This year-round resident woodpecker breeds at the northern tree-line from western Alaska to Newfoundland, and in the south from California to Florida, except in the southwest deserts. The general habitat is deciduous forest, deciduous/coniferous mixed, riparian woodland, second growth, parks, orchards and suburbs [AOU 1998]. Nest site selection can start as early as mid-April, birds usually excavating a new hole each year, with a preference for a dead snag on a live tree [Kilham 1983]. Downy Woodpeckers in the northeast are single-brooded; the nest site usually located 3-17 m above ground level [Bent 1939]. Beal [1911] examined 723 stomachs, finding that the food was 76% animal matter: beetles, wood-boring larvae generally, weevils, ants and other invertebrates gleaned from the trees or drilled from dead wood. The remaining food items were seeds and fruits.
The winter range is essentially the same as the breeding range [AOU 1998], although some movements and dispersals occur in spring (this study), and along the southeast New England coast in October [Veit and Petersen 1993]. Winter food is similar to the breeding season, although Downy Woodpeckers are often reported at suet feeders and even eating sunflower seeds [Stokes and Stokes 1996]. They are also likely to forage along small twigs and weed stalks [Sibley 2000]. From September to January, Kilham [1983] reported both males and females excavating separate winter roost holes in Maryland, which he presumed conserved heat and provided protection from predators. New Hampshire roost holes were lower (2-3 m above ground level) than those of Hairy Woodpeckers to avoid competition. The same study records Downy Woodpeckers as frequent members of winter foraging flocks, particularly with Black-capped Chickadees. Sixty-five flocks contained one downy, while 24 contained two downies, always one male and one female [Kilham 1983].
Northeast states Breeding Bird Survey data from 1966-2000 show a significant long-term decline of -0.7% per year. Short-term trends vary, e.g. Connecticut shows a significant increase of 3% per year for Downy Woodpeckers from 1980-2000 [Sauer et al. 2001]. There are no obvious conservation crises for this species in New England.
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