I always have trouble determining whether I'm watching a downy or hairy woodpecker at the feeders. If you are in the same quandary here are a couple hints learned during my most recent review of Sibley. Downies are smaller (Diminutive). Downies have a small (Diminutive) beak compared to their head. Downies Devour feeders. They are very common at most feeders. Hairy woodpeckers on the other hand are larger, have a large beak relative to their head size and are less common at feeders. If you see a diminutive woodpecker with a diminutive beak devouring the feed it is probably a downy woodpecker.
Hairy Woodpeckers are about as big as Red-bellied Woodpeckers if that helps.
ReplyDeletethanks, that also helps me put them into better perspective
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