They live in western Alaska across Canada, south to southern California, northern Arizona, and eastern Texas to Florida.
They live in open leafy (deciduous) forests, mixed woods, parks, orchards and in yards.
They are the smallest (sparrow-sized) American woodpecker with a white back, black and white striped (barred) wings and a red patch on their head. Their tail is black with white outer feathers. They have a small, pointed bill. Females have a black patch on head instead of the red patch.
They come to bird feeders. They will flock with other birds in winter.
They peck for insects in trees and will also eat fruit, seeds and tree sap.
They nest in trees holes in which the female lays 3 – 8 white eggs.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: P. pubescens
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Amsel, Sheri. "Woodpecker (Downy)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
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