Downy Woodpecker vs Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens 对比 Picoides arcticus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

属性 Downy Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker
学名 Picoides pubescens Picoides arcticus
Piciformes Piciformes
Picidae Picidae
保护状况 Least Concern Least Concern
体长 16.0 cm (6.3 in)
翼展 28.0 cm (11.0 in) 25.8 cm (10.2 in)
体重 27.0 g (0.95 oz) 72.85000000000001 g (2.57 oz)
食性 Insects and larvae extracted from bark, supplemented with seeds, berries, and suet at feeders. Often … --
产卵数 -- 2-4
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Downy Woodpecker 16.0 cm
Black-backed Woodpecker
翼展
Downy Woodpecker 28.0 cm
Black-backed Woodpecker 25.8 cm
体重
Downy Woodpecker 27.0 g
Black-backed Woodpecker 72.85000000000001 g
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Habitat Comparison

共同栖息地

Downy Woodpecker only

Black-backed Woodpecker only

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

鸣唱

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-backed 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-backed Woodpecker

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保护状况

Least Concern

Downy Woodpecker

Least Concern

Black-backed Woodpecker

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How to Tell Them Apart

Downy Woodpecker

羽毛

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-backed 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-backed Woodpecker

The Black-backed Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker of boreal conifer forests across North America, particularly specialist of recently burned forests. It has entirely black upperparts, white underparts with barring on the sides, and males have a yellow crown patch. It forages by flaking bark from dead trees to extract wood-boring beetle larvae that colonize burned timber.

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Related Comparisons

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