I found this downy woodpecker on August 30th resting on a tree. The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker at Palmer Lake. What is an interesting fact is for all woodpeckers is that their tongue is wrapped around the brain to help them from damaging it when they’re pecking. There is a woodpecker that looks similar to the downy and it is the hairy woodpecker. How you can tell the difference between them is the size and the beak.

This is what a hairy woodpecker looks like. I found this one at west palmer lake park yesterday in the evening.

So far I have seen 4 different types of woodpeckers at Palmer Lake. The downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker and a northern flicker.
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