RHH's photos with the keyword: dryobates

A few days ago I posted photos of a Hairy Woodpecker which looks very similar to this Downy Woodpecker. If compared, however, there are some obvious differences, the size (not evident in the photos) and the much shorter bill. The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest Woodpecker in North America and is not much larger than a small finch. It is half the size of a Hairy Woodpecker and is very common all across the continent. This is the male. The female does not have the red "cap".

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest North American Woodpecker and its small size and shorter bill distinguish it from its look-alike, the Hairy Woodpecker.

This male Downy Woodpecker can be told from the female by the red "cap" and can be distinguished from its look-alike, the Hairy Woodpecker by its short bill and small size. It is the smallest North American Woodpecker and is about the size of a Goldfinch.

These Hairy Woodpeckers, both male and female (this is the male - the female lacks the red patch), are regular visitors at our feeders, especially the suet feeders. We also have a look-alike coming, the Downy Woodpecker, but they are about half the size and have a much shorter bill. We've noticed, too, that the male Downy has a single red patch while the red patch of the Hairy is divided in two.

The double red patch and larger size, as well as the longer bill distinguish this male Hairy Woodpecker from the similar Downy Woodpecker.

These Hairy Woodpeckers are regular visitors at our suet feeders. They are about twice as big as the similar-looking Downy Woodpecker and have a much longer bill.

This is our smallest Woodpecker. They come regularly to our suet feeders and this one has bit off a bit more than he can chew. I say, "he," because this is clearly the male of the species. The female lacks the red cap.

This is a male Downy Woodpecker, the smallest North American Woodpecker and a common bird at our feeders.

This is a male Downy Woodpecker on the rails of our back porch. He and the Mrs. come regularly to our feeders.

These small woodpeckers have been regular visitors at our suet feeders. This is the male. The female, shown in one of the insets, lacks the red spot on the crown.

This is a male Downy Woodpecker, the smallest of our native woodpeckers. The female, who otherwise looks just like this, lacks the red spot on her crown.

This is a female Downy Woodpecker, the smallest of our native woodpeckers. Her lack of coloring on the back of her head identifies her as a female. She is perched on one of the railings of our back porch.