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Woodpecker (Downy)

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Picoides pubescens
Woodpecker (Downy)

Range

They live in western Alaska across Canada, south to southern California, northern Arizona, and eastern Texas to Florida.

Habitat

They live in open leafy (deciduous) forests, mixed woods, parks, orchards and in yards.

Body Traits

They are the smallest (sparrow-sized) American woodpecker with a white back, black and white striped (barred) wings and a red patch on their head. Their tail is black with white outer feathers. They have a small, pointed bill. Females have a black patch on head instead of the red patch.

Habits

They come to bird feeders. They will flock with other birds in winter.

Diet

They peck for insects in trees and will also eat fruit, seeds and tree sap.

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They nest in trees holes in which the female lays 3 – 8 white eggs.

Woodpecker (Downy)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: P. pubescens

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