Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are basically the birding world’s version of identical twins—except one’s
slightly taller. Here’s how to tell them apart without giving yourself a migraine.
- Size (Kinda Obvious, Kinda Not)
Hairy is bigger. But unless they’re side-by-side, this is tough. Use your feeder for scale. - Beak Length
Hairy’s beak is about as long as its head. Downy’s beak is stubby—like half the head length. - Voice
Downy has a soft, descending whinny. Hairy has a sharp, aggressive “peek!” like it means business. - Tail Feathers
Look closely: Downy woodpeckers have little black spots on their white outer tail feathers. Hairy’s are clean white. - Behavior
Downies are more likely to hang out in brush and shrubs. Hairies prefer big trees.
Keep a field guide handy and don’t stress—mistaking one for the other just makes you officially part of the club.
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