Like several other woodpecker species, they hoard nuts, fruits and insects in their cavities and defend them within a territory. The fruits and insects are later fed to their young. They commonly visit feeders. Downies are the smallest of our resident woodpeckers. Usually recognized by their white back and short bill, they also have two black bars on their white outer tail feathers.
Males have a red patch on the back of their heads that females lack.
They breed wherever there are trees with decayed branches suitable for nesting and foraging. Downies often camouflage the nest cavity entrance hole with moss, lichen and fungus. Woodland edge and wooded riparian corridors seem especially attractive to these birds. They sometimes uses birdhouses for roosting, but not for nesting. They commonly visit feeders.