Two species of woodpeckers come into their own in winter. The dramatic black and white feathers of downy and hairy woodpeckers add contrast to even the drabbest day. No matter what the weather, these ...

The downy woodpecker is among the steadiest of winter birds. She's at the suet feeder every morning. I know the bird is a female because there's no red mark on the back of her head. Male downy ...

My first real bird guide book was a paperback copy of Roger Tory Peterson’s “A field Guide to Birds of the Eastern United States” that I got when I was in high school. The only other identification ...

This week’s featured creature, the downy woodpecker, is a bird that is as common in suburban yards as it is in rural areas. It is so named for the downy white feathers on its back between the wings ...

In the cold, blustery days of January, one bird species brings joy and light. Its name alone, downy woodpecker, exudes a sense of warmth, and if you have any trees in your neighborhood, you most ...

Being able to tell a downy from a hairy woodpecker is one of those "rites of passage" for a birdwatcher. I suppose before that comes knowing that these two woodpeckers live around here and can be ...

A downy woodpecker shreds the hollow stems of poison hemlock to feast on tumbling flower beetle larvae. Click here for larger image. Photo by Jeff Mitton. On a grey day in November, a downy woodpecker ...

The hairy woodpecker is not abundant in our area, but it is a dependable, stay-at-home, easy to find species year-around. The downy woodpecker, a smaller but very similar species, is more frequent and ...