Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
The Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) is a small, agile bird commonly found in the parks of Montreal, where it resides year-round. Known for its distinctive black and white plumage and shorter beak, this woodpecker primarily feeds on insects beneath tree bark and is a frequent visitor to bird feeders during the winter months.
| 🇫🇷 | Pic mineur |
| 🇩🇪 | Dunenspecht |
| 🇲🇽 | Pico pubescente |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Piciformes |
| Family | Picidae |
How to Identify
The Downy Woodpecker closely resembles the larger Hairy Woodpecker, but it can be distinguished by two key features: its beak is shorter than its head, and it possesses black spots on its white tail feathers.
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Characteristics
| Length | 14-18cm |
| Weight | 20-33g |
| Wingspan | 25-31cm |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 eggs |
| Incubation | 12 days |
| Fledging | 18-21 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 1 year |
| Source | Wikipedia |
Where and When to Spot
This species can be observed in nearly all parks throughout the year. However, sightings are more frequent during the winter months due to enhanced visibility.
Observation Records 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 | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.