The Downy Woodpecker is found from coast to coast across North America. Distinguishing it from the similarly-marked (and also widely-occurring) Hairy Woodpecker are the Downy's smaller size, shorter bill, and softer downslurred rattle call. In both species the red occipital patch distinguishes the male from the female, but the Downy has a conspicuous tuft of nasal bristles (which the Hairy lacks).
The holes in the bark in this picture were drilled by a different woodpecker, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (see the photo I posted earlier today). Throughout the day the sapsucker would revisit this tree to drink the sap that had collected in the holes, but when it was off visiting other trees, this opportunistic Downy would swoop in to get a quick sugary sip!
It seemed to me that the sapsucker's efforts to chase off the Downy were rather half-hearted. Of course this particular part of New Jersey is no doubt home turf for the Downy year round; on the other hand, at this same location the sapsucker is almost certainly only a nonbreeding winter visitor and therefore has very little territorial right to the sap in the first place!
