Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens. Insects and larvae picked from bark and weed stems, plus seeds and suet.
- Scientific name
- Dryobates pubescens
- Length
- 5.5–6.7 in
- Weight
- 0.7–1.0 oz
- Nest
- Excavates its own cavity in dead wood; uses roost boxes in winter
- Entrance hole
- 1 1/4 in round
- Clutch
- 3–8 eggs
- Incubation
- 12 days
- Broods
- 1 per season
Identification
- Black-and-white with a broad white back stripe
- Short bill, noticeably shorter than the head is deep
- Black spots or bars on the white outer tail feathers; males have a red nape patch
Voice
A descending "whinny" and a soft "pik" call; drums in short, rapid rolls.
Diet and feeding
Insects and larvae picked from bark and weed stems, plus seeds and suet.
What do downy woodpeckers eat? · Best feeder for downy woodpeckers
Downy Woodpeckers by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Alaska | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Alberta | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| British Columbia | Year-round resident | May–June |
| California | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Florida | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Maine | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Manitoba | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Montana | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Brunswick | Year-round resident | May–June |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | May–June |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | April–June |
| New York | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Year-round resident | May–June |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | April–June |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Northwest Territories | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Nova Scotia | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | May–July |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Prince Edward Island | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Saskatchewan | Year-round resident | May–June |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | March–June |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Texas | Year-round resident | March–June |
| Utah | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Washington | Year-round resident | April–June |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | April–June |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | May–June |
| Yukon | Year-round resident | May–June |
Often confused with
Frequently asked
What do downy woodpeckers eat?
Insects and larvae picked from bark and weed stems, plus seeds and suet. At feeders: suet, shelled peanuts, black-oil sunflower, hulled sunflower.
How big is a Downy Woodpecker?
5.5–6.7 in long and 0.7–1.0 oz.
Do downy woodpeckers use birdhouses?
Yes — a 1 1/4 in round entrance, 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings.
Sources
- Downy Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Downy Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Downy Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.