downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 5.75 inches

• Very small black and white woodpecker

• Very short bill

• Mostly black head set off by broad white supercilium and lower border           to auriculars

• Black nape

• White back

• Black wings with white spotting on coverts and flight feathers

• White underparts

• Black rump

• Black tail with white outer tail feathers barred with black

Adult male:

• Red spot at rear of head

Similar species:

Other small black and white woodpeckers such as ladder-backed, Strick-

land's, red-cockaded and Nuttall's have longer bills, barred backs, and pat-

terning on the chests. Black-backed woodpecker is easily distinguished by

the darker face, black back, and barred flanks. Three-toed woodpecker is

best distinguished by the darker face and barred flanks, since some races

can have white backs. Juvenile hairy woodpeckers on the Queen Charlotte

Islands have barred outer tail feathers and such birds should be carefully

separated from downy woodpeckers by their larger size and larger bills.

Hairy woodpecker is most similar, but is larger, with a longer bill, entirely

white outer tail feathers, and a different call.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Permanent resident
Breeding Habitat: Woodland
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: Cavity
Clutch Size: 3-6
Length of Incubation: 12 days
Days to Fledge: 20-25
Number of Broods: 1 in north, 2? in south
Diet: Primarily insects; lesser quantities of fruit, seeds

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February C

 

 

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