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.
If you enjoyed this video please help support the channel by SHARING it on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a free way to help me TREMENDOUSLY! I GREATLY appreciate your support and I hope you enjoy the show!
Other ways to Support LesleytheBirdNerd
-----------------------------
Donate via Paypal
www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr...
Lesley the Bird Nerd Merchandise from Teespring.com
teespring.com/stores/lesleyth...
Lesley the Bird Nerd Merchandise from Bonfire.com www.bonfire.com/store/lesleyt...
Also find LesleytheBirdNerd here:
------------------------------------
Twitter Page
/ thebirdsnerd
Facebook Page
/ lesleythebirdnerd
Instagram
/ lesleythebirdnerd
============================================
If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
============================================
For business inquiries, please contact [e-mail]
============================================

[@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.

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

My favorite fact was that they are terribly adorable.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@brendahorton4907]

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

[@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! 😁

[@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! 😆😆👍🤦‍♀️🙋‍♀️

[@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!

[@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.😁

[@ervinabajrami]

The fact that they do not make so much noise when they seek food was quite interesting. I began to think that they simply do not make noise when they don’t have to, and that’s quite beautiful... and wise. Thank you!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I agree, good point

[@alisonthorn2573]

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

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Thanks so much! Glad its helping

[@joelhenderson4450]

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

[@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

[@daviddoulong3120]

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

[@mickianderson4359]

Me either! A neat, fun fact!

[@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.

[@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 🤔

[@thomaslong8401]

Downy woodpeckers always put me in a good mood.

[@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!

[@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 🥰

[@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

[@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

[@kath610]

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

[@edcrutchfield3447]

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

[@beebop9808]

Love those little guys, especially when it's time for the babies to come out. Most babies are screaming at their parents to be fed but not the Downy's. They hang upside down on the suet cages quietly beside mom or dad while they eat and patiently wait for their food. So cool! :)

[@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! 😊

[@micahbirdlover8152]

I love the sound of Woodpecker pecking 🥰

[@mitchc6059]

I could listen to Canadians say about all day 😄

[@notthatdonald1385]

Me too.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

ahboot

[@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/

[@mc12358]

This was amazing. Great job filming and editing all of this footage. Downys are so so cute.

[@juliej5917]

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

[@teufeldritch]

Downy & Hairy, brothers like Crow & Raven.

[@BrigitteCoffman]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@LaFmAn9]

Downys are really cute! I decided to up my bird watching game this year, since there isn't much else to do thanks to the plandemic. I added two suet feeders to my collection of three seed feeders. What a pleasant surprise that was! Within the first week I had visits from three different types of woodpeckers. First was a Downy it took me a few days to identify because I had never even seen or heard of a Downy woodpecker before adding the suet feeders. Since then she's become a welcomed regular! Second was a massive Pilated woodpecker. I instantly knew what I was looking at because of their popular appearance, but I had no idea how big they were! It seemed more interested the the cats dry food, flew off and hasn't returned since. Lastly is the Red-Bellied woodpecker also a very welcomed frequent visitor! I can not stress just how happy I am that I added the suet feeders to my yard! I even started adding a wide variety of fruit, berries and seeds. Which made a big difference. Just this year from spring till now I've had eight or so new visitors to my yard. Among the woodpeckers I've gained white-breasted Nuthatches(so cute the way they run up and down the trunk of the tree), Brown-headed cowbirds, Dark-Eyed Junkos, Eastern Phoebes, and my new personal favorite the Tuffed Titmouse! They make the coolest electro sounding bird call. Even had a couple visits from a Cooper's Hawk. Can you blame them? Some days my yard must look like a buffet to them. Upwards of a hundred birds at some points, including a half dozen squirrels too. LoL Thanks for doing what you do by sharing. Love the content and quality. Take care.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Lovely story and thanks for sharing it with me Thanks a lot for watching glad you enjoyed

[@debralutch9106]

I would love to thank you for the educational piece on the downy woodpecker! I am also very excited to teach this to my nine year old granddaughter and start to get her interested in the beauty of birding!

[@samnix8882]

I love these little guys; I see them in my backyard all the time!

