Up high in the trees, where squirrels race and leaves sing, lives a tiny bird with a hidden house! Not one made of sticks and feathers, Downy woodpeckers tap, tap, tap their own homes right into dead branches, like comfy rooms way up in the sky.
But do they ever leave these cool nests? Where do they sleep at night? Could you ever have these feathered friends in your own backyard?
Come explore the world of Downy Woodpeckers and their secret nests, where families fly away from their hideaways in the clouds!
Downy Woodpecker Nesting
Downy woodpeckers don’t build their nests in the usual way with twigs and leaves. Instead, they carve cozy little caves for themselves right into dead trees and branches! They like to be high up, usually between 5 and 50 feet off the ground, where they feel safe from hungry eyes below.
They’ll happily carve their cozy caves into a variety of tree types, both deciduous and coniferous. Like there are some of their favorite branches: Oaks, maples, poplars, birches, willows, pines, spruces, etc.
Nest Location
Downy woodpeckers, tiny drummers of the forest, carve their homes high above the ground because of their safety. These architects of cozy caves prefer new digs each year, but sometimes they might revisit favored trees, like loyal tenants returning to a familiar neighborhood.
Lucky backyards with deadwood snags can become their penthouse abodes, welcoming families to raise young amid nature’s whispers.
They readily accept well-designed nest boxes, trading hospitality for pest control services. Deciduous giants, towering pines, even fire-kissed sentinels – any tree offering deadwood for excavation and privacy for raising young is fair game.
These penthouse dwellers prefer high-rise living, between five and fifty feet above the ground, their cozy caves cradled within the tree itself.
Beetles, spiders, and a smorgasbord of creepy crawlies hiding in deadwood are their gourmet delights. With tap-tap-tap beaks like miniature jackhammers, they unearth their next crunchy morsel, earning their title as nature’s pest control champions.
So, the next time if you hear a rhythmic drumming echoing through the trees, remember the Downy Woodpecker – the builder, the tenant, and the bug-munching maestro of the high-rise world. Their secret sanctuary, nestled within the whispering canopy, is a testament to their industrious spirit and love for the sky-high life.
Nest Appearance
Think silver dollar-sized hole in deadwood, a whisper of the cozy haven within. If you would like to know their nest size, just imagine a softball, big enough for a couple of apples and soft wood chip bedding for feathered bundles.
Phenology
When spring’s warmth reaches the forest, Downy Woodpeckers start drumming up plans for a family! They carve cozy homes in dead branches, high up like secret hideaways. This busy time lasts about two months, starting in fall for most feathered folks.
There are some procedures. First, the couple works together to dig a round entrance, just the size of a silver dollar. Inside, they line the room with wood chips for the softest bed for their soon-to-be babies. Then, around mid-May, the mama lays 3-6 white eggs, like tiny treasures hidden in the nest.
For two weeks, the parents take turns keeping the eggs warm and safe. Finally, the eggs hatch, and the nest fills with hungry chicks! Both mom and dad work tirelessly, bringing bugs and treats to fuel their growing family. After about three weeks, the chicks fledge, ready to explore the big world outside their cozy drum!
Nest Construction
You may call Downy Woodpeckers master carpenters of the forest! They don’t build nests like other birds, with twigs and leaves. Instead, they use their strong beaks like tiny axes to carve cozy homes right into dead trees and branches. It’s like they’re making tiny wooden apartments high up in the air!
Both mommy and daddy woodpeckers work together to dig their nest. They hammer away at the deadwood, chipping off pieces until they make a round entrance, just big enough for them to squeeze through. They don’t use any fancy materials inside – just the wood chips they made while digging! These soft chips make the perfect bed for their soon-to-be babies.
Next time if you hear a drumming sound in the forest, you can guess that it might be a busy woodpecker family building their cozy home in the sky!
Downy Woodpecker Eggs
Downy Woodpecker eggs are little treasures tucked away in their high-rise homes! They’re not colorful or sparkly, but they’re precious all the same. Imagine tiny white pearls, no bigger than a dime, nestled snugly on a bed of wood chips. Mama woodpecker usually lays 3 to 6 of these little gems in mid-May, like a secret stash waiting to hatch.
Both mommy and daddy take turns keeping their egg treasures warm and safe. They sit on them patiently for about two weeks, like feathered guards protecting their jewels. So, next time you hear a woodpecker drumming, remember the busy family hidden high in the trees, carefully watching over their tiny white pearls until they hatch and fill the forest with chirpy joy!
Fledgling and Parental Care
Imagine the excitement in the woodpecker nest! Tiny heads peek out, chirping and flapping, eager to see the world beyond their cozy drum. After three weeks of growing and learning, these little feather balls are ready to take flight! Downy woodpecker chicks, called fledglings, will soon leave the nest for their big adventure.
Usually, this feathered graduation happens in June or July. Mama and papa woodpecker have worked tirelessly bringing bugs and treats, teaching their little ones how to tap-tap-tap for yummy snacks. Now, it’s time for practice!
But don’t worry, they don’t just leap into the unknown! For a few weeks after leaving the nest, the fledglings stay nearby, practicing their flying and learning the forest secrets from their patient parents. It’s like a feathered kindergarten, with mama and papa as the kindest teachers.
Most woodpecker families only have one brood a year, so these precious weeks are filled with love and learning before the fledglings venture off to become independent little drummers of their own.
So, next time you hear a frantic tapping in the trees, know that it might be a fledgling practicing its drumming call, a sweet serenade to its patient parents as they guide it into the big, beautiful forest.
You can also read: How to Take Care of Birds
Facts
Resilient Remodelers: Downy woodpeckers aren’t easily discouraged. Somehow if their first nest gets disrupted, these tenacious builders might just carve a new one nearby, determined to raise their precious family.
Crafty Concealment: The round entrance to their nest isn’t just an artistic choice! It acts as a tiny bouncer, deterring larger predators who wouldn’t fit through. Think of it as a built-in security system, keeping their chicks safe and sound.
Peaceful Slumber: Downy woodpeckers tuck themselves in for quiet nights within their snug retreats. Downy woodpeckers prefer quiet slumber, tucked snugly inside their wooden havens. Unlike some feathered friends, they don’t need separate bedrooms – their nest doubles as their tranquil slumber chamber.
People Also Asked
Do Downy Woodpeckers abandon their nests?
Downy woodpeckers rarely abandon their nests. They invest a lot of energy in building and raising their kids, so they won’t give up easily. However, if predators threaten the nest or the eggs don’t hatch, they might start over later in the season.
Do Downy Woodpeckers nest on the ground?
Downy woodpeckers always nest in dead trees or branches, usually 5-50 feet above the ground.
Where do Downy Woodpeckers nest at night?
When the sun sets, these drummers tuck themselves into their cozy nest cavities. The thick wood walls and snug wood chips keep them warm and safe throughout the night.
How to attract nesting Downy Woodpeckers?
If you’d like to welcome Downy woodpeckers to your backyard, offer them some dead limbs or snags. You can even put up a well-designed nest box! They appreciate having a safe place to raise their families and will reward you with their drumming rhythm and pest-control services.
Wrap up
Next time you hear a drumming in the woods, look up! Watch these tiny birds hammer their homes high in the trees, smart as can be. They show us the wonders hidden in nature, even in the highest branches.
Who knows about them, maybe someday you’ll have your own feathered friends drumming happily in your own backyard! Just give them a dead branch or a cozy nest box, and let the forest magic begin!!
Source:
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/visit/visitor-center-faq
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/downy-woodpecker
