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I have a hard time distinguishing the Downy from the Hairy woodpecker.  I can't tell if the "tail spots" seen peeking out between the wings in the one picture are part of the wing or the tail.

This was shot on the Bruce Peninsula, in Ontario, Canada at 11 am.

downy-woodpecker-2.jpg

downy-woodpecker.jpg

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5 minutes ago, akandula said:

That's actually a black-crowned female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Note the vertical white wing patches. Downy/Hairy Woodpecker have a prominent white stripe down the back.

That makes sense. We're so used to seeing the yellow-bellied with the red throat that I guess its absence threw me off. It didn't help that my field guide does not show the black crown for the female sapsucker.  Thanks for the ID!  

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