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The downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a species of woodpecker, the smallest in North America.Length ranges from 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in). Downy woodpeckers primarily live in forested areas throughout the United States and Canada, with the exception of deserts in the southwest and the northern tundra.
The largest surviving species is the great slaty woodpecker, which weighs 430 g (15 oz) on average and up to 563 g (19.9 oz), and measures 45 to 55 cm (18 to 22 in), but the extinct imperial woodpecker, at 55 to 61 cm (22 to 24 in), and ivory-billed woodpecker, around 48 to 53 cm (19 to 21 in) and 516 g (18.2 oz), were probably both larger.
The genus Dryobates was named by the German naturalist Friedrich Boie in 1826 with the downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) as the type species. [1]The genus name Dryobates is from the Greek compound word δρυο-βάτης : 'woodland walker'; from δρῦς : drus (genitive δρυός : dryós) meaning woodland and -βάτης : -bátēs meaning walker. [2]
A downy woodpecker in a pear tree in early spring. The downy woodpecker is a bit smaller and has a shorter beak than the similarly patterned hairy woodpecker. Island Packet Staff photo.
Lewis's woodpecker: Melanerpes lewis (Gray, GR, 1849) 35 Guadeloupe woodpecker: Melanerpes herminieri (Lesson, RP, 1830) 36 Puerto Rican woodpecker: Melanerpes portoricensis (Daudin, 1803) 37 Red-headed woodpecker: Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) 38 Acorn woodpecker: Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827) 39 Yellow-tufted woodpecker
Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (NC) Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus (NC) Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus (U)
The red-cockaded woodpecker is small- to mid-sized species, being intermediate in size between North America's two most widespread woodpeckers (the downy and hairy woodpeckers). This species measures 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) in length, spans 34–41 cm (13–16 in) across the wings and weighs 40–56 g (1.4–2.0 oz).
A litter of chips is also a guide to a nesting hole, for the bird does not always carry these away when excavating. The hole is usually at a considerable height above the ground and may be as high as 10–20 m (33–66 ft). It is a smaller burrow than that of the great spotted woodpecker, measuring from 2.5–5 cm (0.98–1.97 in) in diameter.
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