{"id":13584,"date":"2020-02-17T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=13584"},"modified":"2020-02-21T08:18:00","modified_gmt":"2020-02-21T13:18:00","slug":"take-5-downy-woodpeckers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-downy-woodpeckers\/","title":{"rendered":"Take 5: Downy Woodpeckers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Of the seven woodpeckers found in Massachusetts<\/a>, the Downy Woodpecker has the distinction of being both the smallest and most common\u2014they can be found almost anywhere there are trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With insects making up the bulk of their diet, downies will pick and peck at tree bark in search of tasty insects and will often crawl out to the tips of smaller branches that larger woodpeckers can\u2019t access. They are also eager feeder visitors, enjoying both seeds and suet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’re much less likely to spot the Downy’s larger cousin, the Hairy Woodpecker, which prefers mature forests. They may look alike, but the Hairy\u2019s beak is larger than the Downy\u2019s, and it has all-white outer tail feathers. Both species will drum on trees year-round to communicate but the frequency picks up this time of year as they set up territories. You may even be able to spot the difference by sound: Hairy Woodpeckers drum very fast with long pauses\u2014at least 25 taps\/ second; 20 seconds between\u2014 while Downy Woodpeckers drum more slowly with shorter pauses\u201415 taps\/second; a few seconds between. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Downy Woodpeckers<\/a> on our website and enjoy these five photos of Downies from our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors<\/a> photo contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Downy
Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Rosemary Polletta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Downy
Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Ilene Hoffman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Downy
Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Elizabeth Ninemire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Downy
Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Rosalee Zammuto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Downy
Downy Woodpecker \u00a9 Bruce Gilman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of the seven woodpeckers found in Massachusetts, the Downy Woodpecker has the distinction of being both the smallest and most common\u2014they can be found almost anywhere there are trees. With insects making up the bulk of their diet, downies will pick and peck at tree bark in search of tasty insects and will often crawl […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":13588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[158],"tags":[28,330,212],"class_list":["post-13584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-take-5","tag-birds","tag-downy-woodpecker","tag-woodpecker"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/02\/1604Bruce_Gilman14267.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3x6","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5338,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/who-made-that-hole\/","url_meta":{"origin":13584,"position":0},"title":"Who Made That Hole?","author":"Rosemary","date":"May 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"As you stop to admire the new leaves on a tree this spring, you may notice holes carved in trunks and branches. Who made these cavities, and why? Smaller pits may be the work of insects, but most of the larger holes\u00a0were created by woodpeckers, either for feeding or nesting.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2015\/05\/pileatednest.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8150,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-woodpecker-wake-up-call\/","url_meta":{"origin":13584,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Woodpecker Wake-up Call","author":"Ryan D.","date":"August 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"With summer winding down and fall approaching, you may start to hear the sound of a friendly neighbor or two, knocking on your door (or drainpipe, or siding, or trees). Woodpeckers! Each\u00a0fall, woodpeckers excavate roosting holes in preparation for the coming winter, utilizing a behavior called \"drilling.\"\u00a0When woodpeckers\u00a0drill, they actually\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pileated Woodpecker \u00a9 Daniel Tracey, Photo Contest 2014","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2016\/08\/3084Daniel_Tracey11295.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16722,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/spotlight-on-pileated-woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":13584,"position":2},"title":"Spotlight on Pileated Woodpeckers","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"March 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Did you know there are seven different types of woodpeckers that breed in Massachusetts? Among them are the common Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker. More elusive, despite it's size, is the Pileated Woodpecker. Keep reading to learn more and check out our latest shirt design featuring the this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Birds & Birding"","block_context":{"text":"Birds & Birding","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/birds-birding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/03\/6931Tom_Raymo36640-750x500-d24ee1ae-451a-45c4-9a49-e9335aec5bc0-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2727,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/three-animal-lookalikes\/","url_meta":{"origin":13584,"position":3},"title":"Three Animal Lookalikes","author":"Rosemary","date":"August 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Some animal species look very similar to each other. 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This black and orange butterfly looks\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2013\/08\/woodpeckers.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10687,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-pileated-woodpeckers\/","url_meta":{"origin":13584,"position":4},"title":"Take 5: Pileated Woodpeckers","author":"Ryan D.","date":"March 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"It's always a treat to spot the iconic pileated woodpecker (unless, of course, you catch one drilling into the side of your house). With their striking black and white plumage and flaming red crests, they are almost prehistoric-looking, like a crow-sided modern pterodactyl. Woodpeckers have several unique adaptations. 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