Habitat:
Range from Alaska and Canada to Panama, and are mostly permanent residents. The Hairy Woodpecker and the Downey Woodpecker are very similar in pattern, different mainly in size and bill shape, with the Hairy much larger in size.
They often occur together, but the Hairy requires larger trees and is less common, especially in the East.
Diet:
Eat mostly insects. Feeds especially on larvae of wood-boring beetles, also other beetles, ants, caterpillars and others. Will feed on sap-damaged trees or at sapsucker sites. Also will come to bird feeders for suet.
Nesting:
Site is a cavity in a tree, excavated by both sexes, and is mainly in deciduous trees in the East. No nesting material except for wood chips.
Eggs:
4 eggs, white in color. Incubation is by both sexes, with the male incubating by night and female most of the day. Incubation periods in about 14 days.
Young:
Both parents bring food for the nestlings. Male usually forages farther from the nest. Young leave the nest about 28-30 days after hatching.
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