10 Downy Woodpeckers Facts

The active little Downy Woodpecker is a familiar sight at backyard feeders and in parks and woodlots, where it joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches, barely outsizing them.
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[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Ways to support: Teespring teespring.com/stores/lesleythebirdnerd Bonfire www.bonfire.com/store/lesleythebirdnerd Paypal www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=E5GM54J7C28LC

[@lisamills3228]

Thank you Leslie, we have apparently 5 different types woodpeckers on our property

[@stephenspark9358]

Just curious is it common in Canada to call Orchards Orchids I have heard you Pronounce Orchards as Orchids several times not Trolling just curious ?

[@stephenspark9358]

Have you ever heard that Downy Woodpeckers also eat poison ivy berries I have, just wondered if you had?

[@realmattpcd]

How did you get them to eat from your hand

[@WebFanNY]

@LesleytheBirdNerd We found out this year we have four species living in our wooded backyard here in Upstate NY, including the giant Pileated Woodpecker that inspired Woody. It's a monster the size of a forearm and it clears the yard when he eats off the feeder paste we leave for it. all squirrels and birds get out of the way.

[@tardigrade9493]

For ten minutes I escaped the pandemic into the charming world of this little woodpecker. Thank you.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Oh man that makes my heart smile :) you're very welcome take care

[@tardigrade9493]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd :-)

[@spark_6710]

WELL SAID !👍💜💜💜💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💕💞

[@spark_6710]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd 💜💜💜💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💖💕💞

[@jfphotography69]

You mean plandemic.

[@thomaslong8401]

Downy woodpeckers always put me in a good mood.

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

My favorite fact was that they are terribly adorable.

[@HSkyler]

I did not know the drumming wasn't for food! The peanut feeder attracts both Hairy and Downy, plus the Acorn and Flickers. There could be more but the Hairy and Downy are regulars. Adorable little things! Thank you for a wonderful video!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Cool, thanks!

[@brendahorton4907]

Love birding and I’ve really enjoyed your videos. Watching my birds help me relax and I thank God for them.

[@claireusilton4066]

Liked the facts about the feathers that keep the wood chips and dust out of their nostrils. As always: thank you for this piece of heaven!❤️

[@KarlBunker]

As a fellow woodworker, I'm jealous of these birds having a built-in dust mask.

[@annetteenzoulis4870]

@@KarlBunker and probably of being able to attract females by knocking on wood! 😆😆👍🤦‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@alehman35]

My favorite kind of woodpecker. I rescued one who got stuck on our screen door after a crash. I was honored she trusted me to hold her a bit while she recovered.

[@mkivy]

Thank you sooooo much! We just adore our neighbors! What a world would be without them! Well we wouldn’t have a world! Take care and stay blessed!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

So true! You are welcome, glad you enjoyed

[@donnabeaudin9114]

I was so glad you showed all the differences between the Downy and Hairy. They come to the suet every winter and everybody in the family who sees them says, “ Is that a Downy or a Hairy?” Armed with the knowledge that you’ve shared, I’m going to look pretty smart this winter!😄

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

lol to funny

[@steve24todd]

I appreciated learning that the drumming was about attracting a mate, not about feeding. Thx.

[@NewEnglandNaturalist]

I didn't realize they were so helpful to our ecosystem. I love them even more now!

[@vanilittlestar6357]

OMG I LOVE DOWNY WOODPECKERS ❤!!! They are so charming & sweet. They are so wonderful to watch & hear. So cute!! Love them!!!

[@Grandizer8989]

Yeah... until they put holes in your house and kill other birds babies

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Yes they are!

[@jennyd9543]

The drumming is absolutely amazing. To be able to move that fast is incredible.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I know, it truly is fascinating. Such a neat ability

[@daviddoulong3120]

Thank you for teaching me that drumming is not searching for food. I had no idea.

[@mickianderson4359]

Me either! A neat, fun fact!

[@stephaniehill5043]

Such a lovely little break from all the chaos going on, and a good reminder to focus on what is beautiful and good. Thank you Lord for giving us all these wondrous creatures, and thank you Lesley for sharing these joyful moments with us! God bless you😊

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

You are so welcome

[@jenisecoronado5555]

They are adorable and amazing! Has anyone ever figured out how they're able to tap on the wood so fast? Leslie, you teach me more about birds than anyone ever has! Thank you so much!

