Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 148,099 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Downy Woodpecker: observations by month (U.S.)
About Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a species of woodpecker, the smallest in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Downy Woodpecker by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 16,250 | January | Sep–Jun |
| New York | 7,831 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Illinois | 7,786 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Massachusetts | 7,514 | April | Mar–Feb |
| California | 7,391 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Ohio | 7,151 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Florida | 6,719 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Pennsylvania | 6,663 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Virginia | 6,652 | January | Aug–Jun |
| Maryland | 5,735 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Minnesota | 5,217 | April | Jul–May |
| North Carolina | 4,747 | January | Aug–Jun |
| Michigan | 4,498 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Wisconsin | 3,672 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Oregon | 3,643 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Tennessee | 3,291 | February | Oct–Jun |
| South Carolina | 3,175 | March | Feb–Jan |
| New Jersey | 3,085 | March | Aug–Jun |
| Washington | 2,930 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Indiana | 2,570 | April | Sep–Jul |
| Georgia | 2,421 | January | Sep–Jul |
| Colorado | 2,389 | April | Jul–May |
| Missouri | 2,287 | March | Sep–Jul |
| Vermont | 2,189 | April | Oct–Jun |
| Connecticut | 2,101 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Arkansas | 1,950 | January | Sep–May |
| Alabama | 1,938 | January | Sep–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 1,412 | April | Aug–Jun |
| Utah | 1,387 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Louisiana | 1,289 | April | Sep–May |
| Iowa | 1,196 | December | Nov–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 1,153 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Maine | 1,133 | July | Jun–May |
| Kentucky | 986 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Nebraska | 916 | May | Mar–May |
| Kansas | 817 | April | Dec–May |
| Rhode Island | 729 | October | Sep–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 696 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Idaho | 690 | April | Mar–Feb |
| New Mexico | 603 | March | Aug–May |
| Delaware | 591 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Mississippi | 567 | December | Sep–May |
| Montana | 470 | August | Jul–Jun |
| West Virginia | 469 | January | Oct–Aug |
| South Dakota | 346 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Alaska | 280 | June | May–Apr |
| North Dakota | 169 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Nevada | 155 | October | Aug–Jun |
| Wyoming | 155 | May | Jul–May |
| Arizona | 95 | January | Apr–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Woodpeckers)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Downy Woodpecker?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to February.
Where is Downy Woodpecker most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, New York, Illinois.