Downy Woodpecker – 8/22/20

Observer: Ilan Fisher

Observation Date: 8/22/20

Observation Time: 2:00 p.m.

Observation Location: near intersection of Beach & Harding Streets

Common Name: Downy Woodpecker

Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens

Comments:  “Pubescens” refers to its downy hairs of puberty compared to those of the Hairy woodpecker, D. villosus. [The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate]

Downy woodpeckers look very much like hairy woopeckers, but downy woodpeckers are much smaller than hairy woodpeckers. To learn more about how to tell them apart, see: Project Feederwatch.

More Information: All About Birds