Downy or Hairy Woodpecker

[Karen00]

Hello all,

My name is Karen and I'm new to this forum and bird watching in general. I put up my first feeder just this past June and I must say it has been quite thrilling to see birds to my yard that I have never seen before in all my years living here (17 years). Some of these birds I didn't even know lived/came to Toronto.

I'm hoping someone can help to identify this woodpecker. I can't tell whether he's a Downy or Hairy. He came close enough to my window that I got the sense he was a bit bigger than a house sparrow but smaller than a robin. I got the sense he stood about the height of a pop can (355ml size). I also have this picture of him on my feeder to which the screen portion of the feeder is 8" (if that helps for sizing purposes).

I originally thought Downy, now I think Hairy.

I know the bill is supposed to be a good way to ID the species but never having seen both species side-by-side, that's still a little tough for me. Mainly because I'm not sure whether the bill is measured including the white feathers on the bill or excluded. I have other pictures if needed.

Thanks.


Karen

[Pat Hodgson]

this is a downy woodpecker, based on overall small size and small bill, bill length is much less than head size front-to-back
hairy would be over 9" long, and have large bill almost as large as head

[Karen00]

Great, thanks so much Pat. I too think Downy. I didn't get a sense he was big enough (body nor bill) to be a Hairy based on descriptions I read. I hope to get pics of the female that has come to my yard but she's proving to be more elusive than the male.

This is a great forum and I'm happy to have discovered it and to be part of the birding community!! I only wish I started doing this years ago. It's so rewarding! I hope I can start contributing to this area as I become more familiar with the various birds not only in the Toronto / Ontario area but beyond as well.

Thanks again!


Karen