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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Downy Woodpecker	Golden-spangled Piculet
Scientific Name	Picoides pubescens	Picumnus exilis
Order	Piciformes	Piciformes
Family	Picidae	Picidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	16.0 cm (6.3 in)	—
Wingspan	28.0 cm (11.0 in)	9.7 cm (3.8 in)
Weight	27.0 g (0.95 oz)	9.85 g (0.35 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

Downy Woodpecker 16.0 cm

Golden-spangled Piculet —

Wingspan

Downy Woodpecker 28.0 cm

Golden-spangled Piculet 9.7 cm

Weight

Downy Woodpecker 27.0 g

Golden-spangled Piculet 9.85 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Downy Woodpecker only

None

Golden-spangled Piculet only

🏖️ Coastal 🌲 Forest

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

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'.

Golden-spangled Piculet

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Geographic Range & Migration

Downy Woodpecker

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

Golden-spangled Piculet

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

Least Concern

Golden-spangled Piculet

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How to Tell Them Apart

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

Golden-spangled Piculet

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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.

Golden-spangled Piculet

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Related Comparisons

Common Nightingale vs Downy Woodpecker

look-alike

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More Birds to Explore

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