Downy Woodpecker

North America's smallest woodpecker, distinguished from the near-identical but larger Hairy Woodpecker by its stubby, almost dainty bill and soft, drumming taps rather than loud hammering. Look for it clinging to tree trunks and thin branches in deciduous woodland, parks, and gardens, often working suet feeders in winter, with males showing a small red patch on the back of the head that females lack. It is active year-round, foraging low on dead wood and stems for insect larvae, and pairs often hold the same territory through the seasons.