![]() Both species only lay eggs once a year with 3-6 eggs for the Downies and 3-8 for the Hairies. Both species use the woodchips that come from pecking to line their nests to cushion the eggs. The Downies nests are slightly smaller than the Hairies. ![]() They both prefer an angled branch with the entrance on the lower side to keep flying squirrels and sapsuckers from using their nests. Both woodpeckers look for trees that have a fungus or rot problem, making it easier for them to peck out their nest holes. Diet: Mostly insects, including beetles and their larvae, wood-boring ants, caterpillars, and scale insects spiders some seeds and berries. Downies nest in trees, tall weeds or in fencerows. Length: 5.8 - 6.5' Habitat: Deciduous and mixed woodlands (favors bottomlands), forest edges, farmyards, orchards, parks, residential areas. They both inhabit open woodlands, orchards, city parks and our backyards with deciduous trees. So now we know they look alike, except for size. In spring and summer, Downy Woodpeckers make lots of noise, both with their shrill whinnying call and by drumming on trees.” Their rising-and-falling flight style is distinctive of many woodpeckers. Downy Woodpeckers hitch around tree limbs and trunks or drop into tall weeds to feed on galls, moving more acrobatically than larger woodpeckers. Diet: Downy Woodpeckers use their bills to drill into trees and dig out insects like beetles, wasps, moths and insect larvae. The outer tail feathers are typically white with a few black spots. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. Downy Woodpeckers are North Americas smallest and most common woodpecker. The black upperparts are checked with white on the wings, the head is boldly striped, and the back has a broad white stripe down the center. But, woodpeckers often will feed on suet, and the Downy Woodpecker is no exception. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers give a checkered black-and-white impression. The bill tends to look smaller for the bird’s size than in other woodpeckers. The downy woodpecker is very similar in appearance to the hairy woodpecker, although they are not closely related. Hairy Woodpeckers have a somewhat soldierly look, with their erect, straight-backed posture on tree trunks and their cleanly striped heads. It wields a much longer bill than the Downy Woodpeckers almost thornlike bill. ![]() They also eat berries and seeds such as poison ivy, sumac. The larger of two look alikes, the Hairy Woodpecker is a small but powerful bird that forages along trunks and main branches of large trees. ![]() They have a straight, chisel-like bill, blocky head, wide shoulders, and straight-backed posture as they lean away from tree limbs and onto their tail feathers. The bird nests in tree cavities and feeds primarily on insects, although it supplements its diet with seeds and berries. Downy Woodpeckers feed in the wild on insects, especially wood-boring larvae, caterpillars, and ants. So, let’s talk about what Downies look like! All About Birds describes the Downy this way: “Downy Woodpeckers are small versions of the classic woodpecker body plan. How about this? Downy v Pileated! Good feeder with a tail prop! DOWNY WOODPECKERS ![]()
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