Tveten writes "The nine-to-ten inch hairy woodpecker is patterned like the smaller seven-inch downy, but its larger size and more massive bill are diagnostic."

Downy woodpeckers are also have dark bars or spots on the white outer tail feathers. "The outer tail feathers of the hairy [woodpecker] are entirely white ..." This contrasts the tail pattern of the two.

This may be why it is called a "hairy" woodpecker.

Photo taken with a Nikon D300 using a Nikon 300mm f/4.5.

October 12, 2016.