[@alisonthorn2573]

These videos are single handedly getting me through 2020. So relaxing and informative. Well done, Lesley!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thanks so much! Glad its helping

[@ilikebirds7748]

I forget how tiny they are they make me so happy

[@michelleciancanelli9291]

Oh please make more videos! I have seen red bellied, downy, pileated, and recently northern flickers in my backyard this year! I took up birding during quarantine so I love watching and learning from your videos!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Working on a Hairy Woodpecker video, be out real soon There is a few wood pecker videos on my channel.

[@BirdsandGhibliFan]

Here’s one of Lesley’s videos about a Northern Flicker family. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZavoGWJir1mkK8 You’re both welcome. 😉

[@phoenixgamer3480]

Woodpeckers are such fascinating birds! 🐦

[@erin_keira]

Awe these little guys are so interesting! I was shocked to have one land on my hand at a local park while feeding chickadees...he didn't take any seeds, just sat and looked at me

[@carolynandreasen240]

I have downy woodpeckers come to my suet feeder. I love watching them. I enjoyed watching the downy “drum”.

[@mamaboocee]

Here's something interesting...the Jays know that when I hear a downey or a red bellied woodpecker, I will especially make sure they get their own peanut. So, I have a Blue Jay that now imitates them to get my attention. I heard him/her do this and was surprised when I looked up to find a blue jay staring at me instead of a Woodpecker! I have heard them imitate the hawks as well, but this impersonation of the woodpeckers was spot on! Another reason to love those Jays!

[@jeremybyington]

The jays bang their beaks into the wood? Are their skulls equipped with a shock absorber as well or are they giving themselves concussions to get a peanut?

[@mamaboocee]

@@jeremybyington what? They make CALLS like the woodpeckers, not drum like a woodpecker. Knucklehead.🤯🙂

[@artbloomfield1550]

Like Jeremy Byington, I thought you were talking about drumming, I have never heard any other sounds from them. 72 but still learning 🙂

[@mamaboocee]

@@artbloomfield1550 yes, they sound like the cartoon character woody woodpecker (the red bellied woodpeckers) and the downey has a lovely squeaky kind of sound! There are two different kinds of drumming sounds - one that is just the sound of getting food, and the other is for mating. I only learned this all during the summer of covid! So, my apologies to you and Jeremy! I never even saw a downey till this summer and jeesh, they really are all over the place! Nuthatches, too! You can search for all the bird calls here on youtube, there are many fine examples - Lesley being the first lady of Birding!

[@mamaboocee]

@@jeremybyington my apologies, I was once a birding knucklehead! See my comment to Art above this one! 😁

[@dianamccay7276]

I have a sweet little female Downy that eats from the suet feeder in my back yard. I get tickled watching her because she positions herself above the feeder and walks backwards down the tree to get to it and eat from it. It’s cute to watch! 😊

[@joelhenderson4450]

My four year old just asked for a downy woodpecker video and a hairy woodpecker video... Lesley to the rescue!

[@ronlawrence342]

Thanks for this little peek into the life of this remarkable little bird.

[@edcrutchfield3447]

Such a special video and moderator. Thank you . Please do more 🦜🦤🕊

[@joseenoel8093]

I have them, love them, they've got me running to buy suet and pack it down right!

[@kath610]

These sweet little birds make me smile every time I see them😊

[@jeffreyash3802]

I get four kinds of woodpeckers o my feeders. Love watching them.

[@JoJoDoxieMom]

Thanks 😊, learned a lot about my visitor that occasionally pecks away on my house!

[@super_hoops3172]

I have these all the time in my backyard

[@EternaMidnight]

Oddly enough the fact I enjoyed the most was that they lean on their stiff tail feathers for balance. Never would have guessed that 🤔

[@davearchbell9921]

Very informative. Thanks. Nothing starts a discussion better than Downy vs Hairy.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

You bet

[@appalachianwoman561]

This little guy and the Red Bellied Woodpeckers always show up at my feeders in the winter, they even still come during the Spring/Summer but not as frequent as the winter time. Such beautiful little birds. Can't help but notice this month I've only seen a little male at my feeders, and I hope that the female is nesting and that the tornado on May 16th didn't cause any harm to them.

