Downy vs hairy woodpecker8/6/2023 Woodpecker identification has long been a headache for bird watchers and ornithologists alike. Both sexes incubate the eggs, with males generally taking the night shift. Hairy woodpeckers are closely related to the quite different-looking bald-headed and red-crested woodpeckers, while downy woodpeckers are more closely related to the similar ladder-backed and Nutall’s woodpeckers. The nests are usually lined with nothing but the woodchips created by excavating the nest cavity, which is excavated by both members of the pair. It consumes mostly insects with some plant. Most woodpecker species are monogamous, and many form long-term pair bonds. The hairy woodpecker prefers mature forests, and is less likely to be seen in built-up areas than the downy. Although they may appear to damage trees, woodpeckers are generally good for tree health because they feed so heavily on wood-boring beetles. Many, especially males, have small patches of red or yellow on their heads. Hairy woodpeckers can feel a moving insect’s vibration and can also hear insects munch on wood while they forage tree bark for insects and larvae. The plumage of most is some combination of black and white, though brown is not uncommon. Downy Woodpeckers excavate their own cavities in deciduous and mixed forests, apple orchards, groves, farms, country homes and towns. Most woodpeckers have rounded wings and an undulating flight pattern. Black-and-white plumage is nearly identical to the larger Hairy Woodpecker. A few woodpeckers feed on ants, nuts, or flying insects. Tiny woodpecker, common and widespread across much of North America. The principal food of most woodpeckers is insects, especially the larvae of wood-boring beetles. Young: Both parents bring billfuls of insects to feed the nestlings. Discover the 4 best foods for attracting woodpeckers. A special arrangement of bones and elastic tissues allows woodpeckers to extend their long tongues and extract insect prey from the holes they chisel with their strong, sharp beaks. Incubation is by both sexes, about 12 days. Downy woodpeckers have a few black bars or spots on their white outer tail feathers, while the outer tail feathers on the hairy are usually plain and unmarked. However, this can be hard to see unless youre looking at both species side by side. Right now my biggest challenge is trying to identify a Downy Woodpecker from a Hairy Woodpecker. In a nutshell, hairy woodpeckers are larger than their downy cousins. The specially adapted skulls of woodpeckers allow them to pound hard on tree trunks to excavate nesting and roosting cavities, to find food, and to communicate and attract mates. Dear Bird Folks, I’m a new bird watcher who is particularly interested in woodpeckers. Most use their strong claws and stiff tail feathers to brace themselves against tree trunks as they climb. Further specialization has produced many aberrant forms with different behavior and feeding habits. Woodpeckers have many adaptations that allow them to perch upright against tree trunks and feed on insects under the bark or within the wood of the tree itself.
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