The DOWNY WOODPECKER | Smallest in North America
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- Опубліковано 1 сер 2024
- A familiar sight at backyard feeders, the Downy is the smallest North American woodpecker. Belonging to the Picidae family, with an estimated global breeding population of 14 million, measuring roughly 5.5-6.5 in (14-17 cm) and weighing close to one ounce (21-28 g) this black and white bird with a kind of checkered pattern in the wings can be found in most of the United States and Canada.
Some mistake the Downy for a Hairy Woodpecker to be the same bird but if you look closely there are many differences to learn. One of the wonderful things about these little darlings is that they are more than happy to take advantage of feeders with suet, delighting people as they watch them enjoying some lunch. Downys also like black oil sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, and chunky peanut butter. Sometimes they’ll even take a sip from an oriole or hummingbird feeder. Some of their most notable calls are the Whinny Call and Pic note call
Timestamps:
0:00 Start
0:30 Population numbers
0:44 Appearance, Male and Female
1:16 Range, Location
1:59 Difference between Hairy and Downy Woodpecker
2:44 Reginal differences in the west
3:02 Habitat and where to find them
3:28 What they eat and type of bird feeder
4:38 Drumming
5:49 Calls and Sounds ( Whinny/whinnying call) (Pic/pick note call)
6:09 Breeding, Nesting, Brood, Incubation, Nest Box
8:00 Behaviors
8:35 How long they can live
8:56 Conclusion and my own thoughts
Hairy Woodpecker drumming produced by Ottawa County Parks (Michigan) and OvenBirder98/
UA-cam: / @ovenbirder
Website: miottawa.org/Parks/birding.htm
UA-cam: • Virtual Woodpecker Walk
Song - Castleshire - Chris Haugen via UA-cam Audio Library
Photos/videos and audio from free use websites:
The individuals' names can be found on their respective photo/video and /or found below (license at the end)
Thumbnail:
Downy Woodpecker portion of thumbnail taken by "Photosbyjimn" from canva.com/pro
The original background was removed and changed to trees also the bird was flipped horizontally.
Whinny call
William Whitehead, XC590054. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/590054
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Pic call
Paul Marvin, XC460829. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/460829
Clip was shortened to use end section only
Begging Calls
Elias Aristides Elias, XC246331. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/246331
Clip was shortened and had some background noise removed
Back yard by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
Park bridge by diego_torres from Pixabay
Orchard by Janelle Schindler from Pixabay
Woodland by James Owen from Pexels
Flowing Brook by Erik Mclean from Pexels
Berries by MatteoDestefano from Canva.com/pro
Corn grain by Branex from Canva.com/pro
Acorns by Serpantin from Canva.com.pro
Insect damaged wood by filin72 from Canva.com/pro
Chickadee by LesleytheBirdNerd
Nuthatch by LesleytheBirdNerd
Titmouse by Skyler Ewing from Pexels
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#LesleytheBirdNerd #DownyWoodpecker - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
I liked learning about them hiding from hawks by dodging around trees!
They do that to me too when I want to take their photo.
While hand feeding very tame black-capped chickadees yesterday in a park, a male downy woodpecker wanted in on the action and landed 3 times on my hand to look at the black oil sunflower seeds. He didn't take any, but he hung off the edge of my hand for quite a few seconds and then from the wrist of my coat. An absolute thrill for me. I just found your channel Lesley, your videos are superb, thank you for what you do.
Update: I've since been lucky enough to have downy woodpeckers sitting on the palm of my hand for minutes at a time snacking on finely crushed UNSALTED sunflower seeds and peanuts. They tend to show up in couples and always the males bravely eat first and then the reluctant females will eat with the protection of her partner close by. If the nuts and seeds are whole, they take one and go but if they are finely crushed they stay in the hand as long as 4 minutes.
Amazing….👏👏 thanks for sharing
I these & hear these guys all the time! Last weekend I watched 2 pairs of them arguing most of the afternoon! It was rather comical & entertaining!
@ Miss Dashwood, yes they eat from my hands regularly, I'm in Alberta Canada
@@sherrihasan925 OHHH ALBERTA is GORGEOUS !!! 😍It's in my bucket 🪣list to visit someday !!! 👍👍😀💜🥁🐉🎵🎤🎶💕💞
@@henrybrylowski1332 What were tgey arguing about !? Lol. Do you know ? Got me curious ! 💜🥁🐉🎵🎤🎶💕💞
Lesley, no one does a bird video like you.Your photos, filming and commentary are wonderful. I had no idea how long they live. #goDownys.
Aww thank you so much Leonidas :) What a nice compliment.