[@wezlydog]

I have a male and female that eat from my feeders daily! I love to watch them!

[@kataisa3]

I love woodpeckers! Thanks for uploading this.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

No problem! Thanks for watching

[@manubird2475]

A lifetime and 60 years ago, Downy woodpeckers would drive us nuts in our very old, wood shingled house in northern New Hampshire. They would show up at the crack of dawn (I'm tempted to say the crack of downy) to peck bugs out of the rotting shingles. They drove us crazy! No more sleep! Still, my family loved those woodpeckers. They were very resilient, and they survived when so many other species disappeared during the DDT time in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Bluebirds, goldfinches, hummingbirds, hawks, and so many other species disappeared because of DDT contamination that affected egg shell strength, etc. Thank you for this video, and aloha from Hawai'i!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

So sad. Thanks for sharing your story

[@marylou7089]

I didn’t know that drumming was for mating purposes. Very interesting. Thanks Lesley.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@theteenagegardener]

Wow, beautiful captures, Lesley! This brings so much joy to me during these times. 😊

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Aww man that so awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed. Take care my friend🐦

[@danherrmann8755]

You are so lucky to feed birds out of your hands. You are blessed Thanks 😊 so much.

[@JeffSnead-sc2jf]

Love you for your time and I love birds you are doing a good job God bless you for your love and time

[@earllutz2663]

Thank you for the video. I have extremely low vision & enjoy hearing all wood peckers. Thank you again.

[@Prozrenie]

Thank you SO, SO much Lesley! I've been watching Downys for 40 years, but didn't understand e.g. real reasons for drumming! Great work you have done, AND THANKS MUCH!! -Joseph

[@teufeldritch]

Downy & Hairy, brothers like Crow & Raven.

[@BrigitteCoffman]

Haha! I call them Cousins. Like Crows and Blue Jays. LOL

[@Rigel34085]

Great video. I’m from Long Island and most of the bird species you do hang in my backyard. All your videos are great. Thanks.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@earllutz2663]

Thanks for the video on the downy woodpeckers. I very much enjoy hearing the woodpecker drumming in my woods, although I don't know what kind of woodpecker it is that I am hearing.

[@cattailer1077]

Learned so much about my male and female Downies! Thank you🥰

[@myka788]

A few rainy days ago I saw a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker in a national park in my town. It was so curious about me! Then I saw a couple Downy Woodpeckers right down the trail. Beautiful lil things 🥰

[@jerryc2709]

Love the Downy Woodpeckers here in East Tennessee and they really enjoy the suet I put out last week.

[@ivanahugankiss8414]

I get alot of these at my bird feeder that contains sunflower hearts and nyger seed. And thank you! I'm a novice bird watcher and enjoyed this informative video!

[@snarfatron]

This is my wife's favorite bird next to Baltimore orioles as always amazing video

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Cool, thanks

[@robertrhodessr3664]

How interesting! I never knew that their drumming was actually a mating call. I grew up hearing the downies and other woodpeckers making all that noise in the spring, but always thought they were foraging! They are one of my favorite birds. Thank you very much!

[@kkormanik]

I have several pairs at my crab Apple tree with feeders and suet. They love my tree and we love watching them. We’ve had them for years in PA.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I don't know why I always do this but I think it may be because I never hear this word being said and for some reason, I always pronounce it "orcid" when it should be "orchard". Hahaha oh my 😏 This error slipped on by. Very sorry for any confusion.🐦

[@Ebolter1]

it happens , no big deal

[@desertfox3860]

I knew what you meant Lesley. My place is surrounded on all sides by Apple and Pear orchards and I do have a little Downy woodpecker at my suet block. Very nice video, thanks for sharing. Also, the nostril feathers was my favorite new thing to learn.

[@BK-qp8zp]

Because you have such a lovely Canadian accent, I just figured I'd misunderstood something. I can't tell you how very much I enjoyed this video! There are several woodpeckers that are regulars at my house but I didn't know that much about them, other than the obvious. They are the cutest things!

