Downy woodpeckers are our smallest and most commonly seen woodpeckers. They prefer open woodlands, orchards and parks everywhere in the United States except for the driest parts of the southwest. Downy woodpeckers are small birds with white stomachs, breasts and backs and black tails and wings. Wings have rows of white spots.
Males have a red cap on the back of their heads which the females lack.
Downy woodpeckers usually nest only once. Eggs hatch in 12 days, the young fledge 20-25 days after that. Male downy woodpeckers display a lot when courting or defending territory. Their displays consist of crest raising, dancing and drumming on trees. Sexes forage separately with the male preferring the smaller branches and the upper canopy layers.