downy woodpecker
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of downy woodpecker
An Americanism dating back to 1800–10
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Also, a downy woodpecker was incorrectly identified as a hairy woodpecker.
From Washington Post • Apr. 7, 2023
The downy woodpecker uses its bill to search for food on small twigs and branches while the hairy woodpecker is most often observed searching for food on tree trunks.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Among the species he reported seeing were the hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, red breasted nuthatch, white breasted nuthatch and red-bellied woodpecker.
From Washington Times • Jan. 2, 2021
At Dick and Karen Hobbins’ home the group added a few more species, including goldfinch, Stellar’s jay and downy woodpecker.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2017
Behind her the downy woodpecker drilled into a dead tree with a special beat she recognized.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
