pygargue à tête blanche vs Downy Woodpecker

Haliaeetus leucocephalus comparé à Picoides pubescens

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut pygargue à tête blanche Downy Woodpecker
Nom scientifique Haliaeetus leucocephalus Picoides pubescens
Ordre Accipitriformes Piciformes
Famille Accipitridae Picidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 79,0 cm (31.1 in) 16,0 cm (6.3 in)
Envergure 203,0 cm (79.9 in) 28,0 cm (11.0 in)
Poids 4300,0 g (151.68 oz) 27,0 g (0.95 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily fish, also waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion. Hunts by swooping down to snatch fish … Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often …
Taille de la couvée 1-4 --
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
pygargue à tête blanche 79,0 cm
Downy Woodpecker 16,0 cm
Envergure
pygargue à tête blanche 203,0 cm
Downy Woodpecker 28,0 cm
Poids
pygargue à tête blanche 4300,0 g
Downy Woodpecker 27,0 g

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

pygargue à tête blanche only

Downy Woodpecker only

Aucun(e)

pygargue à tête blanche

Large bodies of open water including coasts, rivers, and lakes with abundant fish and old-growth trees for nesting.

Downy Woodpecker

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

Song & Call Comparison

pygargue à tête blanche

Chant

High-pitched, chattering whistle: a rapid 'kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik'. Surprisingly weak and thin for such a large raptor. Also gives a lower 'kwit-kwit' call near the nest.

Downy Woodpecker

Chant

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

pygargue à tête blanche

North America from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.

Downy Woodpecker

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

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

pygargue à tête blanche

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

How to Tell Them Apart

pygargue à tête blanche

Plumage

Adults have a dark brown body with a striking white head and tail. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, reaching full adult plumage at age five.

Bec

Large, hooked, bright yellow bill

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.

Bec

Short, chisel-shaped, dark bill — noticeably shorter than the similar hairy woodpecker

About These Birds

pygargue à tête blanche

The bald eagle is the national bird and symbol of the United States. Once endangered due to DDT pesticide use, it made a remarkable recovery and was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. These powerful raptors build the largest tree nests of any bird, some weighing over two tons.

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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