It looks shorter and more delicate than the beaks of other woodpecker species. The Downy Woodpecker’s bill is only about ⅓ the size of its head. A Hairy Woodpecker has a very long-looking bill that is about equal in length to the size of its head. That translates to a Hairy Woodpecker being 7-10 inches long, while a Downy Woodpecker is only about 5 to 7 inches long.Īnother key difference is the bird’s beak size relative to its head. A Hairy Woodpecker is a species of woodpecker that is a third and a half larger than a Downy Woodpecker. The major difference between a Hairy Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker is their size. Why is a woodpecker “hairy” anyway? We’ll answer all your most frequently asked woodpecker questions in this Hairy vs Downy Woodpecker throwdown! What Is the Difference Between Hairy vs Downy Woodpecker? How do you tell these brothers from another mother apart? Why do they look so similar? Are these woodpeckers a rare sight? I own Becky's Greenhouse in Dougherty, Iowa.If ever a pair of birds could make you get deja vu, it’s these two: the Hairy Woodpecker and the Downy Woodpecker! Nope, it’s not a glitch in the Matrix: these bird cousins can fool the eye.Ī Downy Woodpecker looks like a Hairy Woodpecker’s smaller twin brother–and since the size is relative when you’re at a distance, that trait doesn’t always help either. Hi! My name is Becky and I am a Master Gardener. Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa Watch one of these confounding fledglings for a while and you’ll probably see its parents come to feed it, solving the mystery. Youngsters may have extra black marks on their sides or white back stripes. Sometimes, especially on young hairy woodpeckers, the patch is yellow, not red. While both downy and hairy woodpecker adult males have a red patch on the back of the head, fledglings have red on top instead. Hairy woodpeckers generally prefer heavily forested areas with large trees.īe Wary of Identical FledglingsJust after they leave the nest, young downy and hairy woodpeckers can be confusing at first. Observe Habitat PreferencesAlthough downy and hairy woodpeckers share some of the same habitats, downy woodpeckers are more likely to be seen in suburbs and small parks. Hairies also have a sharp rattle that stays at one pitch, unlike the downy woodpecker’s call. The hairy woodpecker has a more attention-grabbing call: a sharp, arresting peek!, like the sound of a squeaky dog toy. Listen CarefullyYou’ve probably heard a downy woodpecker’s call: a short, friendly pik and a high-pitched, descending whinny. The hairy woodpecker’s bill is much longer and stronger, nearly as long as the bird’s head. The downy has a tiny, stubby beak, barely as long as the distance from the front of its head to its eye. A more reliable way to notice their size differences is to look at the shape of their bills. (To compare, the downy woodpecker is about six and a half inches long.) Their size difference is surprisingly hard to see, except when they’re side by side, which doesn’t happen often. Size Them UpThe hairy woodpecker is distinctly larger than its downy cousin-about nine inches from the tip of its bill to the end of its tail. Downy woodpeckers have a few black bars or spots on their white outer tail feathers, while the outer tail feathers on the hairy are usually plain Both downies and hairies have black central tail feathers and white outer tail feathers, but there are a few sneaky clues to differentiate between the two. Look at the PlumageSmartly patterned in black and white, with a touch of red on the males, downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers look remarkably similar to each other. By Kenn and Kimberly Kaufmanĭowny woodpeckers are among our most common and beloved backyard birds, but did you know they have a look-alike cousin: the hairy woodpecker? Telling downies apart from hairy woodpeckers can be a challenge, but once you know what to look for, it’s not so tough after all! How to Tell the Difference Between Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers Figure out which woodpecker is which with these expert tips.
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