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While not specifically studied at Shenandoah, there are many openings in the forest communities caused by ice storms, blow-downs from hurricanes and other severe storms, as well as tree mortality from insects and disease all of which could provide ideal habitat for Downy Woodpeckers. The narrow entrance to the Downy Woodpecker’s nest protects both the adults and the young from practically all predators except snakes.ĭowny Woodpeckers do well in early second-growth forests, where there are more open stands of trees than in older forests. Black rat snakes often prey on Downy eggs and nestlings, as do flying, red, and eastern grey squirrels. Ecosystem Role/Threatsĭowny Woodpeckers are preyed upon by the American Kestrel, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, and the Cooper’s Hawk. Additionally, their skulls are heavier than most birds’ to withstand the repeated impact. Woodpeckers have a shock-absorbing system in their heads that prevents their brains from slamming into their skull. While drumming is needed to create a nesting cavity or find insects under heavy bark, male woodpeckers also drum to establish a territory and maintain dominance afterwards. Drumming, one of the unique characteristics of woodpeckers, is both functional and a way to defend territory. The Downy call is a sharp “pik” and song a harsh rattle. While some bird species have been negatively impacted by the fragmentation of forests or other habitat due to suburban sprawl and rural development, Downy Woodpeckers seem to be unaffected and even thrive in such areas. They are found year-round throughout this range, though, like many year-round resident birds, they may change the areas that they frequent, thus seeming to appear and disappear with the change of seasons.ĭowny Woodpeckers prefer open deciduous forests, although they frequent a variety of habitats including parks and back yards.

Range/Habitatĭowny Woodpeckers are found throughout the United States with the exception of Hawaii and parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Alaska. In most areas, parents only raise one brood per year, though there is evidence that they may raise two in the southern portions of their range, where food is available for a longer time during the spring and summer. Between hatching and fledging, the parents must bring their rapidly growing young plenty of food, a job which taxes the parents severely. Unlike humans, which take years to raise, the young leave the nest only three weeks after birth. After 12 days of incubation, the helpless young hatch. Broods generally contain 3-6 eggs, though likely, only one or two of the young will survive to the next year. Downy Woodpeckers nest in cavities of trees without any significant lining within. If a Downy Woodpecker survives the winter, it will prepare for nesting the spring following its birth.

Downys, like other small birds, have a median life span that is much shorter than the maximum due to high mortality in the first year of life. Fish and Wildlife Service, which keeps records of banding and recapture, a Downy Woodpecker was caught 11 years and 11 months after its first capture. This capture and recapture do not represent the greatest time span on record according to the Bird Banding Laboratory of the U.S. When originally captured, its plumage indicated that it was at least a year old, meaning that this bird was twelve or more years of age. Despite this, a Downy Woodpecker that was captured and banded at the San FranciscoBay bird observatory was recaptured 11 years and one month later.

A five year old downy is an old bird, as the median lifespan of Downys is between one and two years.

Life Span/ReproductionĪs with many small birds, Downy Woodpeckers have a relatively short lifespan. However, the Hairy Woodpecker is larger (7.5 inches) and has a longer bill. The most similar species is the hairy woodpecker, which has nearly identical plumage. The downy has a white breast with black and white back. Adult birds weigh between 0.74 and 1 ounces (21-28 g). Physical Descriptionĭowny Woodpeckers are between 6 and 7 inches (14-17 cm) in length and their wingspan is between 10 and 12 inches (25-30 cm). In ShenandoahNational Park, Downy Woodpeckers are among the relatively few bird species regularly seen during the winter. Downy Woodpeckers hold the distinction of being the most common and smallest American woodpecker. More often seen in winter at suet feeders than in the woods, “Downys” are year-round residents of ShenandoahNational Park and in most of their range.