This paired image is offered to help distinguish between two very similar species of woodpeckers. On the left is a male Hairy Woodpecker showing the distinctive beak as long as the rest of the head. On the right, a male Downy Woodpecker shows the shorter beak less than 1/2 the length of the head. Females of both species lack the red on the head. The Hairy is a much larger bird as shown in these images. In addition, Downies show small black dots on the white edges of the tail that are missing on the Hairies.