[@jeffreyash3802]

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

[@ilikebirds7748]

I forget how tiny they are they make me so happy

[@marylou7089]

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

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danherrmann8755]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@alorr4uz]

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

[@Jerid58]

We just bought a new home on a lake. I hung a suet feeder yesterday.... been a downy on it for well over an hour since I got home.

[@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

[@GaryAa56]

I have Downy Woodpeckers visit my bird feeders and Suiet evey day. Ithey are wonderful Birds to watch and they let me get real close.

[@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.

[@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.

[@carolynandreasen240]

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

[@ronlawrence342]

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

[@Bait2plate]

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

[@Geekeric]

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

[@forrestthompson8714]

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

[@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.

[@bonnizajac8916]

I love all Woodpeckers ❤️

[@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.

[@joseenoel8093]

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

[@karlstine2065]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@phoenixgamer3480]

Woodpeckers are such fascinating birds! 🐦

[@wezlydog]

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

[@bobmclennan1727]

We've just started putting feeders on our back deck in Chicago this year, and by far our favorite sight is the downy woodpecker pair that show up (always individually) almost every day. They're such nice little birds, I swear you can see them "waiting in line" for the suet feeder when other birds are there first.

[@kevinmichael9482]

Love Downy Woodpeckers! I notice Downy and Hairy woodpeckers aren't intimidated by Blue Jays, at least in my backyard feeders.

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

The ones I see are quite timid.

[@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.

[@barbkafilmout9449]

Thank you. I loved them all

[@DRAGNET-pn5vf]

I THOUGHT THE LOUD NOISE FROM THEM PECKING WAS FOR FOOD AND NOT FOR COMMUNICATING. THANKS FOR SHARING!🇺🇸✌️👍

[@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

[@benpluta6187]

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

[@claudiasmigelski1528]

Enjoyed learning you hand fed the woodpeckers!

[@fareebug8439]

I just love your videos. I learn so much! Thank you. ❤️

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Glad you like them! Thanks

[@richardkatz8713]

My fav drumming for mating not feeding

[@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.

[@sethgabel6366]

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

[@kimworkman2425]

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

[@JennRighter]

I’m surprised and almost disappointed in myself that I didn’t know the loud pecking is a mating call.

[@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

[@jeffstrotman3905]

I have observed this exact bird at my feeder this winter. Figured it was a woodpecker but didn't know what kind. Thank you for answering this question.

[@reekz1568]

I nursed one of these back to health years ago.

[@donnahampton1009]

I found one laying in my yard a couple weeks ago. It had flown into a window and knocked himself out I think. I had heard a loud noise and went out to see I held him and he came to after a few minutes of me rubbing him/her. He didn't want to leave then. Lol. He sat on my hand for about 40 min then he took off! I loved it! .

[@JoJoDoxieMom]

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

[@chumchum4393]

One of my woodpecker’s got stuck in my pool enclosure. It took off a while to get them out safely. I love my woodpecker’s.

[@JD-bf1bu]

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

[@notsogga]

Sometimes these woodpeckers come to a nearby tree during the day. One time i saw about 5 of them in the tree.

[@turtlelake5560]

Woodpeckers and buggy trees are in my yard so now that winter is here, I am feeding suet. Please help with suet do and don'ts. I AM A BIRD NERD TOO!

[@zzz7zzz9]

i have a downie that just showed up recently to our suet.

[@jamesmau9882]

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

[@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.

[@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" !

[@tammywilmot9162]

I love the the videos and pictures you provide as well as the fun facts on each bird species. I especially appreciate the visual differences of the sexes you include. Your vids are well done, informative and interesting. They constantly remind me of the important role birds play in our ecology. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@patrickc3936]

Thank you for putting this video together. I learned a bit more about them. I have two suet feeders with woodpecker mix in each at home. I have at least one pair that visit them and it’s the highlight of my day when I see them.

[@deniserosenblum6083]

Fascinating! A definite favorite of mine. And usually common visiting my deck frequently throughout the day. They make it smile every time 🥰😍

[@super_hoops3172]

I have these all the time in my backyard

[@AbsolutelyAdorableStudio]

Hehe downy woodpeckers are so cute!! Every time I look in my backyard I see them scaling the trees for snacks ❤️