[@lindasueplantsforyou263]

Thank you for this. We have many birds and these are my favorite next to my yellow finches. Can you say if the woodpecker damages the trees?

[@donnabeaudin9114]

That’s no problem, You didn’t miss a beat and I knew what you meant. I wish I could speak two languages, but I’m still working on my English.😁

[@CenturianEagle]

I love downy woodpeckers!!! 🥰🥰🥰 great video!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thank you! 🤗

[@juliej5917]

Thank you! I never realized the drumming was to attract a mate, and general feeding is not too noisy!

[@repetemyname842]

We have a lot of these guys around, they are actually pretty friendly and seem to enjoy coming over for a look when Im outside. Any bird that is a bug eater is a fine bird in my book and its great to know they can live for a decade or more.

[@bonnizajac8916]

I love all Woodpeckers ❤️

[@robbabcock_]

Such pretty birbs!😍😘

[@sleepygryph]

The fact about their brain being cushioned is probably the most amazing one. The impact force they endure without side effects would kill a human.

[@deedeequast9148]

There are studies explaining why woodpeckers don't get concussions from pecking. Here's one explanation: asknature.org/strategy/spongey-cranium-absorbs-impact/

[@susanwagner1745]

I have a pair that I have loved watching for the 6 years I have lived in Indianapolis, Indiana!

[@Solitaire1]

I use a window suet feeder held on by suction cups and I get these little beauties coming in all the time. I can hang out on the inside and get a very close up look at them as they come in to feed. I have at least 5 or 6 individuals that stop by throughout the day. They are absolutely one of my favorite birds to watch.

[@chaplainand1]

Thank you for posting. My wife and I live in a camper in the NW Lower portion of Michigan, near Traverse City. Our camper is right at the edge of a mix conifer/deciduous woods at the edge of a larger forested area. There are open fields nearby as well as open water. We get quite a variety of birds coming by year round. I am glad to know more about the downy and hairy woodpeckers. We get three or four species showing up. A pileated WP came by today. In the spring, one of the larger species drums on the old CB antenna by our host's garage. A couple of years ago, a pileated was drumming on an overturned aluminum canoe. Now I know they were NOT looking for food pecking on steel and aluminum. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful wealth of knowledge and understanding.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thanks for sharing your story and glad you enjoyed my video

[@freddyfriesen]

They are so cute when they come as a pair. Now I know it is the result of successful drumming. Yeah, they like taking advantage of the many suet cages in my feeding area.

[@jettabartholomew1118]

Love learning. I have a variety of woodpeckers that come to my feeders 💙

[@barbaraholt3971]

Oh thank you for the information on this lovely bird. I’m from Oklahoma and we have one in our back yard. We feed the birds and and squirrels and we have 8 different kinds of birds. We just love watching them from our patio and they have gotten so use to us that they are not scared of us. My cat loves sitting at the window and watching them. My cat will let me know it is time to feed the birds if I’m late lol

[@thenaturekid3739]

This year in Spring some chickadees made a nest on my back porch. After they fledged, i touched one. It was very soft and cute. The next day, i did not see any baby chickadees, but i did hear them all over my backyard. Now that it is fall, i miss those birds. But i do have a cute and sweet pet chicken named Chickadee.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Awesome story, thanks for sharing

[@M00Nature]

My favorite new fact was that males and females forage on different parts of a tree. I have noticed that the male downy often drives the female off of my suet cage. Definitely dominant. I have a female downy that likes to roost in one of my bluebird boxes in the winter.

[@mscir]

Very interesting, thanks. I always thought the loud tapping was them looking for food, so that was good to know, I'll spend more time watching them next time I hear that. I hope you do a show on owls one of these episodes.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Oooo a video on owls would be such a delight to do. Only trouble is, I never ever see them :( you can be sure though that if I should ever end up seeing one I'll be making a video. Thanks for the suggestion and nice comment

[@benpluta6187]

We have a lot of these little guys at the house. They make a neat noise when flying.

[@TylerAndToast]

I watched a downy carve a hole every day on this tree with fungus next to my apartment. Then watched two of them go back and forth for food, flying out of the hole at eye level. Then I heard the babies! Right by my parking spot. Every day it was cool to see the progress.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

SO cool thanks for sharing

[@alorr4uz]

I have both downy and hairy and I can never tell them apart. they don't sit still long enough!

