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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dantheman" data-source="post: 1339600" data-attributes="member: 32998">In the field . . .Expanding on my comment earlier with respect to size;Here in the Uk we only have 3 main woodpecker species. Of these, 2 are coloured black and white with barring and hence possibly confusable. But they are different sizes (And what great names I hear you say!!);Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are about the size of a House Sparrow.Greater Spotted Woodpeckers are a little larger than a Starling.I note from Sibley that the same size difference almost holds for Downy and Hairy (6.75" and 9.25", weights of 0.95oz and 2.3oz respectively). Nicer comparism species could be; Downy Woodpecker about the size of White-throated Sparrow (but longer winged?), Hairy Woodpecker between a Red-winged Blackbird and an American Robin in size . . . And so, seen briefly or as a silhouette, often size alone almost instantly indicates which it will be.(Apologies if this smacks of 'teaching grandma to suck eggs' <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> ). Any experienced birders care to comment if the sizes I mention stack up in real life, and the species concerned realistic?Certainly on the two opportunities I've had birding in the US, size was the first criteria I used in distinguishing the two. (Other id features happily confirmed the id.)Cheers, Dan</blockquote>

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