Most nests held a downy chick that they estimated to be about three months old.
However, incidence of diseases which are more difficult to detect, such as downy mildew, might have been underestimated.
The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, from oblong to lanceolate, often downy, and with a serrated margin.
In winter, especially, downy woodpeckers can often be found in suburban backyards with trees and will feed on suet at birdfeeders.
Downy woodpeckers roost in tree cavities in the winter.
The downy woodpecker is mainly black on the upperparts and wings, with a white back, throat and belly and white spotting on the wings.
Like most other emeralds, the downy emerald has bright shiny green eyes.
Chicks have downy brown and buff plumage, and the fledged young are similar in appearance to the adult female.