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Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Bird · family Picidae · order Piciformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Downy Woodpecker
Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
50 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
11 years[4]

The Downy Woodpecker is a bird in the woodpecker family, Picidae[5]. It is ranked Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Downy Woodpecker G5 (Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected

Where Downy Woodpecker lives

NatureServe lists the Downy Woodpecker as native in 50 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia, from Alaska and Washington to Florida and Maine[3]. California, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Oklahoma are marked SNR, which means not yet ranked[9]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts and Michigan, but that follows where people watch and report, not population size[10].

Alaska: native, state rank S5AKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5BWIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank S5MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S5NVWyoming: native, state rank S5BWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5BIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5BPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4B,S5NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5B,S5NRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S4UTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank SNRMOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5B,S5NWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: native, state rank S4AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5B,S5NNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4BTXFlorida: native, state rank S4FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (50 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
AlaskaS5Secure
ArizonaS4Apparently Secure
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5BSecure (breeding)
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriSNRNot Ranked
MontanaS5Secure
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
NevadaS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS4B,S5NApparently Secure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New MexicoS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS4Apparently Secure
PennsylvaniaS5BSecure (breeding)
Rhode IslandS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4BApparently Secure (breeding)
UtahS4Apparently Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure
West VirginiaS5B,S5NSecure (breeding), Secure (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS5BSecure (breeding)
WyomingS5BSecure (breeding)

Habitat

NatureServe records this bird in hardwood, conifer and mixed forest and woodland, forested wetland, riparian areas, and suburban or orchard settings[11]. It also uses parks and second growth woods[12]. It nests in a hole that both sexes dig, mostly in a dead tree stub, but also in live trees and fenceposts[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Downy Woodpecker eats mostly insects found on tree bark, and it also eats berries and nuts[13][14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 17 cm (7 in) and a typical weight of 27 g[15][16]. A clutch is usually 4 to 5 eggs, and both parents incubate them for about 12 days[17]. The young leave the nest at 20 to 22 days and depend on their parents for food for 3 more weeks[17]. The oldest known wild bird from banding records was at least 11 years 11 months old[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 17 cm (7 in)
Typical adult weight[16] 27 g (1.0 oz)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 11 years 11 months
Food habits[14] Invertivore, Frugivore
Migration[18] non-migrant, local migrant

When to look for it

The Downy Woodpecker is diurnal, which means it is active in the daytime[19]. NatureServe calls it a non-migrant or local migrant, and the northernmost breeding birds move south for winter[20][18]. On GBIF, most US records fall in February, April and May[21]. Those records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[21].

January: 1,425,142 recordsJanFebruary: 1,607,072 recordsFebMarch: 1,429,514 recordsMarApril: 1,921,646 recordsAprMay: 1,968,797 recordsMayJune: 940,700 recordsJunJuly: 868,260 recordsJulAugust: 942,511 recordsAugSeptember: 1,349,500 recordsSepOctober: 1,322,798 recordsOctNovember: 1,109,441 recordsNovDecember: 1,264,879 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January1,425,142
February1,607,072
March1,429,514
April1,921,646
May1,968,797
June940,700
July868,260
August942,511
September1,349,500
October1,322,798
November1,109,441
December1,264,879

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Downy Woodpecker as present in 22 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Downy Woodpecker endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Downy Woodpecker live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 50 US states and territories, including Alaska and the District of Columbia[3]. It lives in forests, woodlands, parks, orchards and riparian areas[11][12].
What does the Downy Woodpecker eat?
It eats mostly insects from tree bark, and also berries and nuts[13].
How big is a Downy Woodpecker?
NatureServe records a typical length of 17 cm (7 in) and a typical weight of 27 g[15][16].
How long does a Downy Woodpecker live?
The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 11 years 11 months old[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Downy Woodpecker is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Downy Woodpecker: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Downy Woodpecker as native in 50 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Downy Woodpecker from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 11 years 11 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a bird in the family Picidae, order Piciformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Downy Woodpecker is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Downy Woodpecker (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Downy Woodpecker: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Downy Woodpecker: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Suburban/orchard, Forested wetland, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Downy Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Downy Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 17 cm (7 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 27 g (1.0 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Downy Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe migration category for Downy Woodpecker: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on migration for Downy Woodpecker. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Downy Woodpecker in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Downy Woodpecker as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.