hairy woodpecker

American  

noun

1. a North American woodpecker, Picoides villosus, resembling but larger than the downy woodpecker.

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Etymology

Origin of hairy woodpecker

An Americanism dating back to 1720–30

Example Sentences

A photo caption that accompanied an image with the article misidentified a downy woodpecker as a hairy woodpecker, and a group of bright yellow finches or vireos was referred to only as “birds.”

From Washington Post

Also, a downy woodpecker was incorrectly identified as a hairy woodpecker.

From Washington Post

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

One challenge was to discern the hairy woodpecker from its doppelganger, the downy woodpecker.

From Washington Post

As for wildlife, the exhibit keeps things streamlined by focusing on four indicator species: the wolverine, the coastal tailed frog, the hairy woodpecker and clubmoss mountain heather.

From Seattle Times