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downy vs hairy, the woodpecker debate (1 Viewer)

radix023

Well-known member
United States
today I was trying to capture some different behaviors and instead I got a new visitor. This time I can't plead color blindness because this one is black and white for the most part. The size makes me think hairy, the size of beak makes me think downy. Merlin ID'd as downy.
woodpecker.jpgwoodpecker_chickadee.jpg

I included the shot with chickadee for scale. Allaboutbirds in both the downy and hairy entries emphasizes small, but this fellow is bigger than a cardinal if smaller than a brown thrasher or mourning dove.

As always, I appreciate comments/expertise.

shot today, Marietta, GA USA

as would be expected of an insect hunter, he was after the mealworms.
 
One thing that might help you is that Downy woodpeckers have a few black bars or spots on their white outer tail feathers which are showing on this one so Downy for me.
 
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