpillars. Also, if you look close, you can see that the Downy has black bars on its white tail feathers, while the Hairy does not. The male of both species sports a red spot on the top of the head the female does not. Consulting the Field Guide, the two species are a study in black and white they have white backs and breasts and their black wing feathers are speckled with white spots and bars.

Downy woodpecker vs hairy woodpecker