Downy woodpeckers

Downy woodpeckers are the smallest and most common woodpeckers in our area. They live here all year. You may see them on small tree branches or hanging upside down as they eat tiny insects from weed stalks. They particularly like to eat pesky bugs, such as tent caterpillars. Male downy woodpeckers have a patch of red feathers on the back of their head, and they may fluff up these feathers as a protective gesture to look larger. Downy woodpeckers look remarkably similar to next week's feature, the hairy woodpecker.