@@LesleytheBirdNerd what birds would I see in February 🤔
@@LesleytheBirdNerd some people don't compare theses woodpeckers 😒
@@LesleytheBirdNerd thank you Lesley and now I know these birds better 😊
🙂 nice comparence Lesley
I love seeing these guys at my feeding stations! Every time one flies to my suet feeders or seed stacker feeders, I immediately pause and don’t move a muscle so I can watch them and not accidentally scare them. Great video Lesley! Thank you!
Hey, I'm glad you enjoyed this video. :) Seems like we both react similarly when we see these little guys. I'm very cautious about how I move and try not to move very much. I enjoy watching them. Take care
I would hear these woodpecker in summer a long time ago ☺️☝️
@@LesleytheBirdNerd these birds are tiny and cute 🥰🥰
@@LesleytheBirdNerd I would hear them peak at trees
@@LesleytheBirdNerdwhenever I read a book about hairy woodpecker it always says it's larger 😒
I like that little fact about how they use their tail feathers as a brace when going up and down trees. That's something that always makes me smile watching them work a tree. Thanks for sharing and happy birding!
Beautiful little birds! I love seeing them at our feeder. I really liked the video. I like the perfect roundness of their nest hole. Looks machine made!
I've got one that comes daily to get peanuts. I can stand against the railing on my deck, and the bird will come up right beside me and isn't afraid at all. I love watching them take a peanut, fly to a nearby branch, wedge the peanut into the back, and then start pounding away on the shell to unlock the goodness inside.
Peanuts are crack for birds. They're addicted.
I take peanut halves and wedge them into gaps in the wood on my deck and wooden fence. Like you said they love to come and peck out that peanutty goodness and it's fun to see! I had to switch to almonds because a neighbor child is allergic to peanuts - and they find them wedged in the ground in their yard (the work of blue jays caching their bounty). The birds are not as crazy about the almonds. I think they see peanuts in the shell much easier to see and to peck apart! And they probably taste better, too.
Cool😊
I really enjoyed learning the differences between the downy and hairy woodpeckers! I always knew about the size difference, but never knew about the difference in their markings.
I always get many downys at my feeders and they often spend as much time chasing each other around as they do feeding. Thank you for the awesome video! Happy birding!!
Their drumming in the Springtime is a most welcome sound to hear.
The pecks on hardwood per second is astounding. Great drummers.
Ringo Starr is probably jealous.
I was having a bad mushroom trip. I was so still outside on my patio that a lil downy came by and pick from the feeder for a while and didn’t even care I was there. Filled my heart with joy!
This dapper little woodpecker is certainly one of my favorites! I hear them calling around the Cottage and love seeing them visit my suet feeders during the winter. I am glad they’re so tolerant and adaptable-we always have them around the neighborhood. I can attest to their fondness of blueberries! They raid my bushes every year, along with the House Finches and chickadees. Thanks for another lovely video, Lesley! You always brighten my day! ✨ - Tara Kate
How cute about them enjoying the blueberries you have in your yard. Adorable little birds. Thank you for the kind comment, I'm so glad you enjoy these videos. Take care
I love the sound of drumming 🥰🥰
@@LesleytheBirdNerd I can can tell from downy woodpecker and hairy woodpecker ☝️
@@LesleytheBirdNerd do more woodpeckers 🥰☺️
@@LesleytheBirdNerd I wish the people out there would 🤔 understand these birds aren't alike ☝️
I live these little guys! Every time I see one, I'll stop what I'm doing just to watch.
Thank you for thievery informative and sweet video about our little bird friends Miss Leslyourbirdnerd.
Downy Woodpeckers are real acrobats, and they come to my suet feeders every day. Yesterday a tiny male sat on my deck rail with his minute red crest fully extended. So cute! Thanks for this new video, Leslie!
That's one of my buddies! Comes to my yard, doesn't say anything to anyone, except maybe to make squeaky sounds before landing. When other birds are hanging out in their groups, these guys stop by solo, but recently they have been bringing their young to my yard. Often times, I've been so close to them and not know it, only to look up and see them right in front of me. They sometimes fly by the side of my face without me knowing it, starting off behind my head so I don't realize it until they pass. They aren't super shy like cardinals, so it's easier to feed and photograph them. This is the first year they started eating sunflower seeds at my place, and I have seen them walk on the ground this year too, never seen that before. Adorable bird indeed!
I love these these little guys. They make the bush sound alive. Well done again Miss Nerd
Your story about the woodpecker sliding down your tripod pole is to funny. I, too, adore watching them all year around. Where I live they are constant visitors to my feeders.
