downy woodpecker
noun
: a small black-and-white woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) of North America that has a white back and is smaller than the hairy woodpecker
Examples of downy woodpecker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tree swallows, for example, got 2.8% smaller, American robins got 1.2% smaller, and downy woodpeckers got 2.2% smaller.
—
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 8 May 2023
The hairy woodpecker and the downy woodpecker are quite similar and can be difficult for novice birders to distinguish.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Oct. 2021
There are 23 species native to the United States—from the tiny downy woodpecker that is only a few inches in length, to the giant pileated woodpecker that’s nearly the size of a crow.
—Outdoor Life, 26 Feb. 2021
The downy woodpecker, for example, is smaller than a robin.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2020
Other insect-eating birds, like downy woodpeckers, chickadees, and titmice, can find insect larvae under tree bark in winter, or switch to seeds or bird feeders, Petersen said.
—Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Jan. 2020
In addition to the hairy and downy woodpeckers, there are bigger and brighter woodpeckers happy to entertain the gardener and other nature lovers.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 17 July 2019
One challenge was to discern the hairy woodpecker from its doppelganger, the downy woodpecker.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 17 July 2019
When the downy woodpeckers were examined, eight out of ten did.
—Conor Dillon, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 8 May 2023
The hairy woodpecker and the downy woodpecker are quite similar and can be difficult for novice birders to distinguish.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Oct. 2021
There are 23 species native to the United States—from the tiny downy woodpecker that is only a few inches in length, to the giant pileated woodpecker that’s nearly the size of a crow.
—Outdoor Life, 26 Feb. 2021
The downy woodpecker, for example, is smaller than a robin.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2020
Other insect-eating birds, like downy woodpeckers, chickadees, and titmice, can find insect larvae under tree bark in winter, or switch to seeds or bird feeders, Petersen said.
—Don Lyman, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Jan. 2020
In addition to the hairy and downy woodpeckers, there are bigger and brighter woodpeckers happy to entertain the gardener and other nature lovers.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 17 July 2019
One challenge was to discern the hairy woodpecker from its doppelganger, the downy woodpecker.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 17 July 2019
When the downy woodpeckers were examined, eight out of ten did.
—Conor Dillon, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near downy woodpecker
Cite this Entry
“Downy woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downy%20woodpecker. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share