Great Spotted Woodpecker vs Downy Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major compared with Picoides pubescens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Spotted Woodpecker | Downy Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocopos major | Picoides pubescens |
| Order | Piciformes | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae | Picidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 27.2 cm (10.7 in) | 28.0 cm (11.0 in) |
| Weight | 82.0 g (2.89 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 | 4-8 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Downy Woodpecker
Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban areas. The most common woodpecker at feeders in North America.
Song & Call Comparison
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
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'.
Geographic Range & Migration
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.
Conservation Status
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
How to Tell Them Apart
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
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.
Short, chisel-shaped, dark bill — noticeably shorter than the similar hairy woodpecker
About These Birds
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.