The Downy Woodpecker is a black-and-white bird who is a frequent visitor to backyards across Canada. They are the smallest woodpeckers in North America at around six inches in length. Despite their size, they are energetic and bold with sharp chisel-like bills and spunky attitudes.
The male Downy Woodpecker is easy to distinguish from the female by the bright red patch on the back of his head. Both the male and the female have white bellies with black-and-white striped heads and black-and-white checkered wings. Birds in the western parts of the Downy Woodpecker range are somewhat darker, where those in the east show a sharper contrast.
This little woodpecker is common throughout most of Canada. If you keep your eyes up, you will likely seen them flying around this forest. If you don't see them, you will definitly hear them drumming on nearby trees.