BIRD INDEX
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
Start with these clues
Compare the short bill with the length of the head.
- Relative size
- Small
- Look around
- Trees, Shrubs
- Region and season
- Widespread in wooded neighborhoods and parks.
Compare carefully
Hairy Woodpecker has a proportionally longer bill.
A photograph shows one individual and one view. Check several features, the date and a regional guide before settling on an identification.
Read the Audubon species account for fuller range, behavior and identification context.
What to check first
- Wait for a side view. The bill usually looks short relative to the head.
- A head-on view shortens the apparent bill. Wait for a turn, then look for dark marks on the pale outer tail feathers if they are visible.