They often hollow out the interior of nestboxes, and may also enlarge the entrance hole of a bluebird box (but can fit in a 1.5" round hole.) I see them going into nestboxes just before dusk. Excavation takes about a week (as short as 3-4 days), depending on how hard the wood is. They usually excavate roosting cavities during the fall, but may do so at any time of year. Roosting: Downies roost singly in cavities year round. They do not migrate, although they may disperse seasonally. Not found in drier habitats in SW, West, or in northern Alaska or Hawaii. Differs from Hairy in quality and power (Hairy call is louder and more explosive.) Comparatively silent during cold winter months.ĭistribution : A very common woodpecker in most parts of the U.S. Song: peck, kweek, queek, sputters, chirps, chips, rattles, whinnies, etc. Nuttall's Woodpecker is slightly smaller and has a barred back, although they may hybridize. Downies are less wary of humans than Hairies, and have a different drumming pattern. Juveniles have a pale or olive-brown iris (adults have a brown or brown-red iris.) Hairy Woodpeckers are larger, and their bill is at least twice as long as the Downy's, and more chisel-like. young males may have reddish or pinkish feather tips on the crown. ![]() Fledglings look similar to adults although black areas are more dull or browner, and underparts are more grayish or buffy, and the sides of the breast and flanks are finely streaked. Females and males are similar in size, but females have slightly longer tails. Males have red patch on the back of the head or nape. Throat and underparts are buffy to grayish white. The two central tail feathers are completely black, with outermost tail feathers largely white with some black barring. Identification: 5.5-6.5 inches long, primarily black above with a broad white stripe down the center of the back, and numerous white spots/checks on the wings.
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