# Downy Woodpecker (*Dryobates pubescens*) The Downy Woodpecker is a small bird with a black-and-white spotted back and a cute little beak. They love to peck on trees to find bugs and make their homes in the wood. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 215 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Little Woodpecker ![Downy Woodpecker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426865/objects/42.jpg) ## Appearance The Downy Woodpecker is a small bird, known for its distinctive black and white striped head and a prominent white patch down its back. Males have a tiny red spot on the back of their head. Its short, chisel-like bill is much smaller than the similar Hairy Woodpecker. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Dryobates ## Interesting facts - Downy Woodpeckers often choose dead branches for easier insect hunting. Wow! - Males and females forage on different parts of trees to avoid competing. Wow! - Their tongue is so long it wraps around their skull! Wow! - They sometimes drink sap from trees, just like hummingbirds do. Wow! ## Special abilities - **Shock Absorber Skull:** Downy Woodpecker has a strong skull and thick neck muscles that absorb impact, protecting its brain from concussions while pecking. - **Sticky Tongue Probe:** Downy Woodpecker can extend its barbed, sticky tongue far into crevices, helping it pull out insects and larvae from wood. - **Tree-Clinging Claws:** Downy Woodpecker has two toes facing forward and two backward, helping it grip tree bark tightly while climbing vertically. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-18 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-31 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.03 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-8 - **Incubation:** 10-14 days ## Diet & Feeding This little bird mainly eats insects found in trees but also enjoys sap and seeds. - **Primary Foods:** Wood-boring beetle larvae, Ants, Caterpillars, Sap, Berries, Seeds - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Adults and fledglings are prey for this agile bird of prey. - **Depends on:** [White-breasted Nuthatch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-breasted-nuthatch) (*Sitta carolinensis*) — May use abandoned Downy Woodpecker nest cavities for nesting. - **Depends on:** [Paper Birch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/paper-birch) (*Betula papyrifera*) — Feeds on sap and insects found in the bark of birch trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch birds from a distance and not disturb their homes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Downy Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Downy Woodpecker? 14-18 cm ### What is Downy Woodpecker's wingspan? 25-31 cm ### How much does Downy Woodpecker weigh? 0.02-0.03 kg ### How long does Downy Woodpecker live? 1-10 years ### How fast can Downy Woodpecker move? 40 km/h ### What does Downy Woodpecker eat? This little bird mainly eats insects found in trees but also enjoys sap and seeds. ### Where is Downy Woodpecker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadway Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-avenue-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Capitol Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-park-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District [View all places to see Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/downy-woodpecker) ## Watch - [Play video: Downy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/videos/downy-woodpecker) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uyBqlCMn2oY) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Downy Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/downy-woodpecker)