![]() They will be even more fun to watch now that you know how to tell them apart. So put up a suet feeder and enjoy the company of these beautiful, resourceful, and beneficial birds. ![]() They tolerate our presence well and are easy to attract if you have trees. Downys are the most common woodpecker in Wisconsin occurring in about twice the numbers as Hairys and the population numbers of both species appear stable. Male Downy Woodpecker, courtesy of Cathy Carnes.Īccording to Alan Haney’s wonderful bird book, Jewels of Nature, the Downy and Hairy are the only two species of woodpeckers found in all 49 states of the continental U.S. When excited both species may produce a wing noise in flight – a brr in the Hairy and wing ruffle in the Downy.įemale Hairy Woodpecker, courtesy of Joel Trick. This is also why woodpeckers sometimes drum on metal objects – to be heard! Drumming may be done to establish and defend a territory, as part of courtship and mating, to attract a mate, or in response to an intruder. ![]() The stout bills of both sexes of the two species are also used to drum on trees as a means of communication – like a bird song. Cavity trees (trees with holes in their trunks) provide food and nesting sites for woodpeckers, a good reason to keep old trees standing. But, unlike the Downy’s, who seem to prefer outdoor feeders, the Upy’s will come. Some woodpecker species will never visit feeders, while others will only do so on rare occasions. Woodpeckers like these help control insect pests such as bark beetles and codling moths in orchards. The most common species of woodpeckers to visit backyard bird feeders is the Downy. They also enjoy the suet and sunflower seeds in backyard feeders and the smaller Downy may feed at hummingbird and oriole feeders as well. About one fourth of their diet is plant material e.g., berries, acorns, and grains. Since they naturally live in woodlands and forests, the Downy Woodpeckers main diet is insects that can be found in the wild and on trees, especially beetles. The Downy’s pik, and whinny (downward descending call) are softer and higher pitched than that of the peek and slurred whinny of the Hairy.Īccording to TheCornellLab, “All About Birds” website, both species use their chisel like bill to secure meals, eating mainly insects like beetle larvae that live inside wood or tree bark as well as ants and caterpillars. Also, if you look close, you can see that the Downy has black bars on its white tail feathers, while the Hairy does not. The male of both species sports a red spot on the top of the head the female does not. In th wild, shaggy woodpeckers seek ut a wide variety f insects, uh beetles, grubs, caterpillars, nd nt. ![]() Consulting the Field Guide, the two species are a study in black and white they have white backs and breasts and their black wing feathers are speckled with white spots and bars. ![]()
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