Picoides pubescens
The Downy Woodpecker is
our smallest woopecker, growing up to six inches long. It is
mostly black and white, with the male having a small red
patch on the back of its head. Downy Woodpeckers can be
seen in woods, parks, and gardens. "Downys" begin
breeding
in late Winter. They attract each other using their
bills
to drum on trees. Once paired up, the downys will begin
excavating
(digging) a nest. They use their strong bills to dig into a
dead tree trunk.
It will take about two weeks to excavate a hole big enough
to start a nest. Downy woodpeckers do not build a very
complicated nest; they just drop woodchips into the
hole. Female downys lay four or
five white eggs on the nest and the male does most of the
sitting for about 12 days. Dan Sudia Mark Moran (Huntley
Meadows) Bill Horn When the young
woodpeckers hatch, both parents feed them. Downy Woodpeckers
eat mostly insects, including: beetles (adults
and larvae),
ants, spiders, snails, caterpillars,
scale insects, and aphids. They also eat some fruits and
nuts, such as Poison Ivy, dogwood, serviceberry,
acorns,
and Virginia Creeper. In the Winter, Downy
Woodpeckers join mixed flocks
with Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina
Chickadees, kinglets, and Brown Creepers. Together these
birds roam the forest looking for food. Birds can help each
other locate food and keep an eye out for
predators. Nagendra
Kolluru
Dan Sudia