348 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
166. Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens medianus (Swains.). (394c) 
Synonyms: Little Guinea Woodpecker, Little Sapsucker (error).—Picus (Dendrocopus) 
medianus, Swains, 1831.—Picus pubescens, Linn. (part), and most American authors.— 
Picus medianus, Nutt., 1834.—Dryobates pubescens, Cab., 1863, A. O. U. Check-list, 
1889-1895. 
Figure 89. 
In general appearance precisely like the Hairy Woodpecker, but decidedly 
smaller, the wing usually less than four inches long and the total length 
from 61 to 7 inches (See note under Hairy Woodpecker). i. 
Distribution.—Middle and northern parts of eastern United States and 
northward. 
Probably the Downy Woodpecker, though actually not so abundant 
as some other members of the family, is better known than any other 
woodpecker of the state. He is  ~ 3 =FSSS 
a familiar resident not only of the | 
deep forests and smaller patches 
of outlying woodland, but of nearly 
every orchard and grove, even 
coming regularly into the parks and 
shaded streets of our towns and 
villages and frequently nesting in 
such places, particularly if the 
English Sparrow is not  super- 
abundant. He shows a slight | 
tendency to withdraw to quieter 
regions during the nesting period, 
and is doubtless more conspicuous 
in winter when the trees are leafless, 
but nevertheless is in evidence at 
all times of the year. 
He is one of our most confiding | 
birds, and when busily at work 
cutting out grubs from fruit trees, 
or pecking into a dead stub for | 
burrowing larve, will allow a quiet | 
observer to approach withina yard | 
or two and watch every movement. 
Although he gets a large part of | a 
his food from dead and more or Fig. 89. Downy Woodpecker. 
less decayed wood he also searches From Coues’ Key to North American Birds, 5th 
the bark, limbs, and even the twigs ed., 1903. Dana Estes & Co. 
of apparently healthy trees in search of eggs, larvee, pups and adult insects 
of almost every kind, and we have no more indefatigable insect eater, and 
probably few birds more beneficial to the farmer and fruit grower. 
According to Beal, who examined 140 stomachs at the Department of 
Agriculture in Washington, 74 percent of the food consisted of animal 
matter and 25 percent of vegetable. The animal matter consisted almost 
entirely of insects, of which ants formed about one-third (23 percent), 
beetles another third (24 percent) and the remainder was made up largely 
of caterpillars, with numerous bugs, among which were considerable 
quantities of plant lice. The vegetable food, forming 25 percent of the 
