Downy Woodpecker vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Picoides pubescens comparado com Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Downy Woodpecker | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Picoides pubescens | Archilochus colubris |
| Ordem | Piciformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Família | Picidae | Trochilidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 16,0 cm (6.3 in) | 8,5 cm (3.3 in) |
| Envergadura | 28,0 cm (11.0 in) | 11,0 cm (4.3 in) |
| Peso | 27,0 g (0.95 oz) | 3,1 g (0.11 oz) |
| Dieta | Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| Tamanho da postura | -- | 2 |
| 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.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
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'.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched chattering and twittering 'chee-dit'. Also produces a thin 'tik' call in flight. Wing beats create an audible high-pitched humming buzz during hovering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Downy Woodpecker
North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
Estado de conservação
Downy Woodpecker
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
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
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallic green upperparts and greyish-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget that appears black in poor light. Females lack the gorget.
Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers
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.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. These tiny birds beat their wings about 53 times per second and can fly backwards, sideways, and even briefly upside down. They make an extraordinary non-stop 800 km crossing of the Gulf of Mexico during migration.