Dryobates pubescens
Woods, orchards, and feeders across most of the continent. Clinging track is rarely clear. Look for small round holes in bark.
What does a downy woodpecker look like?
Small black-and-white woodpecker. The bill is short, which splits it from the hairy woodpecker.
What do downy woodpecker tracks look like?
Woodpeckers do not leave a useful ground trail. The sign is a line of small holes and flaked bark.
- Clinging track is rarely clear. Look for small round holes in bark
- Bill is shorter than the head
- Black and white, male has a small red patch on the back of the head
- White back stripe
- Whitewash under a suet feeder
What does downy woodpecker poop look like?
Rarely noticed. Whitewash below a roost hole is more common. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Woods, orchards, and feeders across most of the continent. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not approach a nest
- If a bird is injured, call a local wildlife rehabilitator
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Hairy woodpecker identification
- Northern flicker identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
How do you tell a downy from a hairy woodpecker?
The downy is smaller and the bill is shorter than the head. The hairy’s bill is about as long as the head.
How to tell a downy woodpecker from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Hairy woodpecker. No useful ground track. A larger copy of the downy, with a long bill.
- Northern flicker. A ground woodpecker. Brown woodpecker, spotted below, black chest crescent, white rump when it flies.
Downy woodpecker field marks
- Clinging track is rarely clear. Look for small round holes in bark
- Bill is shorter than the head
- Black and white, male has a small red patch on the back of the head
- White back stripe
Where the sign shows up
Woods, orchards, and feeders across most of the continent. Typical places: yard, woods. Year-round in much of the range. Some move south for winter.
Woodpeckers do not leave a useful ground trail. The sign is a line of small holes and flaked bark. Rarely noticed. Whitewash below a roost hole is more common.
Common questions
How do you tell a downy from a hairy woodpecker?
The downy is smaller and the bill is shorter than the head. The hairy’s bill is about as long as the head.