Downy Woodpeckers are one of the most common woodpeckers seen in backyards across all of the lower 48 states (except portions of some southwestern states), most of Canada and much of Alaska too. This one is a male as indicated by the red patch seen on the back of it’s head.
Downy Woodpeckers are often seen clinging to tree branches and tree trunks as they use their beaks to chisel between the bark. Though they are primarily insect eaters they will come to feeders for black-oil sunflower seeds, peanuts or suet. And they have been known to steal some sugar-water from hummingbird or oriole feeders too.
The smaller cousin to their look-alike but larger Hairy Woodpecker, they do differ from them in the following ways:
- The bill on a Downy Woodpecker is only about one-third as long as the width of it’s head while the bill on a Hairy Woodpecker is about as long as the width.
- The white outer tail feathers on Downy Woodpeckers usually have black barring going across them (though this wears off with wear) while those feathers are all white on Hairy Woodpeckers.
- Downy Woodpeckers have a conspicuous tuft of feathers at the base of their beaks (best seen in photo below) that is not found on Hairy Woodpeckers.
- Downy Woodpeckers have a weaker and kind of squeaky call while the Hairy Woodpeckers have a strong, loud call. Listen to their calls on the Audubon Guides website.
Downy Woodpeckers come to my yard more in the winter maybe because I don’t feed as much during summer months here in Colorado. Though they feed mostly on my trees, they also like my peanut feeder (always feed raw, unsalted peanuts) and my suet feeder, I have had them come in the summer and drink from my hummingbird feeder.
Do you get Downy Woodpeckers in your yard?
Do they come to any of your feeders?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
We have Downy Woodpeckers visit suet blocks that have black oil sunflower seeds in them. I’ve seen them occasionally on the sunflower feeders, too. East Tennessee
Hi Marilyn,
I will have to look for suet blocks with black oil sunflower seeds in them. The combo suet I see at the store usually has peanuts or small seed (millet and milo) in it. Thanks for sharing
I have a daily visit from a pair of downy woodpeckers. They love to hang on my finch feeder that is filled with Nyjer. Maryland
Hello Sandy,
How interesting. I don’t think I have ever heard of Downy Woodpeckers eating Nyjer seed. Thanks for sharing. Goes to show that individual birds can develop individual tastes!
As I post this comment, a Downy Woodpecker is nibbling on some suet. They visit every day, quite frequently as do the Hairy
Woodpecker.
This summer was my first to witness the Downy taking sips of sugar-water from the orile feeder.
We also have the Downy Woodpecker raise their young each year in our yard!
Hi Deborah,
Wow, you have a lot of Downy Woodpecker experiences. Neat to have both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers visit your yard, I only get Downy’s in my yard.
We once see a downy, but in a dead tree beside the house a pair of ladder-backeds made a nest and raised one baby. When he was learning to fly he flew into our truck, so we picked him up and hand-fed him until he was strong enough to sit it the tree. Several times the three have flown over and called out a greeting. A pair of red-headeds moved in next, but we were gone when they raised their babies. When we came back they were gone.
We have a male downy making a nest in an old stump in our backyard, about 6′ off the ground. Any suggestions to help him stay besides putting out suet & water? We haven’t seen a female with him, it’s right outside my kitchen window and bedroom windows so it’s easy to watch him. I’d love for him to get a mate and raise babies in the spring! It was so cute when he was first making the nest. Hubby was working in the yard and wp would poke his head out and look at him then carry some wood out. Thanks!
If the Downy is working on this stump now, it is not for a nest as they nest much earlier in the year. It may be making a place to roost during cold winter months if you live in a very cold climate or it may be drilling for all the insects inside this old stump.
Just make sure there is good habitat, like old tree stumps and leave dead limbs on trees where not a safety issue. They do enjoy such treats as suet and peanuts (raw, unsalted can put in special feeders for peanuts). I have Downy Woodpeckers that visit my yard–they like to work on limbs of my crab apple trees plus feed occasionally on my suet (I have an upside down suet feeder to reduce use by other larger species) and the peanut feeder I put out in winter. They are very enjoyable