This mirror image of the two is likely the product of convergent evolution which causes unrelated species to look alike. Telling the Difference Based on Appearance Look for a key difference in bill size. In the east this is the most familiar member of the family, readily entering towns and city parks, coming to backyard bird feeders. A Hairy’s bill is about the same length as its head, whereas a Downy’s is not even half the length of its head. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Acorn woodpecker. Hairy woodpecker. Both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers can be attracted with, 17 Woodpecker Species of North America (Pictures), 7 Woodpeckers in Massachusetts (With Pictures). Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers have nearly identical vocalizations for most calls. We talk about all things related to backyard birding and bird watching. At the same time, bear in mind that with such similar birds there can always be some overlap and uncertainty, making it important to compare several features. They will flock in large numbers when beetle infestations occur. Its small size makes it versatile, and it may forage on weed stalks as well as in large trees. Jesse enjoys bird watching and feeding birds in his backyard, learning about the different species, and sharing his knowledge and experiences. Males have a red patch on the back of the head. If size is difficult to judge, the Hairy's bill is larger and more robust. American three-toed woodpecker. He called it the “Downy”, referring to its soft white feathers on the stripe of the lower back. Annotations notify when the other bird sounds. They feed on corn earworms, tent caterpillars, bark beetles, and apple borers. The hairy woodpecker has a more attention-grabbing call: a sharp, arresting peek!, like the sound of a squeaky dog toy. Hairy Woodpeckers also make a rattle or whinny. Just like the Downy Woodpecker, the males have the red patch on the back of their heads, while the females do not. Black-backed woodpecker. More subtle clues include the Hairy’s all-white outer tail feathers, compared to the Downy’s spotted ones. A red bellied woodpecker can be heard also. If you click a link then make a purchase, we may get a small get commission at no cost to you. This explains their prevalence in burned forests as the beetles become numerous here. Length: 7.1 – 10.2 in Weight: 1.4 – 3.4 oz Wingspan: 13.0 – 16.1 in. Other woodpeckers, sapsuckers and flickers. If you click a link on our site then make a purchase we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Downy Woodpecker They excavate smaller, round cavities. Is it possible the other birds mistake them for the larger Hairy and are hesitant? So if you heard a significant difference what you probably heard were different types of calls. But since they aren’t the same bird, how do we actually tell them apart? The rattling call of the hairy woodpecker is mostly on the same pitch. Downy’s are found year-round in most of the U.S., aside from the Southwest desert areas. Sign up to our mailing list and join over 1000 other birders! Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Woodpeckers are not always frequent backyard guests, these birds can be challenging to identify, Forests and fringes, much more likely in yards. Hairy Woodpecker Description. Downy’s are found in open deciduous woodlands and along brushy or weedy edges. In fact, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are probably one of the most common cases of this. Downy Woodpecker They have a softer, less demanding call that descends in pitch at the end. An example of two species that fall into this category are the downy vs hairy woodpecker. These birds are excellent at pest control with their mostly insectivorous diets. They like to visit bird feeders to much on suet and sunflower seeds, too. It’s easy to tell when you hear a woodpecker, harder to tell which species. Their calls distinguish them also. On females where there is no red patch, the white stripes will not meet on a Hairy woodpecker but will go all the way across (no gap) on a Downy. Hairy Woodpecker They have larger, more oval-shaped cavities. The most common call of the Hairy Woodpecker is a short, sharp peek note very similar to Downy Woodpeckers, but slightly lower pitched and often sounding more emphatic. The Hairy Woodpecker, is the oversized version of the Downy Woodpecker, measuring about 7-10”. Don’t get discouraged, though, as these are some of the most difficult species to tell apart, even by experts! Arizona woodpecker. Call: Short mellow pik: Call: Higher-pitched, bold peek: Behavior: Generally tamer than Hairy Woodpecker, often allowing close approach: Behavior: Generally shy, difficult to approach: South Dakota Status: Common permanent resident throughout the state, typically much more common than Hairy, and more likely to be found in residential areas. This is the easiest … The call is softer and higher-pitched and not as wild sounding than Hairy's; has a flat pick!, not as sharp as the Hairy's peek!. Their bellies are all white (or buffy, depending on the region.) Ladder-backed woodpecker. The hairy woodpecker has a more attention-grabbing call: a sharp, arresting peek!, like the sound of a squeaky dog toy. With evidence that other forest birds like Brown Creeper and White-breasted Nuthatch have diverged significantly in three or four regions, and a similar result in a recent DNA study of Hairy Woodpecker, it is plausible that Hairy and Downy Woodpecker could be hiding some cryptic species. In fact, Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are probably one of the most common cases of this. When you see one of these woodpeckers, focus on the bird’s size, bill length, and behavior as the easiest and most definitive identification characteristics. They have a striped face and long bills, with the males having a characteristic red patch on the back of the head. We also participate in other affiliate programs. Similarly for males with the red patch, male Hairy’s often have a black dividing stripe in the center of the red patch while Downy’s is solid red. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a8677571b39cdf2adaf236319cf18ac2" );document.getElementById("f53853b439").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Downy’s voices are higher and softer and dip down in tone at the end. This article will give you pointers of what to look and listen for when faced with an ID opportunity, as well as a little bit of life history about each bird. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. That’s why we’re going to compare the downy and hairy woodpeckers, and discuss the key characteristics that make them different. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Woodpeckers are not always frequent backyard guests unless you are fortunate enough to live in a forested area or an area with a great deal of mature landscaping. They are long, and thread-like. That’s why we’re going to compare the downy and hairy woodpeckers, and … She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites.