9 replies to this topic

[Sgtmac1]

Taken today near Ellensburg in central WA. Size of bird and bill length tell me it is a downy, but I don't see any of the black spots on the outer tail feathers. Do downys always have them? If so, what is this bird? Thanks, Mac.,

[creeker]

Downy Woodpeckers do not always show those spots. Yours is a Downy, based on bill and overall apparent size.

[Sgtmac1]

Thanks Creeker, that's what I was thinking, but the absence of spots was throwing me off.

[creeker]

Down here, I notice the Hairy Woodpeckers have a brownish cast to their plumage. They should have that in your area too. It's a West Coast thing.

[illin]

I don't know why guide books point out the tail feather thing. It just adds to the confusion of two similar looking birds.

Hairies are big, about the same size as a Red-bellied Woodpecker, big enough that in the field there should be no mistake (Photo identification is a whole other ball of wax). When you see one in the field and you are still not sure the most accurate way to ID them is bill size. besides hearing them call.

I have also noticed that Hairies seem to have more of a slicked down greaser look to the feathers, while Downies are........well........downier, with fluffier feathers. I may just be imagining things though.

One last thing. To me Downies are cute like a puppy or a bunny, and Hairies are kind of ugly. Not sure if that would help at all.

[creeker]

I
One last thing. To me Downies are cute like a puppy or a bunny, and Hairies are kind of ugly. Not sure if that would help at all.

How about you e-mail Sibley and see if he will add that to his text on these two?

[mtdavid]

One last thing. To me Downies are cute like a puppy or a bunny, and Hairies are kind of ugly. Not sure if that would help at all.

How about you e-mail Sibley and see if he will add that to his text on these two?

Crossley might, his descriptions are pretty informal sometimes, lol.

I've read that the tail spots get mentioned because it's the only mark where it's not necessary to know the other bird; Other marks are generally more useful but they're all -er words like "bigger" "shorter bill" etc. IMO it does lead to confusion more often thatn not since the marks aren't always visible when present.

[Julie H]

LOL, to me there isn't any bird on earth that is kind of ugly....

They all can do something that I cannot do and that's fly!

Julie

[grammarcat]

Crossley might, his descriptions are pretty informal sometimes, lol.

Yeah, no kidding. I think he describes the ovenbird as a punk rocker or something like that. I love his guide. It's too big for the field, but it's great for study.

[meghann]

They all can do something that I cannot do and that's fly!

Julie

Except. . .not ALL of them can fly. Lol.