Downy vs Hairy Woodpecker: What Are The Differences?

What is red and black and covered in black and white spots? ! Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker – Two of the most confusing birds in North America!

Both downy and hairy woodpeckers inhabit the Americas, including the United States, Canada, and parts of Central and South America. There are many species of woodpeckers that look similar to both, including the ladderback, Nutall, and lesser spotted woodpecker. However, downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers are most easily confused due to their close proximity to each other, so what is the difference between them?

Size is an important factor here, as larger woolly woodpeckers are about 30% larger than downy woodpeckers when fully grown, and they appear more “full” and less slender. Next, the hairy woodpecker’s long beak is probably a dead giveaway compared to the downy woodpecker’s, though this usually only applies to the adult birds. Downy woodpeckers also have additional markings on their outer tail feathers.

downy woodpecker (Bamboo shoots)

hairy woodpecker (Fleece pearl beads)

The crazy thing is that downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers don’t even belong to the same genus — despite their striking similarities, they’re not exactly related. Hairy woodpeckers are closely related to the quite different-looking bald-headed and red-crested woodpeckers, while downy woodpeckers are more closely related to the similar ladder-backed and Nutall’s woodpeckers.

Woodpecker identification has long been a headache for bird watchers and ornithologists alike. Read on to discover all the subtle differences between downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers!

Hairy woodpecker perched on a log

Which is bigger, the hairy woodpecker or the downy woodpecker?

Hairy woodpeckers are much larger than downy woodpeckers when fully grown — 30 to 50 percent larger in most cases. While this is an excellent way to compare these two woodpeckers side by side, they can still be difficult to identify without being able to compare them.

Downy Woodpecker Measurements

• The downy woodpecker measures 14 to 18 centimeters (5.5 to 7.1 inches) long and has a wingspan of 25 to 31 centimeters (9.8 to 12.2 inches).
• They weigh between 20 and 33 grams (0.71 and 1.16 ounces).

Hairy Woodpecker Measurements

• Hairy woodpeckers are 18 to 26 cm (7.1 to 10.2 in) long and have a wingspan of 33 to 43 cm (13 to 17 in).
• They weigh between 40 and 95 grams (1.4 and 3.4 ounces).

As we have seen, the hairy woodpeckers are longer and their smallest adults are as large (18 cm) as the largest downy woodpeckers. They are also heavier, often double or even triple the weight of the more compact and slender downy woodpeckers.

Downy woodpecker perched on a branch

Which is more common, the hairy woodpecker or the downy woodpecker?

Both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are found primarily in North America, including the United States and Canada.

The hairy woodpecker extends further north to Alaska, British Columbia, and Quebec, and further south to the Bahamas, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. However, the population of Central America became more limited the further south it went.

Downy woodpeckers are mainly found in North America and do not extend as far north as the hairy woodpecker.

Although the hairy woodpecker has a wider range, it is smaller than the downy woodpecker, numbering about 9 million individuals (taken in 2003). Between 2005 and 2015, the velvet woodpecker population was estimated at about 14 million individuals.

It is generally believed that downy woodpeckers are much more numerous because they prefer the suburbs and more often visit back gardens in search of food and water.

Furry woodpecker feeding from a backyard feeder

Other Differences Between Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers

While size is the main difference between hairy and downy woodpeckers, there are several other ways to identify them:

banknote size

As mentioned earlier, downy woodpeckers have much shorter and more compact bills than hairy woodpeckers. The hairy woodpecker’s beak is about as long as its head, while the downy woodpecker’s beak is about 1/3 the size of its head. This is a great way to identify either species when no size comparison is available.

Tail

Downy woodpeckers have black patterns on their outer tail feathers (web feathers), although they are usually subtle. They are occasionally very noticeable. In contrast, hairy woodpeckers have few, if any, markings on their outer tail feathers. This is a popular way of identifying the downy woodpecker — it almost always has some form of marking on its outer tail feathers.

