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.
Common Names
- Downy Woodpecker (en)
- Pico pubescente (es)
- Pic mineur (fr)
- Dunenspecht (de)
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.
Where & When to Spot
I observe this species in almost all parks all year long but more frequently in winter because of better visibility.
Female Downy Woodpecker
Female Downy Woodpecker
- March 09, 2019
NIKON D500; 300mm f/4; Focal Length 420mm; Exposure 1/1250; Aperture f/5.6; Iso 140;
khm-20190309-1538-0000109881
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Male Downy Woodpecker
Park Pointe aux Prairies - March 22, 2016
NIKON D7100; 150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3; Focal Length 600mm; Exposure 1/1000; Aperture f6.3; Iso 560;
khm-20160322-1300-1458637201
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Lazy individual. he went to the feeder, catched some and returned to the tree .
Park Mont-Royal - March 04, 2016
NIKON D7100; 150.0-600.0 mm f/5.0-6.3; Focal Length 600mm; Exposure 1/1000; Aperture f6.3; Iso 800;
khm-20160304-2008-1457104120