Watching for woodies in your backyard The DOWNY Woodpecker
By Amy Reeher
Ohio certified volunteer naturalist
The Downy Woodpecker is a common site in Ohio backyards as it can be more readily lured to feeders.
It is the smallest of the Ohio woodpeckers at 6 inches in size.
It can be confused with the Hairy Woodpecker, which is similar in features, but larger in size at 9 inches.
Besides your feeder, look for this bird in wooded areas and fields of goldenrod.
You may notice a flash of red, white and black as the Downy Woodpecker’s coloration is composed of an all-white belly, black-and-white spotted wings, a black line running through the eyes, a white stripe down the back and a red mark on the back of the head.
The red mark on the back of the head indicates a male of the species as a female lacks the red mark on its head.
Both the male and female have a short black bill.
Woodpeckers are often known for their “drumming” on branches and hollow logs, and the Downy is no exception.
Do not “follow the beat of a different drum” for bird identification as woodpeckers cannot reliably be told apart by their drumming.
Downy Woodpeckers use their long barbed tongue to pull insects from tiny places, including from under the bark of various trees.
Their diet consists primarily of insects and seeds.
Downy Woodpeckers will visit backyard bird feeders for a treat of suet and seeds.
Suet, either homemade or purchased, is a popular food source for homeowners to attract a variety of birds, including woodpeckers.
Trees are not just a food source for the Downy Woodpecker as they also play an important role in their habitat by providing shelter and nesting opportunities.
Downy Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, and both the male and female will excavate to create a viable nest.
They typically have one brood per year with three to five eggs being laid.
The eggs are white without any distinctive markings.
Males and females will incubate the eggs for 11-12 days on rotating shifts, with the males taking the night shift.
Downy Woodpecker young typically fledge within 20-25 days after hatching.
Males and females share the duty of caring for the young.
Bird-feeding has become quite popular, but it can be expensive, so interested individuals may want to consider price comparison and ensuring that any food purchased is properly stored.
Store seed in weatherproof, covered containers to help reduce issues with pests such as mice.
Seed should be kept dry to prevent molding in both the storage container and the feeder.
The most important items on any bird enthusiast’s checklist should be having fun and learning more about the creatures that share our own habitat.
To learn more about the Downy Woodpecker, go to: http://go.osu.edu/downy.