Downy woodpecker on a suet bird feeder

call/voice

In addition to being a smaller, more compact woodpecker in size, the Downy woodpecker is also quieter and has a softer call. The Downy woodpecker’s call is a soft, whiny, high-pitched chirp that some describe as friendly. The call of the hairy woodpecker is louder, sharper, and shorter.

In addition, hairy woodpeckers make faster drumming sounds when pecking trees. Downy beats are about 17 drums per second, and Hairy beats are about 25 drums per second. This drumming is used not only for digging nests and insects from trees, but also for their intricate mating rituals and territorial displays.

head mark

Both species of woodpeckers have a ring on the back of their head, which in the male is covered with a red patch. For males and females, this ring meets in the middle in the case of downy woodpeckers, but not in the case of hairy woodpeckers.

Another distinguishing mark is the “thorn” mark on the neck of the hairy woodpecker, but not on the neck of the downy woodpecker. This black, feathery bony spur extends down the underside of the neck.

Downy woodpeckers also typically have a fluffier nose tuft above the beak than hairy woodpeckers.

Female hairy woodpecker without red on top of head

Female downy woodpeckers also don’t have red patches on their heads

behavior and diet

Downy woodpeckers are more likely to live and visit suburban areas, and often live in lighter undergrowth and younger trees. In general, you are more likely to see downy woodpeckers outside of forests. Hairy woodpeckers are more secretive, preferring calm habitats deep in the forest. The shy hairy woodpecker prefers deep, mature woodlands with a few large trees to choose from for nesting and establishing territories.

Both woodpeckers have a similar omnivorous diet, but the hairy woodpecker may be more inclined to prey on insects, mainly wood-boring beetles, flies and various larvae. They are also monogamous and nest in similar locations within tree stumps, though downy woodpeckers are more mobile.

The downy woodpecker is sometimes considered one of the friendliest birds in North America, and they are often seen feeding peacefully with other birds and other birds. You’re more likely to attract Downys to your garden, but that’s not to say hairy woodpeckers don’t use bird feeders and balls of suet too often. If you’re lucky, you might be able to feed at the same time, as both woodpeckers are usually mild-tempered and friendly to each other.

Downy woodpecker foraging in the forest

Regional Differences

Both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers have various subspecies. Hairy woodpeckers tend to get larger the further north they go, which may help them cope with colder conditions.

Because hairy woodpeckers have a wider range—because they extend as far as South America—they probably also show the greatest regional variation. Downy woodpeckers do vary across the range. However – those in the western US and Canada tend to be darker.

Male hairy woodpecker eating elderberry

Difference Between Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker Juveniles

It’s important to note that most of these differences apply primarily to adult birds with adult plumage. Nestlings or juveniles are a whole different ball game as they have more varied plumage and wider markings, beaks of different lengths, and some even have yellow spots on their heads instead of red, making it hard to tell if they’re either It’s a shaggy woodpecker, or a shaggy woodpecker!

Distinguishing woodpecker chicks can be difficult even for the most seasoned birder. Clues can still be found from the above distinguishing features, such as the distinct calls of the two birds and their tail markings.

juvenile downy woodpecker

juvenile long-haired woodpecker

Why are Downy and Hairy woodpeckers so similar?

Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are very similar, although they don’t even belong to the same genus (Downys belong to xerophytes belongs to, and Maomao belongs to Pearl genus).

This is not uncommon in birds – crows and rushes are examples of birds that are not all that related even though some species look nearly identical to each other.

The similarities between Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are the result of convergent evolution. The same advantage one species has in developing its traits and markings may benefit other species. Other theories suggest that downy woodpeckers grow similar feathers to furry woodpeckers to trick them and other species into helping them become more dominant.

Many woodpeckers look very similar to both downy and hairy woodpeckers, not only in the Americas but on other continents as well. Again, this may be the result of convergent evolution and the complex spread of woodpecker genes from its earliest ancestors.