Male Downy, left, and Hairy Woodpeckers feed at a suet station Wednesday in Hallowell. The birds have similar plumage but a few key distinctions. The Downy is smaller while the Hairy has a longer beak and fewer white flakes on its wings.

Side by side comparison makes differences apparent

Story and photo by Andy Molloy, staff photographer

Photographing at feeders is fast, easy and convenient, which is why I love it. But is bait and wait natural? Visually, at least, encountering critters in their environment, not ours, is always more rewarding. And woodpeckers pecking wood is particularly bountiful.

Out photographing the wild stuff over the last month, I endeavored to illustrate the distinction between Hairy and Downy woodpeckers. Pecking wood, of course. They are the most common of the avian species heard rattling trees in Maine (http://www.mainebirding.net/birds/Woodpeckers).

To my untrained eyes, they are almost indistinguishable. I discovered a Hairy smacking a maple in Monmouth and a Downy rapping away in Vassalboro. I think. With Hairys and Downys, size matters. The Hairys are larger. Scrutinizing the photos, however, I was unable to make the measure. The subjects in each photo appeared to be the same size. The beautiful birds were photographed hitting the wood, but I was stumped.

Wednesday I pulled over after seeing double. A male Downy and Hairy were assaulting the same slug of suet at a feeder. The difference between the species could not be clearer. The face off furnished a fast, easy and convenient guide. Here's another: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/woodpeckerIDtable.htm

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