Downy Woodpecker vs Arrowhead Piculet
Picoides pubescens compared with Picumnus minutissimus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Downy Woodpecker | Arrowhead Piculet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Picoides pubescens | Picumnus minutissimus |
| 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) | 10.9 cm (4.3 in) |
| Weight | 27.0 g (0.95 oz) | 13.216666666666667 g (0.47 oz) |
| Diet | Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often … | -- |
| Clutch Size | -- | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Downy Woodpecker only
None
Arrowhead Piculet only
Downy Woodpecker
Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban areas. The most common woodpecker at feeders in North America.
Song & Call Comparison
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'.
Arrowhead Piculet
Geographic Range & Migration
Downy Woodpecker
North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.
Arrowhead Piculet
Conservation Status
Downy Woodpecker
Arrowhead Piculet
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Arrowhead Piculet
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.
Arrowhead Piculet
The Arrowhead Piculet is one of the smallest woodpeckers in the world, weighing just 13g with a wingspan of under 11cm. Found in South American forests and woodland edges, it forages on thin branches and twigs for insects. Its tiny size and arrowhead-shaped streaks on the underparts are distinctive.