Downy Woodpecker vs Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens comparé à Melanerpes pucherani
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Downy Woodpecker | Black-cheeked Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Picoides pubescens | Melanerpes pucherani |
| 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) | 22,1 cm (8.7 in) |
| Poids | 27,0 g (0.95 oz) | 58,75 g (2.07 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often … | -- |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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'.
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Geographic Range & Migration
Downy Woodpecker
North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Statut de conservation
Downy Woodpecker
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
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
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
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-cheeked Woodpecker
The Black-cheeked Woodpecker is a colorful woodpecker of humid lowland and foothill forests in Central America and northwestern South America, with bold red, yellow, and black patterning on the head and barred black-and-white back. It ranges from southeastern Mexico to Ecuador, inhabiting forest edges, gardens, and open woodland. It feeds on insects extracted from bark, fruits, and berries.