![]() The pelvic bones are wide, allowing for attachment of muscles strong enough to move and hold the tail, which is important for climbing.Īnother special anatomical trait of woodpeckers is the long, barbed tongue that searches crevices and cracks for food. A covering of feathers over the nostrils keeps out pieces of wood and wood powder. The straight, chisel-shaped bill is formed of strong bone overlaid with a hard covering and is quite broad at the nostrils in order to spread the force of pecking. Most of the special features of their anatomy are associated with the ability to dig holes in wood. Woodpeckers are a family of birds sharing several characteristics that separate them from other avian families. The Downy’s name refers to the soft white feathers of the white strip on the lower back, which differ from the more hairlike feathers on the Hairy Woodpecker. And the Downy’s bill is shorter than its head, whereas the Hairy’s bill is as long as or longer than its head length. ![]() The Downy is about 6 cm smaller than the Hairy, measuring only 15 to 18 cm from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail. The Downy’s outer tail feathers are barred with black, unlike the Hairy Woodpecker’s, which are all white. The Downy Woodpecker looks much like the larger Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus, but there are some differences between them. The male has a small scarlet patch, like a red pompom, at the back of the crown. Male and female Downy Woodpeckers are about the same size, weighing from 21 to 28 g. The crown of the head is black the cheeks and neck are adorned with black and white lines. Its wings are checkered in a black and white pattern that shows through on the wings’ undersides, and the breast and flanks are white. This woodpecker is black and white with a broad white stripe down the back from the shoulders to the rump. It is also the most common woodpecker in eastern North America. The smallest and perhaps most familiar species in Canada is the Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens. The oldest recorded Downy Woodpecker lived for 11 years and 11 months.Of the 198 species of woodpeckers worldwide, 13 are found in Canada.They don’t sing songs but drum loudy instead.Downies create excavates on areas hidden by fungus or lichens for some camouflage.There’s a spongy elastic material between their bill and skull that protects their brain from shock. ![]() They have special features surrounding their nostrils that prevent them from breathing in wood chips.Downy Woodpeckers have been a symbol of bravery and hard work.Among the most common ones are hawks, falcons, snakes, squirrels, rats, other woodpecker species, and domestic cats. However, predators are the most common threat. This is most probably because these birds are adaptable to any alterations in their natural habitats. The population of Downy Woodpeckers has been stable for so many years. However, one notable difference is that the males have a bright red spot on their nape.ĭifferences In Summer Plumage vs Winter Plumage The tail area is also a combination of black in the center and white on the sides with black spots.Īn adult male and female Downy Woodpecker generally looks the same. The head part is generally white with black stripes, their back and chest area is white, their wings are black with white dots. These birds feature a color pattern of black and white. They feature a straight but short bill, they have broad shoulders, and their back is always straight while leaning away from the tree’s trunk. You can quickly identify a Downy Woodpecker because it’s generally smaller in size than a regular woodpecker. Conservation status: Least Concern (LC).Let’s jump right into it and learn more about the Downy Woodpecker. In this article, we are going to cover a wide variety of topics related to the Downy Woodpecker, such as: They are also considered agricultural friends because they mainly eat agricultural pests. They are widespread across the United States and have seven subspecies that differ in size and color pattern. The Downy Woodpecker is a small version of the classic woodpeckers we usually see. Downy woodpecker related species in this family. ![]()
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