Photo by Bill Leaman

This small woodpecker is easy to spot as it makes its way up and down the trunk of a tree, checking the cracks and crevices for tasty insects. If you live near woods or have mature trees in your neighborhood, downies can be easily attracted to your yard by adding a suet feeder. Curious by nature, the downy will investigate the suet feeder soon after its been installed.

The downy woodpecker sports black and white plumage. The male has a red spot on the back of his head. The downy is the smallest woodpecker in Hamilton County - from its beak to the tip of its tail, it’s less than seven inches long.