Downy Woodpecker

A small, iconic woodpecker about 6 inches long. It has a white back, white underparts, and black wings with white spotting. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. It is nearly identical in plumage to the larger Hairy Woodpecker.

Deep black (melanic) base color with distinctive, bold white oval or rectangular spots/windows on the inner and outer vanes. These spots align with other feathers to create a 'checkered' appearance on the wing.

Mainly pennaceous and tightly interlocked for flight efficiency. The base features a small amount of plumulaceous (downy) barbs near the superior umbilicus for insulation.

The surface is semi-glossy and smooth. The vane is relatively stiff and crisp to the touch, providing the necessary rigidity for the rapid wingbeats of a small bird.

Small size, bold white spots on a black background, and sharp asymmetry of the vanes. The spots do not reach the rachis on all barbs, creating a 'ladder' effect.

Deciduous forests, woodlots, orchards, parks, and suburban backyards. They are particularly fond of edge habitats and stands containing dead wood.

Resident throughout most of North America, from south-central Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, and south throughout the United States to the Gulf Coast and Florida.

Insectivore that controls tree-boring beetle populations. They are also 'primary cavity nesters,' creating holes that are later recycled by other birds and mammals.

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) - feathers are much larger (5-7 inches). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - patterns are more linear/streaky rather than distinct oval spots.

Downy Woodpeckers use their stiff tail feathers as a third leg (kickstand) to prop themselves up against tree trunks while drumming or foraging. They are also known to eat more insects within plant galls than other woodpeckers.

Good to Fair. There is some minor fraying and separation of the barbs (splits) near the tip and mid-vane, likely due to natural wear or impact during molting.