Another enjoyable and interesting video! Woodpeckers visit our feeding stations quite often, mostly the downy but I did see a hairy the other day. Last year I left a suet cake on a planter on my deck and a pileated woodpecker came and ate! It was so close to the window I was able to get a great video. Made my day because I had never seen one!
I just love seeing these little guys
Always learning - Now I finally know why a woodpecker was drumming on the metal cable cover of our telephone pole - thought he'd just gone 'looney' at first.
Always love to watch them as a kid on snowy days👍
Cute and spunky. Love them 😚
Leslie, thank you for another fantastic presentation.
Their longevity is fascinating. Especially for such small little guys. Thank you Leslie. I love your videos🐦🕊
Love these little woodpeckers! I have them most every day at my feeders they love my sunflower seeds and the suet. I live in SW Virginia.
Have been lucky enough to see 3 of these beautiful birds. In Meridian IDAHO. So exciting… always watching for them. Thank you for the video ✌️
Thanks for sharing this video showing the differences between the “Downy” & “Hairy” woodpeckers. I have both living in our small woods behind our house. And they do visit our feeders on a regular basis. So now your video will help me be able to identify who is who at my feeders.
The kindness you show to our feathered friends, your knowledge and willingness to share photos and give such sweet commentary really settles my soul in these times of TOO MUCH news. I love birds and all wildlife, live in the woods near Homer, Alaska and am fortunate to commonly have Harries and Downies around. I enjoyed the more subtle differences you pointed out; markings, calls, and drummings. Thank you for what you do!
These guys are like a little spark of life on a gray winter’s day. Seeing them at the feeder is such a joy.
Spot on! Love seeing these darlings any time of the year but especially over winter. :)
I have Downy Woodpeckers in my backyard...I love watching them strut up and down the trees!
I love these little fellas and have them in my yard everyday .They sure love my suet and just like you said I see them hanging with Chickadees, Juncos, Nuthatches and Tufted Titmouse. It’s common for me to see them with Red Bellies, Cardinals and Blue Jays also this time of year as the temp drops in New Jersey. Thanx for another great video Lesley…
I liked learning the difference between the Downy and Hairy, and the living environment they like. So pretty and cute.
I know a downey that often came around to see me in the woods. Last time he came brought me his new mate. They do have their own characters. It's a pleasant visitor to meet in the woods.
We left our window open and the screen was off . He flew right in and was perched on our headboard ! My husband came into the room and was very surprised -I have a pair in my yard and they love the suet feeder . The are adorable . Your presentation was so informative Lesley ! Thank you !
Great video. I enjoy the whole gang as regulars here in Kansas. Downys, Black Capped Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmouses.
I have these here and the Hairy Woodpeckers also. I love them. So cute. ♥ ☺
What a lovely little bird! I had no idea there were such tiny woodpeckers...just 1 ounce! Amazing.
As always, Lesleythebirdnerd, your videos are awesome. I am fortunate to have Downy Woodpeckers frequent the peanut feeders I have in my yard.
I love these guys! I have a bunch at my feeders along with the Hairy Woodpeckers too!
Hi, Leslie. I guess I enjoyed learning about how fast they can peck on the tree. 25 per second! Wow! Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!
Thank YOU, Lesley, for sharing the videos and your knowledge with all of us. Your bird knowledge and love of birds is infectious!
I love watching these birds , the live my suet, and the new suet feeder I built. Your videos are awesome I live how you present everything !❤
I see these in the trees around me often--I saw a big pileated woodpecker the other day, too!
Awesome about seeing the large Pileated.
Living in the Rockies in Colorado we enjoy watching these all the time. One thing no one told me when I retired was that I needed to budget for bird seed!
Funny story with the tripod 😂
Great facts. You pretty much covered it 👍 😊 thanks for sharing
Hi Lesley. .thankful so much for the Downey video. Late last spring a neighbour cut a large tree branch didlodging 6 baby doeneys. Long story short my son and I managed to find 4. I tore my bedroom apart and using a large crock...placed many wind broken maple branches.We syringe fed the babies for over a week until they could feed themselves from a suite block.. fruit.. and peanut butter I put in the branches. Twice we released them...first time they goofed around then came back to us when they were hungry. Second release saw two larger males..Woody and Eric...eventually fly off but Dolly and Chester stayed. Third release they both settled in the maples of back and were also coming to the suite block and fruit we hung in the trees. When last seen Dolly was hanging with a group including a nuthatcher and chickadee. Winter saw Chester still coming to the feed station but Dolly we like to think of in Florida hanging by a pool ordering bug coladas. Have not seen Chester in several weeks but I pray that we will see them again this spring. Love from Southwestern Ontario. ..Jo
I love these little birds, when I first started birding they were some of the easiest to spot!
