Fauna Flora Photography

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens

It is the smallest woodpecker in the parks around Montreal. It stays in the region the whole year mostly eating insects found below the bark of trees. Common visitor of bird feeders in the winter.

Specs

Length15-20cm
Weight20-28g
Wingspan25-30cm

Common Names

GermanDunenspecht
EnglishDowny Woodpecker
FrenchPic mineur
SpanishPico pubescente

Taxonomy

OrderPiciformes
FamilyPicidae
SpeciesPicoides pubescens

How to Identify

The appearance of this species is almost identical to the larger Hairy Woodpecker besides two distinguished characteristics. The beak of this species is shorter than the head and it has black spots on the white tail feathers.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) - Parc Angrignon - 2019-03-09
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) - Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies - 2016-03-22
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) - Parc Mont-Royal - 2016-03-04

Where and When to Spot

I observe this species in almost all parks all year long but more frequently in winter because of better visibility.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Boisé Des Douze x - - -
Jardin Botanique de Montréal x - - x
Parc Angrignon x - x x
Parc Bernard-Landry x - - -
Parc Michel-Chartrand x - - x
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies x - - -

Where and when a species has been observed, identified, and recorded.


Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.