Downy Woodpecker

The Downy woodpecker is a beautiful bird. Its the smallest woodpecker species in North America. They have a small red patch on the side of their head which attracts females. This bird is usually a backyard feeder and it joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches.The size of the length is 5.5 to 6.7 inches and the wingspan is 9.8 to 11.8 inches. The downy woodpecker usually eat insects, such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. They also eat black oil sunflower seeds. Their habitats are open woodlands, orchards, parks, and suburbs. Both male and female take up to 3 weeks making a nest.They are monogamous. Their status is 14 million in North America, so they are not endangered. The oldest downy woodpecker was 11 years and 11 months old. Their mating season is spring and summer.