Downy woodpecker

My book shows the dark line through the eye to be straight on the Hairy and V-shaped on the Downy, but they are only drawings. I agree the bill is too short for a Hairy. I have removed my suggestion. LE please note when making suggestions you should also add a reference link; if someone has already made a suggestion which you agree with you should merely hover over the top right corner of the ID panel and click on the + sign which appears, rather than make a second suggestion.

Here's a good web site that explains differences, http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/woodpeckerIDtable.htm

The bill on a hairy woodpecker is more than half the size of its head from bill to nape. This guys bill is shorter, so I say it is a downy.

Downy are much smaller than Hairy and have a smaller bill. There is also a dark spur on the side that is more noticeable on Hairy than Downy. Dark markings on the outer rectrice feathers usually mean Downy, but some lack the markings, like this bird.

malcolm, couldn't it be a downy woodpecker? i mean i looked at photos and what's the difference?????