Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 6 minutes ago
A familiar sight at backyard feeders, the Downy is the smallest North American woodpecker. Belonging to the Picidae family, with an estimated global breeding population of 14 million, measuring roughly 5.5-6.5 in (14-17 cm) and weighing close to one ounce (21-28 g) this black and white bird with a kind of checkered pattern in the wings can be found in most of the United States and Canada.
Some mistake the Downy for a Hairy Woodpecker but if you look closely there are many differences to learn. One of the wonderful things about these little darlings is that they are more than happy to take advantage of feeders with suet, delighting people as they watch them enjoying some lunch. Downys also like black oil sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, and chunky peanut butter. Sometimes they’ll even take a sip from an oriole or hummingbird feeder. Some of their most notable calls are the Whinny Call and Pic note call
Timestamps:
0:00 Start
0:30 Population numbers
0:44 Appearance, Male and Female
1:16 Range, Location
1:59 Difference between Hairy and Downy Woodpecker
2:44 Reginal differences in the west
3:02 Habitat and where to find them
3:28 What they eat and type of bird feeder
4:38 Drumming
5:49 Calls and Sounds ( Whinny/whinnying call) (Pic/pick note call)
6:09 Breeding, Nesting, Brood, Incubation, Nest Box
8:00 Behaviors
8:35 How long they can live
8:56 Conclusion and my own thoughts
Hairy Woodpecker drumming produced by Ottawa County Parks (Michigan) and OvenBirder98/
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCWfFtaMikTlbdxil2HY_1KQ/featured
Website: miottawa.org/Parks/birding.htm
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=6LP0ngTKZqE
Song - Castleshire - Chris Haugen via YouTube Audio Library
Photos/videos and audio from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video and /or found below (license at the end)
Thumbnail:
Downy Woodpecker portion of thumbnail taken by "Photosbyjimn" from canva.com/pro
The original background was removed and changed to trees also the bird was flipped horizontally.
Whinny call
William Whitehead, XC590054. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/590054
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Pic call
Paul Marvin, XC460829. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/460829
Clip was shortened to use end section only
Begging Calls
Elias Aristides Elias, XC246331. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/246331
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Back yard by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Park bridge by diego_torres from Pixabay
Orchard by Janelle Schindler from Pixabay
Woodland by James Owen from Pexels
Flowing Brook by Erik Mclean from Pexels
Berries by MatteoDestefano from Canva.com/pro
Corn grain by Branex from Canva.com/pro
Acorns by Serpantin from Canva.com.pro
Insect damaged wood by filin72 from Canva.com/pro
Chickadee by LesleytheBirdNerd
Nuthatch by LesleytheBirdNerd
Titmouse by Skyler Ewing from Pexels
Canva.com
canva.com/policies/free-media
Pexels.com
pexels.com/license
Pixabay.com
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Pixnio.com
pixnio.com/creative-commons-license
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If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
============================================
For business inquiries or Post Office Box information
please contact Jamie at lesleythebirdnerd@gmail.com
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#LesleytheBirdNerd #DownyWoodpecker
A familiar sight at backyard feeders, the Downy is the smallest North American woodpecker. Belonging to the Picidae family, with an estimated global breeding population of 14 million, measuring roughly 5.5-6.5 in (14-17 cm) and weighing close to one ounce (21-28 g) this black and white bird with a kind of checkered pattern in the wings can be found in most of the United States and Canada.
Some mistake the Downy for a Hairy Woodpecker but if you look closely there are many differences to learn. One of the wonderful things about these little darlings is that they are more than happy to take advantage of feeders with suet, delighting people as they watch them enjoying some lunch. Downys also like black oil sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, and chunky peanut butter. Sometimes they’ll even take a sip from an oriole or hummingbird feeder. Some of their most notable calls are the Whinny Call and Pic note call
Timestamps:
0:00 Start
0:30 Population numbers
0:44 Appearance, Male and Female
1:16 Range, Location
1:59 Difference between Hairy and Downy Woodpecker
2:44 Reginal differences in the west
3:02 Habitat and where to find them
3:28 What they eat and type of bird feeder
4:38 Drumming
5:49 Calls and Sounds ( Whinny/whinnying call) (Pic/pick note call)
6:09 Breeding, Nesting, Brood, Incubation, Nest Box
8:00 Behaviors
8:35 How long they can live
8:56 Conclusion and my own thoughts
Hairy Woodpecker drumming produced by Ottawa County Parks (Michigan) and OvenBirder98/
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCWfFtaMikTlbdxil2HY_1KQ/featured
Website: miottawa.org/Parks/birding.htm
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=6LP0ngTKZqE
Song - Castleshire - Chris Haugen via YouTube Audio Library
Photos/videos and audio from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video and /or found below (license at the end)
Thumbnail:
Downy Woodpecker portion of thumbnail taken by "Photosbyjimn" from canva.com/pro
The original background was removed and changed to trees also the bird was flipped horizontally.
Whinny call
William Whitehead, XC590054. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/590054
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Pic call
Paul Marvin, XC460829. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/460829
Clip was shortened to use end section only
Begging Calls
Elias Aristides Elias, XC246331. Accessible at xeno-canto.org/246331
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Back yard by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Park bridge by diego_torres from Pixabay
Orchard by Janelle Schindler from Pixabay
Woodland by James Owen from Pexels
Flowing Brook by Erik Mclean from Pexels
Berries by MatteoDestefano from Canva.com/pro
Corn grain by Branex from Canva.com/pro
Acorns by Serpantin from Canva.com.pro
Insect damaged wood by filin72 from Canva.com/pro
Chickadee by LesleytheBirdNerd
Nuthatch by LesleytheBirdNerd
Titmouse by Skyler Ewing from Pexels
Canva.com
canva.com/policies/free-media
Pexels.com
pexels.com/license
Pixabay.com
pixabay.com/service/terms/#license
Pixnio.com
pixnio.com/creative-commons-license
Other ways to Support LesleytheBirdNerd
-----------------------------
Merchandise from Spring.com
teespring.com/stores/lesleythebirdnerd
Merchandise from Bonfire.com bonfire.com/store/lesleythebirdnerd
Donate via Paypal
paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=E5GM54J7C28LC
Also, find LesleytheBirdNerd here:
------------------------------------
Facebook Page
facebook.com/LesleytheBirdNerd
instagram.com/lesleythebirdnerd
reddit.com/r/LesleytheBirdNerd
============================================
If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
============================================
For business inquiries or Post Office Box information
please contact Jamie at lesleythebirdnerd@gmail.com
==============================================
#LesleytheBirdNerd #DownyWoodpecker
