The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America. It is also the most common woodpecker in the eastern part of the continent. Who says small isn't good? Because of his size he doesn't have to compete with the bigger woodpeckers for living quarters. He can drill his home into a tree as small as ten centimeters around. He is also able to hunt for insects along the upper branches of trees while the bigger woodpeckers stick to the trunks of trees. In winter he doesn't hide food in caches like some other woodpeckers. Instead he does a thorough job of ridding a tree of any insect infestations that may be plaguing it.