A Native Drummer, the Downy Woodpecker

Aug 19, 2026 | Newsletter

By Zachary Hagen

Downy woodpecker clinging to a caged seed cylinder feeder filled with mealworms, nuts, and seeds

A downy woodpecker clings to a backyard seed cylinder — one of Ohio’s most common and beloved feeder visitors year-round.

When taking a walk through a park or just around your yard, the sound of a woodpecker is hard to miss. Out of the seven native woodpeckers seen in Ohio year-round, our focus will be on the Downy Woodpecker. The Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is the smallest of the native woodpeckers at only 14 – 18 cm in length. The feathers have a black and white pattern with males having a small red patch on the back of the head. The Hairy Woodpecker, also a native to Ohio, can be commonly mistaken as the Downy through their similar feather patterns. The main difference between the two is the Downy Woodpecker has a distinctly shorter beak.

The range of the Downy Woodpecker is expansive, ranging from Southern Florida into Canada, connecting all the way to Alaska. Interestingly, with this vast range comes regional differences. Individuals in the western United States are overall darker, as they tend to have less white in the wings than birds compared to the Downy Woodpeckers in eastern North America (Sibley, 2014). Downy Woodpeckers nest in tree cavities made by the nesting pair in a dead tree or branch. They use this same hole in the tree to protect the young as the parents take turns foraging for food.

Female downy woodpecker perched on a bare branch against a soft green background

A female downy woodpecker rests on a branch — note the absence of the red nape patch found on males of this species.

The Downy Woodpecker can commonly be seen at feeders, being easily attracted to suet, peanuts, black sunflower or mixed seed. Other birds who seem to have a similar seed preference are the beloved chickadees, which can often be seen at the same feeder, even during the winter. A fun fact about the woodpecker is that the noise it makes when it forages for bugs that reside inside the bark of trees is called drumming. Other names for this rhythmic pattern are rapping, tatting, and tattooing.

The Downy Woodpecker is just one part of the important biodiversity that connects Ohio across our cities, suburbs, and parks. To learn more about Ohio’s native wildlife visit your local nature preserve or visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website to read more.

Sibley, D. A. (2014). The Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd ed.). Alfred A. Knopf.