The Adaptable Little Charmer With a Name Like a Fabric Softener
Sure, the name sounds like something you might use with your laundry, but trust me, this little guy’s a lot more interesting and exciting than that. With its high energy level, distinctive drumming style and interesting foraging habits, the downy woodpecker captures the attention of scientists and an adoring public alike. Let’s take a look.
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Geographic Range and Habitat
The Downy woodpecker can be found across most of the United States and Canada — except for the deserts of the southwest and the tundra of the north. While some of the northern birds may journey further south in the extremes of winter — and those in mountainous areas may move to lower elevations on occasion — for the most part they are non-migratory.
Downy woodpeckers hang out in the northern mixed forests and in the deciduous forests farther south; in woodlots and parklands; in orchards; and even in city parks and neighborhoods.
They seem to prefer places where broad-leaved trees — poplars, birches, ashes and the like — let light in among the evergreens. Forest edges and areas around openings in the denser forests are also favorite spots. In the western part of its range, they can be found in alder and willow growth.
What do they look like?
The diminutive downy is the smallest woodpecker in North America. Adults can be anywhere from five to seven inches long with a wingspan from ten to twelve inches. Typically, they weigh in somewhere between 0.7 and 1.2 ounces. That’s pretty tiny.
Adult males have a red patch on the back of the head, but otherwise the sexes look almost identical. They are mainly black on the upperparts and wings and white on the back, throat and belly. They sport white spotting on their wings, with one white bar above the eye and one below. The tail has white outer feathers barred with black.
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What Do They Eat?
Although insects are their main course, downy woodpeckers are omnivores.
Image By Robert Taylor from Stirling, ON, Canada — CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35496823
Some of their favorite bugs are beetles, ants, caterpillars and spiders. They use their strong beaks and neck muscles to peck and probe into tree bark, crevices and leaf litter in search of their preferred prey.
Downy woodpeckers also consume tree sap. They themselves do not typically create sap wells — or actively tap trees to extract sap — but will take advantage of sap wells already created by sapsuckers or larger woodpeckers. They will also feed on sap that naturally oozes from wounds in the tree bark when they can find it. Maples, birches and sycamores seem to be their favorite sap sources.
Seeds and berries are eaten when insects are tougher to find. Pine, oak and maple seeds — along with blackberries, raspberries and elderberries — are featured items on the menu.
Courtship Rituals
As one might expect from these percussive birds, drumming is a main feature of the males courtship ritual. They create rhythmic sounds on resonant surfaces like dead branches and hollow tree trunks. These soundings not only attract females but announce their territory to any rival males in the vicinity.
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Once they have a female’s attention, the male seems to tone it down a bit. That’s when he switches to soft but distinct vocalizations, which observers describe as “whinnying” and/or “chattering.”
When a pair bond is formed, downy woodpeckers groom each other’s feathers. This behavior — known as “allopreening,” — demonstrates trust, cooperation and affection, and is considered an important part of establishing compatibility for the couple.
Home Building
Downy woodpeckers are cavity nesters, which is to say they create their nests by excavating cavities in dead or decaying trees. Both the male and female participate in the excavation process. They use their strong beaks to chip away at the wood and create a cavity that will serve as their nesting site.
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The cavity consists of a single chamber where the eggs are laid and incubated. The pair line the nest with wood chips, dried grasses and other plant material. The entrance hole is usually small, just large enough for the woodpeckers to enter and exit.
Raising A Family
The female downy woodpecker typically lays 4-5 white eggs, but can lay up to 7. During daylight hours, both parents alternate sitting on the eggs for 15 minute periods. At night, the male usually takes over sitting duties while the female keeps watch outside. Incubation lasts for about 12 days.
Once the eggs hatch, the parents diligently supply food since the hatchlings often double their weight on the first day. After 18 to 21 days, the nestlings should be ready to leave the nest and attempt their first flight. In cases where the young ones seem hesitant, the parents have been observed severely curtailing the amount of food they bring until the kids get the hint.
Invite Them To Your Yard
Happily, the downy woodpecker is relatively easy to attract. They prefer the shelter of small wooded areas with shrubs around the base, especially those that produce berries. Since they nest in cavities, they frequently make use of birdhouses. Mount them about 10-20 feet high and ensure the entrance hole is appropriately sized.
They are often shy, so putting a feeder in a quiet part of the yard — preferably near mature trees — makes them feel more comfortable. They enjoy suet, peanuts, peanut butter, mealworms and black oil sunflower seeds. If you serve suet or peanut butter, however, check them several times weekly to make sure they haven’t gone bad (the food, not the birds!).
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Image By Robert Taylor from Stirling, ON, Canada — CC BY 2.0,
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So there you have it. Downy woodpeckers are fascinating little birds that enchant us with their charming appearance, rhythmic song and energetic behavior. They can be found throughout most of the United States and Canada, so I hope you get to catch up with them soon.
By Steven Roberts
