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.
- 🇫🇷 Pic mineur
- 🇩🇪 Dunenspecht
- 🇲🇽 Pico pubescente
Characteristics
- Length: 15-20cm
- Weight: 20-28g
- Wingspan: 25-30cm
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.
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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.
Observations by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boisé Des Douze | x | - | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | x | - | - | x |
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | x | x |
| Parc Bernard-Landry | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | x | x |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
| Parc de la Frayère | - | - | x | - |
"-" indicates no observation. It may not necessarily mean though that the species is absent from the park during that season.