Our
Woodpecker
Identifier
Mouseover image at left.
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy
Picoides pubescens
The most common and familiar woodpecker, the little Downy
often joins the mixed bands of small birds that roam the woods.
Red-bellied
Melanerpes carolinus
Abundant throughout the southeast, this ladder back is named for the faint red patch on its belly. More distiguishing is the red cap and hind neck.
Hairy
Picoides villosus
Fairly common in mature decidious or mixed woods. It is recognized by it's medium size, the vertical white stripe on it's back, and it's long bill. Male has a red patch on the back of it's head.
White-breasted
nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Not a woodpecker, shown here sharing the feeder with a Downy.
Downy
Picoides pubescens
Shown sharing the feeder with a nuthatch. It is often confused with the Hairy, which is larger and has a much longer bill.
Hairy
Picoides villosus
The Hairy and the Downy are both named for the short feathers around their nostrils.
Birds
Go back to Bird page