Such a pretty little 🐦 bird.
Thanks for another great bird show, educational and very entertaining.
Awesome video, you have become our go to person when ever my boyfriend and I find a new bird!! So much useful information thanks for making these 😊
We have enjoyed your special rapport with your woods, your wildlife and your viewers.
This is our first msg, but our regular response after viewing your vids is we love birds, especially through your eyes. Thank you.
Love, GnL
Thank you again Lesley, for the video and commentary.
I enjoyed learning about the difference between the downy and hairy calls. I realized I’ve heard the babies too. Thank you Lesley.
You are so welcome
We get both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers at our suet feeders and you can tell who is outside by how loud and sharp the BEEP call is, haha. Same call, different volume. Thank you for showing us these cute woodpeckers!
Downy Woodpeckers are so much fun to watch. They always seem to be present in my yard. I didn't know they are so territorial.
Wonderful and informative filling the gaps of what I have collected looking forward to many Happy Birding
Enjoyed your latest video. When I first moved to the San Diego, CA area in the mid-1980s, Downy Woodpecker was only found in extreme north county around Oceanside. Their range has extended southward since then. In these parts they are a riparian species, found along our small streams and rivers. They still aren't very common, so it is always a treat running into one. Our common small woodpecker in coastal southern California is Nuttall's Woodpecker; we get Hairy Woodpecker mostly in the mountains.
Thank you Lesley! I have learned a few birding tips from your videos. I have spotted this cutie in my woods and in my pine tree. I have a collection now of feeder’s lol, soon this spring and summer a few bird boxes I will put up, I have seen this downey come to my suet feeder I have seen 2, with the black cap chicadee and tit mouse! I love watching the bird’s and seeing them come to the feeder’s it warms my heart. I now have to really watch out we spotted a hawk not just one hawk but 2 hawk’s, the black crow’s also eat and keep the hawks away! Im from saint Joseph Michigan so it’s winter here now! Happy birding and thank you for sharing your beautiful bird’s! I love all bird’s squirrels deer bunnies I have them all I feed! Happy birding friend! XO!❤
At first I had trouble deciding if our feeder was attracting downy or hairy woodpeckers, until one day a genuine hairy woodpecker showed up and absolutely dwarfed the other birds we'd been seeing. The size difference really is unmistakable.
I love this video. Thank you so much. I love how they seem to play hide and seek as they dodge back and forth behind branches and trunks. Charming and adorable, indeed!
I love their little squeaks when they want me to move away from the suet or refil it 😆😅
Thank you Lesley for these videos! I did not know about the feathers over their nostrils, the Downy is adoreable!
Thanks for the specific details to tell Hairy & Downies apart!👍
You're welcome :)
Your description of this little bird is spot on. I also love watching them and really enjoyed your video.
Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Such lovely, curious birds. I love them. They always entertain me at my feeders. When they hop on my deck, they cock their heads like they are trying to figure something out. Way cute.
I just saw my 1st Downey today.. it was awesome... Thank you very much for this video ..
Aww how awesome! :)
I have not had the privilege of seeing a Downey nest hole BUT my mated pair Clifford and Gloria had a brood this year. Clifford was named by my 4 year old after he knocked himself silly on our glass door. That was the first time. Last winter I was getting ready to leave for our local Audubon to join with a yearly membership. I heard that thump that some of us all to sadly know. I literally ran out the door and found my Clifford in the snow. I picked him up and sat with him until he gained his composure. I am so happy to say he recovered well enough to raise his young this year. Every window now has decals or stickers to avoid a collision again.
Wonderful video! Ty! 💕 I love watching these guys in my Wisconsin yard.
I make sure to have suet for them. 😊
I’ve always called them Little Sap Suckers. They are always the first to show up when I refill the suet feeder. Thanks Lesley!!!
I like that your videos are factual, personally narrated, educationally entertaining & relaxing.
Wow, thank you!
However not appreciating the frigid temps in IL, I can appreciate the wooded area I live in. I do have them visiting my suet feeders daily. They are indeed beautiful and very showy! I must have a ton looking for mates, ratta-a-tat-tat! I need to get a nest box myself. Thank you for update, Lesley. Happy birding! 💞
Had a wee beauty on my suet feeder today. West Michigan, 7 miles east of Lake Michigan. Was a delight to see!!!
I have a pair of Downies here I feed regular. Ive been able to watch them for three years and watch them raise their babies. Its fun to watch them.
Yes, distinguishing between hairy and Downey Woodpeckers was an early challenge in my birding development. Spot on - they are adorable birds. Great video!
