Males tend to forage mostly on preferred areas such as small branches and weed stems whereas females tend to forage more on larger branches and tree trunks. Males and females each have their own feeding niche which has been extensively studied. Downy woodpeckers forage primarily on trees, but will also forage on shrubs and weed stalks. They are very acrobatic birds and can even feed upside down. (By Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren - Downy Woodpecker, CC BY 2.0, ) As mentioned, downy woodpeckers can also be found frequenting backyard bird and suet feeders, and they particularly like black oil sunflower seeds. They will also eat plant materials such as berries, acorns, and grains which account for about a quarter of their diet. Economically, downy woodpeckers play an important role by eating pest species such as corn earworms, tent caterpillars, bark beetles, and apple borers. This includes beetle larvae that live inside tree bark, ants, and caterpillars. Insects make up the majority of the downy woodpecker’s diet. Downy woodpeckers tend to prefer deciduous trees. However, this is a very versatile bird and it can also be found in the city at backyard bird feeders. (By Virginia State Parks staff - Downy WoodpeckerUploaded by AlbertHerring, CC BY 2.0, )ĭowny woodpeckers can be found in open woodlands, particularly along streams. Downy woodpeckers are often confused with the hairy woodpecker, but downy woodpeckers are smaller in size and have a shorter, stubbier bill than the hairy woodpecker. Total body length is 5-6.5 inches and the body weight is less than one ounce. The heads are black and white striped, and males have a red spot on the back of their head. Their backs have a white stripe running down the length of the body. Downy woodpeckers are white on their bellies and black and white checked on the wings. The downy woodpecker has been relatively well-studied due to some of its foraging habits which I’ll describe.īarely larger than a chickadee, the downy woodpecker has a short bill that is no longer than the length of its head. The smallest of the North American woodpeckers, it can be found throughout the United States. It was named based on the description of an American scientist, Mark Catesby, who gave the bird its common name because of the soft white feathers on its back. The father of taxonomy, Carl Von Linnaeus, named the bird without ever having seen it.

There, on the trunk of a tree is a little black and white bird with a bright red spot on its head. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement. This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Downy woodpecker diet