Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

Different Sizes of Woodpeckers

When woodpeckers drum loudly on a telephone pole or tree trunk it's not what you may think -- they're defending territory and communicating, not eating, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Woodpeckers are actually rather quiet when digging through wood for food. Over 20 species of these unusual birds are found in North America, ranging in size from the petite downy woodpecker to the colossal pileated woodpecker.

Downy
- Downy woodpeckers are somewhat unwary birds, familiar to feeders throughout most of North America, including Alaska. You can find them in suburbs, orchards, parks and forests. These small birds weigh about an ounce, range in length from 5½ to nearly 7 inches and are easily identified by a white back and chest and a striking black and white wing pattern. Look for a small red patch on the back of male's head.
Hairy
- Hairy woodpeckers are medium-sized versions of downy woodpeckers, ranging from 7 to 10 inches long. They not only look like downies, their range is similar, too. Aside from their bigger size (1.4 to 3.4 oz), you can distinguish a hairy woodpecker from a downy by its larger beak and completely white outer tail feathers. Although insects make up more than 75 percent of its diet, you can attract them to your feeder with suet or sunflower seeds.
Northern Flicker
- Flickers can be found throughout most of North America.
  
  Northern flickers are somewhat larger than a robin, ranging in length from 11 inches to a little over 1 foot. These common birds weigh 3.9 to 5.6 oz and are easily recognized by their spotted chest, brown-barred back, and black bib. When they fly, flickers display a noticeable white rump. You will find them drumming on trees like other woodpeckers, but they gather most of their food by drilling into the ground for insects like ants and beetles.
Pileated Woodpecker
- Pileated woodpeckers nest in cavities, like this tree trunk.
  
  The pileated woodpecker is not as common as the downy, hairy or flicker, but it is the largest of the North American woodpeckers -- almost crow-sized. It can weigh up to 12.3 ounces.This prehistoric-looking bird is almost entirely black with a white chin and a bright red cap (both sexes). It measures roughly 16 to 19 inches in length and is found in mature forests. Like the flicker, the pileated woodpecker typically feeds close to the ground, favoring ants from fallen trees and stumps.

Animals & Science