Saturday, December 22, 2012

Downy at the Feeder

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.

2 comments:

  1. Hairy Woodpeckers are about as big as Red-bellied Woodpeckers if that helps.

    ReplyDelete
  2. thanks, that also helps me put them into better perspective

    ReplyDelete