Woodpecker Downy basic information

The Downy Woodpecker is very short, only about six inches long. Its coloring scheme is unique, a bright black and white. Its back is white, with black wings, nape and rump, the white coloring continuing across its underbelly and outer tail feathers. The Downy Woodpecker's beak is about half the size of its head; this is smaller than many other species of woodpecker. The Downy Woodpecker has a strange arrangement of toes on its feet, two in the front and two in the back, which enable the Downy Woodpecker to easily grip the tree, or whatever its landed on. It also has a stiffer tail than most birds, allowing it to easily prop itself up next to any common feeder.