Barn Swallow vs Downy Woodpecker
Hirundo rustica 对比 Picoides pubescens
Side-by-Side Comparison
| 属性 | Barn Swallow | Downy Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| 学名 | Hirundo rustica | Picoides pubescens |
| 目 | Passeriformes | Piciformes |
| 科 | Hirundinidae | Picidae |
| 保护状况 | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| 体长 | 19.0 cm (7.5 in) | 16.0 cm (6.3 in) |
| 翼展 | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | 28.0 cm (11.0 in) |
| 体重 | 19.0 g (0.67 oz) | 27.0 g (0.95 oz) |
| 食性 | Aerial insects caught in continuous agile flight, including flies, beetles, moths, and aphids. Drinks by … | Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often … |
| 产卵数 | 2-7 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Barn Swallow
Open farmland, meadows, and areas near water. Nests almost exclusively in human-made structures such as barns, bridges, and eaves.
Downy Woodpecker
Deciduous and mixed forests, orchards, parks, and suburban areas. The most common woodpecker at feeders in North America.
Song & Call Comparison
Barn Swallow
A rapid, twittering song: a long stream of 'vit-vit-vit' and rolling chirps. Also gives a sharp 'vit' flight call. Song can last many minutes without pause. Musical and liquid.
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'.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barn Swallow
Breeds across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in South America, Africa, and South Asia.
Downy Woodpecker
North America from Alaska and Canada south through the United States, excluding the arid Southwest.
保护状况
Barn Swallow
Downy Woodpecker
How to Tell Them Apart
Barn Swallow
Metallic blue-black upperparts, rufous forehead and throat, and pale buff to rufous underparts. Deeply forked tail with elongated outer streamers.
Short, wide, flat black bill adapted for catching insects in flight
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
About These Birds
Barn Swallow
The barn swallow is the most widespread swallow species in the world and has one of the longest migrations of any passerine. Its arrival signals spring across the Northern Hemisphere, inspiring cultural references from ancient Greece to modern poetry. Barn swallows have become almost entirely dependent on human structures for nesting.
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.