This active and often unwary woodpecker, the smallest in North America, is generally the most often seen black and white woodpecker in human-settled areas.

A preference is shown for decayed wood for nesting, though sound wood is also utilized. Nest sites are usually 10 to 12 feet off of the ground.

It is found mostly at low to moderate elevations in deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests throughout much of the state, and less often in coniferous forests.

Hear the call of the Downy woodpecker

Photo by ©Keith Kohl, ODFW