[@canadiankabingurl9782]

I have a few here all the time. I like watching them 😊💓. Great video. 👍

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Bait2plate]

A Downy just started frequenting my feeder. First one I've been able to observe. I'm delighted.

[@raymondjones7489]

Thank you Lesley...you provided me with very usable information...thank you so much!!👍👍🥰😎

[@oliveoil2x]

Love these guys. We have both downy & hairy wood peckers. They come at different times of the season. They burrow into our cottonwood trees. They are so used to us working in the fields - that they stay put and seem to like watching (& listening) us as much as we like watching (& listening) them. ♥️

[@crazioma6648]

I always enjoy your lovely little educational videos on our NA birds. The Downeys in my old peach trees have given me hours of joy. I wait to start hearing their rat-a-tatta-tat on wood and branch in late January, even before the first Robin returns. Some never seem to leave.

[@barbkafilmout9449]

Thank you. I loved them all

[@karlstine2065]

I and my wife really enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@robertcoren7318]

I’m a huge fan of all species of woodpeckers and but I was not aware that drumming was part of the mating cycle. Thanks for sharing that information.

[@yes350yes]

Same Here.

[@GayleJLang]

I really love these videos. I live in a city environment and I love birds but don’t see too many where I live. Thank you Lesley!

[@joeschmoe2011]

I have a couple that come to the feeders (Missouri). They seemed to struggle with the feeders and they were ran off by the other birds often. I started spreading the bark butter toward the top of the 4"x4" poles that hold up the roof of the deck. They are one of the few birds that can land on the pole and eat the bark butter. I think I saw a Carolina Wren on the pole eating earlier today also. The bigger birds have given up trying. So today after the snow storm the two Downy woodpeckers flew in, right to their pole and ate away. No problem from any of the other birds.

[@petemavus2948]

It's Thanksgiving...Happy Thanksgiving to all ! I am especially grateful for all the wonders of nature. Please help nurture and protect this beautiful world entrusted to us all. Stay well !

[@victoriawilliams2786]

I've been feeding a pair of these suet this summer (2022) here in Maine. They prefer the peanutbutter kind at Walmart. They're not afraid of my cat on her harness and leash.

[@markb2175]

Thank you.

[@claudiasmigelski1528]

Enjoyed learning you hand fed the woodpeckers!

[@forrestthompson8714]

Raising one right now, 6 days old and healthy, tree fall. So small thought it was a mockingbird at first

[@ruthsonger2178]

God gave me a wonderful gift this year - knowing 2020 was going to be a heavy lift. I had a mating pair of red headed woodpeckers here all summer! (And yes, I know the difference between red headed and red bellied). I went overboard making this a welcoming spot with special foods I made myself and I was even more rewarded with at least three red headed babies born (all I could count in one sighting). This was a most wonderful year for me because of this special gift.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thats awesome Ruth, thanks for sharing, hope they stay for ever!

[@josephromo1059]

Wow I always thought the loud pecking was them feeding. I had know idea that they can't make sounds like other birds. So they use it as mating calls, and and communicating. Thank you so much for always teaching us new things about our feathery friends.

[@AngeliqueKaga]

I have many of these wonderful birds to my feeders during different seasons of the year,

[@stephaniedodt2389]

I live on Long Island NY and have a lot of them here. I love them. Thank you for giving pointers for distinguishing the "Hairies" from the "Downies" !

[@JD-bf1bu]

My favorite woodpeckers are the flamebacks which are found throughout India and Southeast Asia. They have incredibly gorgeous red and golden plumage.

[@kimworkman2425]

We have alot of them where I live and thanks to you, now I know which is the male

[@jackvoss5841]

I’ve watched these critters travel upwards, along the top edge of branches. Their heads are lowered, lower beak scraping along the bark. It looks as though they’re scooping up bugs on the run. Clever birds. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@Geekeric]

These are super common here in eastern Canada. If you put out some suet, they will often arrive in minutes.

[@Emery98]

Great footage.

[@sethgabel6366]

I have a downy woodpecker that's in our birdhouse right now. I'm stoked.

[@jamesmau9882]

I love listening to them chat with each other at the feeder . Great video