Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker closely resembles the smaller Downy Woodpecker in overall pattern but is noticeably larger, with a proportionally longer, more powerful bill nearly the length of its head. It favors more mature forest with larger trees than the Downy typically uses.

Both species share the same basic black-and-white plumage scheme, which can make them easy to confuse from a distance, but their feathers differ in size and a key tail detail.

Hairy Woodpecker feathers are best distinguished from Downy Woodpecker feathers by their larger size and by outer tail feathers that are plain white without the black spotting seen in the Downy.

Size and Shape

Larger and more robust flight and tail feathers than the similarly patterned Downy Woodpecker, matching its longer bill and larger body.

Color and Pattern

• Wing feathers are checkered black and white, similar in pattern to the Downy Woodpecker.
• A white stripe runs down the center of the back.
• Outer tail feathers are plain white, without spotting or barring, the key diagnostic difference from the Downy Woodpecker.
• Males show a small red nape patch; females lack red.

Comparisons

The unspotted white outer tail feathers are the single best feather-level distinction from the Downy Woodpecker, whose outer tail feathers show black spots. Overall larger feather size supports this identification.

Males show a small red patch on the nape; females lack red entirely. Juveniles may show some red on the crown before molting into adult plumage. One complete annual molt occurs after breeding.

Hairy Woodpeckers are resident year-round across most of North America, favoring mature forests and larger woodlots more than the Downy Woodpecker, which tolerates smaller trees and more open settings.

Hairy Woodpeckers forage by drilling deeper into bark and wood than Downy Woodpeckers, targeting larger insect larvae. Their call is a loud, sharp "peek," louder and more emphatic than the Downy's. They excavate nest cavities in dead wood. A larger black-and-white checkered feather with plain, unspotted white outer tail feathers is a good match for this species.