Downy Woodpecker

I believe this is a Downy Woodpecker. Here’s why. While the Downy and the Hairy are very similar, the Downy displays some of the white spots on its tail, while the Downy does not. Also, it’s bill is more conical and shorter than the Hairy’s.

I am by no means an expert birder, so my conclusions may not always be correct. I’ve studied the Audubon Guide, iBird Pro, and Peterson’s Guide to help me better determine which of the two similar woodpeckers this one is in these photos. They are almost identical and one of the guides states that the bill is the only reliable way to distinguish between the two.

Here are two more photos of this species.

Tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

0 Responses to Downy Woodpecker

  1. mike585 says:

    Excellent images, Bob. 🙂

  2. Coy says:

    Bob,
    Like most everyone I have seen birds flitting about all of my life, but until I began photographing them I could only identify the most common ones. Wildlife photography opened my eyes to the world of birds and now I cannot capture an image of one and be satisfied until I have made a positive ID. Looks like you are going down the same rewarding path. I agree, your bird is a downey.

    • bobshank says:

      Coy, you are exactly right! I never dreamed of becoming a birder, but this wildlife photography has me hooked and hooked completely! I just cannot get enough time in my blind or in the great outdoors. The surprising thing to me is that with all the different photography I am doing, wildlife photography is not only most rewarding but the must lucrative for me as well! I know I still have tons to learn, but this journey is a wild ride, that’s for sure!

Leave a Reply