Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dryobates ("woodland walker") pubescens ("downy/pubescent")

Adult female Downy Woodpecker (subspecies D. p.. turati) at San Francisco, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Dryobates pubescens turati
Weight: 21-28g  /  Length: 14-18cm  /  Wingspan: 25-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest woodpecker in North America, despite the similar plumage and theming of name, it is not closely related to the Hairy Woodpecker which shares much of its range. The best way to distinguish them when good views are had is that the downy has a tiny needle like bill compared to the hairy's more iconically large woodpecker chisel.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes

Family: Picidae

Genus: Dryobates

SUBSPECIES: D. p. glacialis, D. p.. medianus, D. p. fumidus, D. p. gairdnerii, D. p. turati, D. p. leucurus, D. p. pubescens

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Found over most of the Lower 48 and Southern Alaska
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Jose and San Francisco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto