Bird · GBIF taxon 9149595
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescensDowny woodpeckers hitch up tree trunks and branches in search of wood-boring insects, drumming softly against bark to loosen grubs. In winter, these nimble foragers frequently join mixed flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, roosting in cozy tree cavities during freezing nights. Males display a tiny crimson patch on the back of the head, easily distinguishing them from females.
WoodpeckerInsectivoreCavity Nester
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetle Larvae
- Ants
- Caterpillars
Predators
- Hawks
- Owls
- Snakes
ThreatsHabitat clearing, dead wood removal, pesticide exposure
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mixed woodlands, suburban parks, orchards
Life span2 to 5 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPiciformes
- FamilyPicidae
- GenusDryobates
- SpeciesDryobates pubescens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeder Attraction: Hang suet cages or peanut feeders near trees to invite these lively acrobats into your yard.
- Listening Cues: Identify their presence by listening for a short pik call accompanied by a fast, light drumming sequence.
Look-Alike (c) CK2AZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK2AZ · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Frequent Companion No machine-readable author provided. Mdf assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) John Rosford, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Co-Occurring Relative "Red bellied Woodpecker" by Manjith Kainickara *manjithkaini.net* is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
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