North Louisiana Wildlife

Follow Us through the Forests and Wetlands

Downy woodpecker foraging on a thin limb

Did you know that downy woodpeckers have feathers around their nostrils?

Downy Woodpeckers
at
a Glance

Key Features:

Downy woodpeckers are white with black backs, wings, and tails. They have black stripes on their heads. Males have red napes.

Least Concern - Population Stable

Habitat:

Open woodland, orchards, parks, and yards

nesting habits:

Downy woodpeckers nest in holes in dead trees.

seasons downy woodpeckers are active in our area:

All year

Diet:

Insects, acorns, berries, and grains

hunting Behavior:

Downy woodpeckers forage by drilling in trees and hopping on the ground.

Commonly Confused With:

Hairy Woodpeckers and Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers

Hairy woodpecker foraging in a tree trunk

Downy woodpeckers are often confused with hairy woodpeckers because both are black and white woodpeckers.  Downy woodpeckers are smaller and have shorter beaks.

Male yellow-bellied sapsucker perched on a tree trunk

Downy woodpeckers are often confused with yellow-bellied sapsuckers because both are black and white.  Yellow-bellied sapsuckers have red crowns.

See Downy woodpeckers @

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