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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut	Downy Woodpecker	Black Woodpecker
Nom scientifique	Picoides pubescens	Dryocopus martius
Ordre	Piciformes	Piciformes
Famille	Picidae	Picidae
Statut de conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern
Longueur	16,0 cm (6.3 in)	—
Envergure	28,0 cm (11.0 in)	47,6 cm (18.7 in)
Poids	27,0 g (0.95 oz)	310,0 g (10.93 oz)
Régime alimentaire	Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often …	--
Taille de la couvée	--	2-6
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Downy Woodpecker 16,0 cm

Black Woodpecker —

Envergure

Downy Woodpecker 28,0 cm

Black Woodpecker 47,6 cm

Poids

Downy Woodpecker 27,0 g

Black Woodpecker 310,0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Downy Woodpecker only

Aucun(e)

Black Woodpecker only

🌲 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

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'.

Black Woodpecker

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Geographic Range & Migration

Downy Woodpecker

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

Black Woodpecker

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

Least Concern

Black Woodpecker

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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.

Bec

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

Black Woodpecker

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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.

Black Woodpecker

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Related Comparisons

Common Nightingale vs Downy Woodpecker

look-alike

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