Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae Genus: Picoides Species: pubescens Profile: 5 positives 2 neutrals No negatives Regional... This bird has been reportedly found in the following regions: Fairhope, Alabama , British Columbia San Anselmo, California Aurora, Colorado North Haven, Connecticut Sandy Hook, Connecticut Black Diamond, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Palm Shores, Florida Santa Rosa Beach, Florida South Daytona, Florida Trenton, Florida Byron, Georgia Calhoun, Georgia Dacula, Georgia Dallas, Georgia Montpelier, Idaho Algonquin, Illinois Gages Lake, Illinois Rock Falls, Illinois Springfield, Illinois Westchester, Illinois Corunna, Indiana Plainfield, Indiana Yale, Iowa Oskaloosa, Kansas Hebron, Kentucky Melbourne, Kentucky Baton Rouge, Louisiana Pownal, Maine Clinton, Maryland Hanover, Maryland Linthicum, Maryland Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland North Attleborough, Massachusetts Bear Lake, Michigan Dearborn, Michigan Dearborn Heights, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Royal Oak, Michigan Traverse City, Michigan Albertville, Minnesota Corcoran, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Airport Drive, Missouri Bolivar, Missouri Cole Camp, Missouri Conway, Missouri Glendale, Missouri Saint Robert, Missouri Warner, New Hampshire Beachwood, New Jersey Lake Mohawk, New Jersey Marlton, New Jersey Oak Valley, New Jersey Woodstown, New Jersey Amityville, New York Himrod, New York Yonkers, New York Cary, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Winston-salem, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Medora, North Dakota Columbiana, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Corning, Ohio Haskins, Ohio Hilliard, Ohio Lebanon, Ohio Logan, Ohio Pleasant Grove, Ohio Williamsburg, Ohio Molalla, Oregon Ashley, Pennsylvania Meshoppen, Pennsylvania Irwin, South Carolina Summerville, South Carolina Clarksville, Tennessee Summertown, Tennessee Austin, Texas Barrett, Texas Copperas Cove, Texas Euless, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Friendswood, Texas Spring, Texas Watauga, Texas Magna, Utah West Valley City, Utah Essex Junction, Vermont Appleton, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Neutral Grasmussen On Jan 11, 2009, Grasmussen from Anchorage, AK (Zone 4a) wrote: Only the males have a bright red patch on the back of the head. Positive Malus2006 On Jan 13, 2009, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: One of the most common woodpecker in the Twin Cities, they will nest even in telephone poles. They are small compare to other woodpeckers, being rather larger than a sparrow but smaller than a dove. They will regularly visits feeder if they can handle the perching but will loves to come to suet feeders all year round. Positive plantladylin On Sep 13, 2009, plantladylin from Daytona Beach, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: The Downy is found throughout Florida, and we had a pair nest in a Camphor Tree in our back yard this year. The female didn't seem to mind my presence if I sat on the bench under the tree, but the male was very vocal if he was nearby and I was anywhere in that area of the yard. He would flit back and forth from one tree to another and really make a racket. I don't know how many babies were hatched but it was fun watching the parents going to and from the nest hole to feed them. The adult would fly down to one of the suet feeders and back to the nest with the babies chirping loudly. My book on Florida birds says the Downy's diet consists of beetles, cockroaches, ants and other insects and that vegetable matter make up a small portion of the food intake. Positive bungalow1056 On Apr 8, 2010, bungalow1056 from Winston-Salem, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: These woodpeckers are a hoot. The enjoy giving me a start by banging on my home's aluminum siding to claim their territory during the Spring mating season. Neutral pdools_NJ On Jul 24, 2010, pdools_NJ from Sparta, NJ wrote: I love to have any and all birds in my Northern NJ backyard, but I'm thinking twice about my downy woodpeckers. They love the necter in my hummingbird feeders and can drain one in two days. I don't mind refilling the feeders, but I can't believe this much sugar is healthy for their diet. In his spare time, one of the larger males has taken up pecking a hole in my shed. I'm going to try a suet feeder to try and allure them to something better for their diet (and my shed). I stopped putting out my wren house, because I heard they break other birds' eggs- hence my new neighbors. Just goes to show you, we are all part of nature and not bigger than it. A solution for one problem opens the door to a new one- you just need to leave it all alone and let nature run it's course. Positive hydey6 On Aug 23, 2011, hydey6 from Corunna, IN wrote: I've never had any problems with this bird. I put out woodpecker bars and that is all they go after. They sometimes peck at the peanuts in the peanut ring for the blue jays and a blue jay will land on top of the hook and stare at him, waiting for him to leave, which is rather comical. Positive Cville_Gardener On Jan 28, 2012, Cville_Gardener from Highland Rim of TN United States (Zone 7a) wrote: Besides being useful for removing insects from tree bark, these birds are a joy to watch. They love the suet feeders and frequent them all winter.

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