Subject: Young of Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers -Reply
Date: Jun 24 10:55:18 1999
From: Chris Thompson - THOMPCWT at dfw.wa.gov
BOTH male and female have a red patch on their forehead in juvenal
plumage (the first plumage they grow in the nest); however, they replace their
juvenal plumage with their next (first prebasic) plumage shortly after fledging,
and lose their red forehead plumage at that time. Only males have a red
patch on the back of their head (as illustrated in field guides).
Hope this helps.
Chris