#Downy woodpecker characteristics Patch

The rate of predation and abundance of abandoned fields with goldenrod galls suggest the assorted insects therein may be a major source of winter food for this woodpecker. Confer & Paicos (1985) looked at predation by downy woodpeckers of insects in 'ball galls' - produced by the gall fly ( Eurosta solidaginis) on Canadian goldenrod ( Solidago canadens) - in New York, USA. Beetles, weevils, ants, bugs, aphids and caterpillars are among the insects eaten, as well as spiders.ĭowny woodpeckers glean insects from the surfaces of trees, shrubs and large weeds, probe into crevices and excavate shallow holes into wood to find food. Their primary foods include insects and other arthropods, as well as fruit and seeds. They are not generally migratory although northern birds may move further south in winter.ĭowny woodpeckers are omnivorous. The distribution of the downy woodpecker covers most of the United States and Canada apart from the deserts of the southwest and the tundra of the north. It has also adapted well to the man-made environment being found in orchards, city parks, backyards and vacant lots. Second image copyright Russ under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Licenseĭowny woodpeckers are found in open woodlands, particularly amongst deciduous treees. hairy woodpecker which has no black bars on the white outer tail feathers).įirst image copyright Betty Matsubara under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Unported License The tail is black with white outer feathers barred with black (cf. hairy woodpecker which has its bill equal to its head length). The bill is shorter than the head length (cf. There are also two white bars on the head, one above the eye and one below.

#Downy woodpecker characteristics Patch

The male (see first picture below) has a red patch on the back of the head, the female (see second picture below) has no red patch, and juveniles have a red cap. The adult bird is mainly black on the upperparts and wings with a white back, throat and belly, and white spotting on the wings. The downy woodpecker is the smallest of North American woodpeckers.