These two species of woodpeckers visit nearly everyday. I thought I would post them together at approximately the same magnification to show how slight the differences are. Both are males and the major differences in appearance are body size and length of the bills.

Hairy Woodpecker

Nice job Rob. #2 is my pick.

Morris

Good stuff Rob. Is this from the oasis - aka your back yard

H

Oh no Henrik by the front porch. Haven't seen you around no working too hard I hope.

Rob

Good renditions of both of these Woodys Rob, I always have trouble telling them apart except when there close together, which is never! Verno

Thanks Vern, it seems here one just flys away then the other comes in. They are around a lot.

Rob

Rob Tillyer wrote:
Oh no Henrik by the front porch. Haven't seen you around no working too hard I hope.

Rob

Ahhh, the front of the oasis

And yeah, been busy as of late. Hope to spend a little more time around here in the near future.

H

You get these every day

When is the party Rob, the whole forum wants shots like those!!

Looking real good Rob, a nice comparison, I have never seen them side by side I don't have either of these guys

Tim

Any time you want Tim, there are Pileateds to go with them as well.
Thanks for the comment.

Rob

Nice shots and comparisons Rob, I think I've seen a couple of the Downy's around my place....

Excellent shots Rob. My pick is #2 for the full body shot
Dan

Super series----well done!!!

Gee, the difference IS really subtle, Rob. Seems like the one that stands out the most is the size of the bill. Fine shots, and thanks for the comparisons!

Best Wishes,
Steve

Very Nice Rob, I really appreciate seeing them like this, I see the Downy's all the time but don't think I have seen a Hairy but a few times, but wasn't sure, Now I will know for sure
Thanks
Larry

Nice looking woodies Rob

Thanks for the side by side, I would have missed the difference had you not pointed it out. Nice images and you were lucky in both to get them without the membrane over the eye that seems to cover each time they peck into the tree

Karl

Thanks for the comments.
Karl, I honsetly haven't noticed the membrane on these guys although I do have a lot of blurred shots with closed eyes. After whacking away for a while, they seem to have to stop for a second.

Rob

Great shots Rob and good to see the comparison. Looks like they are even pecking at the same spot on the same tree!
Martin

Thanks Martin, almost exactly the same spot. That was what I was trying for in the size comparison. The birch is right in front of our house; we left it there when we built here many years ago. It provides me with great entertainment.

Rob

Rob,
Great shots, I'm going with #2 as my favorite

Tim