![]() ![]() This is probably more info about our woodpecker history than you wanted to know, but when you write your eventual doctorial thesis on this very topic, you’ll thank me. This has resulted in the re-growth of the forests and the return of woodpeckers. In reality, woodpeckers don’t much care for pastures, green or otherwise.) In more recent times, farming and lumbering have become less important to the local economy. ![]() (BTW, Ethan, “greener pastures” is just an expression old people use. They were eventually forced to leave the Bay State for greener pastures. Without trees, woodpeckers had nothing to peck on. Early settlers had cut down all the forests for lumber or to create farmland. A few centuries ago, trees, and therefore woodpeckers, were in short supply. Conversely, if you aren’t a woodpecker fan, you might want to travel back to the Colonial era. ![]() Are the kids in fifth grade still wearing paisley shirts? I’m sure they are, because that’s one fashion that will never go out of style…at least it hasn’t for me.Īnyone who likes woodpeckers is living in the right time period. Since you weren’t even alive when I first wrote about Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, I’ve decided to write you a fresh column. That’s before you were born and back when I was in the fifth grade…or not. After checking my files, it turned out that I actually wrote that particular column in 2002, sixteen years ago. But then I discovered my idea of “recently” was a bit off. When I first received your note I was simply going to send you a copy of a column that I had recently written on this very topic. I’m not sure which one we have in our yard. Right now my biggest challenge is trying to identify a Downy Woodpecker from a Hairy Woodpecker. Hairy woodpeckers also have a faster drumming beat.I’m a new bird watcher who is particularly interested in woodpeckers. Downy woodpeckers have a softer, less demanding call that descends in pitch at the end, while hairy woodpeckers have a louder, stronger call that stays on one pitch. Voice: Birding by ear can be a challenge for any birder, but learning to distinguish similar species by their calls can help with tricky identifications.Downy woodpeckers excavate smaller, round cavities while hairy woodpeckers have larger, more oval-shaped cavities. Cavities: Both downy and hairy woodpeckers are cavity-nesting birds, and if you are fortunate to see a nesting hole it can be a clue toward the bird’s identity.Hairy woodpeckers are shier and much more apt to fly away when disturbed, and they prefer feeding on thicker branches and tree trunks. Downy woodpeckers will travel in mixed flocks with other small birds such as chickadees and titmice, and they frequently feed on thin branches, younger trees, and weed stalks. Behavior: Downy woodpeckers are bolder and more curious birds, despite their diminutive size, and they will often respond to pishing from observant birders.Hairy woodpeckers cannot feed on such weak stems, which would bend under the birds' weight. Downy woodpeckers are also more likely to be found on the fringes of agricultural areas, where they will feed on weed stalks. Downy woodpeckers are 10 times more likely to appear in suburban areas and backyards, whereas hairy woodpeckers are much more reclusive. Habitat: Both birds can be found in deciduous, pine, and hardwood forests.The hairy woodpecker’s range is slightly greater, however, and they can be found in Mexico as well, while downy woodpeckers are absent in the Southwest and Mexico. ![]() Range: Both these woodpecker species have extensive ranges covering most of North America.Neither of these markings is very prominent and there can be geographic variations, but if seen distinctly, they can help identify the bird’s species. Second, downy woodpeckers have a plain shoulder, while a black spur of color juts onto hairy woodpeckers’ shoulders toward the breast. First, the downy woodpecker’s white outer tail feathers show some black barring or spotting, while the hairy woodpecker’s outer tail feathers are plain. Markings: While these birds are almost identical in plumage, there are two subtle differences that can be detected.The hairy woodpecker’s bill, on the other hand, is just as long as its head and is proportionally thicker and more stout and dagger-like in appearance. The downy woodpecker’s bill is a small nub, less than half the length of its head, and may seem even smaller if the nasal bristles are fluffed. Bill: These bird species have vastly different bill lengths.While judging a bird’s size in the field can be difficult, it is useful to compare the bird’s length to nearby objects that can be measured, such as the size of a feeder or the width of a tree branch. Downy woodpeckers are small, only about 6-7 inches in length, while hairy woodpeckers are larger, usually 9-11 inches in length. Size: The bird’s size is the easiest and most obvious way to determine its species.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board. ![]()
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