\nHairy<\/strong>: mass 40 to 95 g; body length 18 to 26 cm.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
First was size. The Hairy is 2 to 3 times as heavy as the Downy, and about 30% to 40% longer.<\/p>\n
The Hairy Woodpecker on the stump seemed closer in size to the nearby Northern Flickers and was significantly larger than the Song Sparrow foraging nearby in the grass.\u00a0
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hairywoodpecker240127sCCF.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
After the woodpecker flew off, I measured the stump it pecked at for food. The bird was likely about 24 cm from beak tip to tail end; clearly a somewhat large Hairy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To make further comparison easier, here is a photo (right) of a Downy Woodpecker taken previously by Alistair Fraser. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/downywoodpecker170125s2-e1706842908448.jpg\")
The places to look for differences between a Downy and Hairy are marked with four numbers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1. The Downy’s bill is much shorter. The Hairy’s bill is noticeably longer and similar to the length of its head.<\/p>\n
2. Downy usually have fluffier tufts of feathers above their beaks.<\/p>\n
3. The Hairy’s neck has a black downwards spur; the Downy has none.<\/p>\n
4. The white-ish lower tail feathers are dotted black only on the Downy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This Downy also has a brighter red\u00a0 head patch than my visiting woodpecker, but that colour difference may be due to my father’s Downy being an older more mature male.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When my visiting woodpecker flew to a nearby low-lit tree, it had the namesake hair-like or thread-like white back feathers. It also showed white unmarked tail feathers and a reddish-ginger head patch that was split in two.\u00a0 Apparently a male Hairy\u2019s red patch often splits in two, while the Downy\u2019s does not.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/hairywoodpeckerb241027sCCF.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Finally, despite this somewhat ginger-coloured head patch, I am confident my visitor was a Hairy (and not a disguised royal Harry off the grid in Canada!) What do you think?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was watching a resident family of Northern Flickers flit between their favourite feeding areas, when to my absolute delight, another woodpecker flew over to join them.\u00a0 In the West Kootenay, we have a half-dozen or more woodpeckers that … Continue reading