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Definition of downy woodpecker

downy woodpecker

Plural:downy woodpeckers
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• 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

downwind
downy
downy snake
downy woodpecker
dowry
dowse
dowsing

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 Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/downy-woodpecker
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