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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Downy Woodpecker	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific Name	Picoides pubescens	Sphyrapicus varius
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)	25.0 cm (9.8 in)
Weight	27.0 g (0.95 oz)	48.48333333333333 g (1.71 oz)
Diet	Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often …	--
Clutch Size	--	4-7
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Downy Woodpecker 16.0 cm

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker —

Wingspan

Downy Woodpecker 28.0 cm

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 25.0 cm

Weight

Downy Woodpecker 27.0 g

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 48.48333333333333 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Downy Woodpecker only

None

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker only

🌲 Forest 🌾 Grassland

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'.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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Geographic Range & Migration

Downy Woodpecker

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

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

Least Concern

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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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

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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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.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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Related Comparisons

Common Nightingale vs Downy Woodpecker

look-alike

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