Downy Woodpecker

Scientific name

Picoides pubescens

Habitat

As its name implies, a woodpecker needs wood to peck on! The Downy Woodpecker is at home in a variety of wooded areas across Canada. It can live in the southern boreal forest, the northern mixed forests (with both conifer and deciduous trees) and the deciduous forests farther south. You can see it in parklands, in orchards and even in city parks and neighbourhoods. It prefers to hang out at forest edges or openings, where a bit of light can shine through.

In the most northern part of its range (like in the Yukon or Northwest Territories), the Downy Woodpecker migrates southward in the winter, depending on food supplies. Elsewhere, it sticks around during the cold months.

Size and colour

Of the 198 species of woodpeckers worldwide, 13 are found in Canada. The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest, weighing from 21 to 28 grams. It’s a black and white bird, but the male has a small scarlet patch, like a red pompom, at the back of its head. It looks a lot like a smaller version of Hairy Woodpecker.

The woodpecker’s special feature is its long, straight, strong bill. That’s how it can dig holes in wood. It even has a covering of bristly feathers over its nostrils to keep pieces of wood and wood powder from entering its nose!

Feeding

Another special trait of a woodpecker is the long, barbed, sticky tongue that searches crevices and cracks for food. It’s super efficient for capturing its prey! The Downy Woodpecker consumes enormous numbers of insects, more than 75 per cent of its diet, even in the winter. These bugs include many species that may attack trees, like Bark Beetles. Downy Woodpeckers also snack on small fruits and berries when they’re in season. They are also the most likely woodpecker species to visit backyard bird feeders, especially in the winter.