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Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766)
Downy Woodpecker
Synonym(s): Picoides pubescens
Florida native
These are small, fairly common woodpeckers found throughout Florida in open woodlands, especially with deciduous trees, and also orchards, city parks, yards and vacant lots. The range includes most of the United States, including Alaska, and in Canada mostly in the bordering provinces.
There are two plumage variations in the western populations. In Florida and the eastern part of the range, these woodpeckers have black and white stripes on the head, a wide white stripe down the nape and upper back, otherwise checkered white and black on the wings. Underside is white and the tail is black above, white below, with small black marks showing on the white sides of the tail. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head. Juveniles have a small red patch on the forehead. Downys are 17cm (6-3/4 in.) long with a 30.5 cm (12 in.) wingspan.
These woodpeckers most closely resemble hairy woodpeckers, which are slightly larger, have noticeably larger bills and lack the black marks on the white portion of the tail. Red-cockaded woodpeckers are sized between downy and hairy, and do not have the white stripe down the back nor the black stripe from the eye leading back across the side of the face.
Dryobates pubescens is a member of the Picidae - Woodpeckers and Wrynecks family.
Other species of the Dryobates genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Dryobates borealis - RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology web page for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 28, 2025
