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Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens

Photo by Alicia Fortes
Published on Project Noah
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42.4086, -71.6835

Field Notes

Description:

This woodpecker is about 5 inches in length. Black wings with white spots and a white belly and has a relatively short bill. Male downy woodpeckers have the red spot on the back of their heads.

Habitat:

This bird was flying from tree to tree at a park near the Wachusett Reservoir.

Species ID Suggestions

Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens

Reference Link
Ava T-B
1

Hairy Woodpecker

Picoides villosus
CindyBinghamKeiser
1

Comments (4)
Ava T-B
The bill size is one indicator for sure, and Sibley notes (pp. 312-313) that the tuft at the base of the bill is conspicuous in the Downy and inconspicuous in the Hairy, and it is conspicuous in your first picture.
Alicia Fortes
The hairy woodpecker and the downy look almost identical though. I do think it is a downy only because of the bill size. I was reading and the Hairy woodpecker has a longer bill than the Downy. Thank you for the help!
Darwin26
a Downey it is...and an very nice Downey pic at that! There's a nice variety of Woodpeckers out your way...
Alicia Fortes
Thank you Ava...it is a Downy Woodpecker and a male at that with the red spot on his head.

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Birds of the World
Photographed
PublishedOctober 10, 2011

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