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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Buff-spotted Flameback	Downy Woodpecker
Scientific Name	Chrysocolaptes lucidus	Picoides pubescens
Order	Piciformes	Piciformes
Family	Picidae	Picidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	16.0 cm (6.3 in)
Wingspan	30.6 cm (12.0 in)	28.0 cm (11.0 in)
Weight	136.5 g (4.81 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	2-5	--
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Buff-spotted Flameback —

Downy Woodpecker 16.0 cm

Wingspan

Buff-spotted Flameback 30.6 cm

Downy Woodpecker 28.0 cm

Weight

Buff-spotted Flameback 136.5 g

Downy Woodpecker 27.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Buff-spotted Flameback only

🏖️ Coastal 🌲 Forest

Downy Woodpecker only

None

Downy Woodpecker

Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban areas. The most common woodpecker at feeders in North America.

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Song & Call Comparison

Buff-spotted Flameback

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

Buff-spotted Flameback

Downy Woodpecker

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

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Buff-spotted Flameback

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

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How to Tell Them Apart

Buff-spotted Flameback

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

Buff-spotted Flameback

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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