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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Kaempfer's Woodpecker	Downy Woodpecker
Scientific Name	Celeus obrieni	Picoides pubescens
Order	Piciformes	Piciformes
Family	Picidae	Picidae
Conservation Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern
Length	—	16.0 cm (6.3 in)
Wingspan	27.8 cm (10.9 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)
Weight	96.75 g (3.41 oz)	27.0 g (0.95 oz)
Diet	--	Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often …
Clutch Size	--	--
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Kaempfer's Woodpecker —

Downy Woodpecker 16.0 cm

Wingspan

Kaempfer's Woodpecker 27.8 cm

Downy Woodpecker 28.0 cm

Weight

Kaempfer's Woodpecker 96.75 g

Downy Woodpecker 27.0 g

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Song & Call Comparison

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Song

A sharp 'pik' or 'peek' contact call. Drums on resonant branches with a rapid, light tattoo — softer than larger woodpeckers. Also gives a high descending whinny 'keeer-keeer'.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.

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Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

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How to Tell Them Apart

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Plumage

Black and white plumage with a broad white stripe down the back. Black wings with white spots. Males have a small red patch on the nape.

Bill

Short, chisel-shaped, dark bill — noticeably shorter than the similar hairy woodpecker

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About These Birds

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

The downy woodpecker is the smallest and most widespread woodpecker in North America. Its small size allows it to forage on thin branches and weed stems that larger woodpeckers cannot access. Downies often join mixed-species flocks in winter, benefiting from the extra vigilance of multiple species watching for predators.

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Related Comparisons

Common Nightingale vs Downy Woodpecker

look-alike

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