Lovely tiny bird. I was thrilled this year with the addition of suet to the yard a downy showed up. As far as I could tell there was just a male. He was comfortable at the feeder yet did not show up regularly. I do hope to see a pair some day. Thanks for the video.
I put up a suet feeder so that the chickadees would make it through the winter as it was getting colder. The chickadees moved away I suppose, but a downy or two showed up, then came the red bellied woodpecker. If my bird visitors can find a place better than I can provide for them, I wish them that! I wouldn't want to be the only nice person to wildlife in my area, but it seems to be that way where I am. I'm in a position where I'm wishing for them better and more habitats and better human hosts.
When trees break or struck by lightening I tell the Tree crew to leave the part still standing for the birds. And there Was a woodpecker living in one already that I can see.
We have a few that frequent our feeders!! I love them and am thrilled everytime I see them!! Thank you for the information, Leslie ❤
I love Downy Woodpeck! i have a pair in my back yard on a dead tree. There very interesting birds to watch. Love the video keep up the good work. thanks for sharing.
Very good work, Lesley. I love hearing their drumming when mating. Even better, I now know why there are two different sounds.
I love these birds! I have so many that I feed and return to visit..sometimes I’ll make sure they can eat before I do lol
Yay! Another great video! Thank you! I was happy to hear how long they can live. We've seen them grab onto the bird feeder pole and slide down too lol. So funny and cute to watch! 😄
Haha! They are darlings that's for sure. :)
another great video, Lesley. Love those cute little fellas and always look forward to seeing them
So fun to have found your channel. I love seeing birds and of course never see them as clearly as you show them. Thank you for this!
Hey! Thank you. I'm really glad you enjoy the videos :)
Hi Lesley,
Thanks for the great video. I live in Southern California and just saw my first downy woodpecker the other day and got some pictures. I will be on the lookout for more!
Great video, Lesley!
I loved learning about the difference in their drumming sounds. Thankfully I've learned other things about wood peckers from you. How to tell them apart and drumming isn't looking for food. Thanks Leslie!🖤🤍❤
Your photography and narratives are outstanding! Love your channel…love the birdies!😊
We have 2 males and a couple females in our backyard daily!! They truly are the cutest!! 🥰
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. I took on bird watching as a hobby during the pandemic and absolutely love learning from you. Hubby bought me binoculars and we have ventured out to nearby reserves to enjoy the wonderful sightings. We have spotted blackbirds, owls, and bald eagles. It has been a very rewarding and fascinating hobby.
As I am watching this video, I am also keeping an eye out for our adorable couple of downies living in our backyard forest in central MA for several years now. They come down to our feeders twice, sometimes three times a day. Our regulars include cardinals, blue jays, snowies, chickadees, and all sorts of finches.
I liked getting to learn about them ducking quickly behind the tree to hide themselves from from hawks. I never knew that and it was really nice to learn.
Living in a apartment in Madison WI 2yrs ago I put out a Hummingbird feeder to see if we could get a hummer to feed. Well, that was a success, I bought some suet & a hanging feeder. I believe it took less than 1hr & sure enough a female woody showed up & fed. Not long after that we figured out that any animal in the forest will eat peanuts,put some out on the porch and sure enough we had a Hairy also. Male & female both. They are fun to watch and I'm glad that they trust me enough to come as close to me as they do:) Loving birds in Madison..
I particularly enjoyed the differences between the downy and hairy. We have many of them and enjoy watching them year round. From SW Minnesota, prairie country.
I see these little woodpeckers on my feeders fairly frequently in Portland, OR. Learning about the Hairy I will now try to distinguish between the two! Thank you for the info and your amazing photography!
Cutie little darlings!!💜💜💜🧡🧡🧡💛💛💛💋💋💋👄👄👄
Such a beauty!! I didnt know the Downey & Hairy looked so much alike, wow really hard to tell them apart. Love your videos!! Always have!❤
I learned about identifying the downy woodpecker & loved the funny story about the woodpecker sliding down the camera tripod . Excellent videos all round- learn, enjoy and beautiful films.
Haha! I'm glad you enjoyed that little funny story. Cute little woodpecker. Thank you for the nice comment.
Thanks so much for sharing another wonderful video, I took many beautiful pictures of the male and female in my area of Montreal Canada 🍁🐦🤗
I regularly have a few pairs of Downy woodpeckers as well as one solitary male Hairy woodpecker in my back yard. One of my favorites to watch as they move around the trees. Them and the Blue Jays, of course!
I am always fascinated by all the birds, but the downy is the sweetest little thing by far! Thanks for yet another entertaining fact filled video!