Downy Woodpecker
(Picoides pubescens)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Andrew A Reding - License
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Downy Woodpecker is a common inhabitant of wooded areas in Canada. The Breeding Bird Survey indicates that there has been a moderate increase in population since about 1970. Currently, there appear to be few threats to this common and adaptable species.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaModerate IncreaseHigh
 

Population estimate

Canada500,000 to 5,000,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Resident

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaModerate

Conservation and management

There are few conservation concerns for this widespread and adaptable species. Because the Downy Woodpecker prefers open stand habitat, management that thins forest habitats can be beneficial (Jackson and Ouellet 2002).  However, other practices such as extensive clearing or intensive, even-aged, forest monoculture have a negative impact on populations because the earliest successional stages do not provide nesting habitat (Conner et al. 1975 in Jackson and Ouellet 2002). Populations were at a high during the 1950s and 1960s when insect food sources were high as a result of peak tree mortality due to diseases such as Dutch Elm disease (Jackson and Ouellet 2002).

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
NoneNone
 

References