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Definition of downy woodpecker
downy woodpecker
Plural:downy woodpeckers
downy woodpecker Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A small woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) native to North America, characterized by its black and white plumage, a broad white stripe down its back, and a relatively short bill.
Example
"We spotted a downy woodpecker actively foraging for insects on the bark of the old oak tree in our backyard."
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Downy woodpecker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/downy woodpecker