Head to head
Ladder-backed Woodpecker vs Downy Woodpecker
The ladder-backed woodpecker and downy woodpecker are both small, similarly patterned North American woodpeckers, but they have settled into very different habitats.
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Downy Woodpecker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dryobates scalaris | Dryobates pubescens |
| Preferred habitat | Arid desert scrub | Forest, including suburban areas |
| Nesting site | Cacti, mesquite | Trees |
| Back pattern | Black-and-white ladder bars | Black-and-white spotted |
| Native range | Southwestern US and Mexico | Much of North America |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Desert, forest | Forest |
Ladder-backed Woodpecker vs Downy Woodpecker: common questions
How can you tell a ladder-backed woodpecker from a downy woodpecker?
The ladder-backed woodpecker has a black-and-white barred pattern resembling a ladder across its back, while the downy woodpecker has a more spotted pattern, and the two also differ clearly by habitat and range.
Which species is more likely to visit a backyard feeder, the ladder-backed woodpecker or the downy woodpecker?
The downy woodpecker is far more likely to visit backyard feeders, being a familiar suburban visitor across much of North America, while the ladder-backed woodpecker sticks mainly to arid desert scrub habitat.
Why does the ladder-backed woodpecker nest in cacti?
This species nests in cacti and mesquite because it lives in arid desert scrub habitat that lacks the large trees the downy woodpecker and most other woodpeckers rely on for nesting cavities.