![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.opusgroup.us%2Falbums%2Fmay%2Fcontent%2Fdowny-woodpecker-dryobates-pubescens%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.opusgroup.us%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F001%2F219%2F200526-COVID-Spring-May-2020-070%2Flarge.1593987247.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.opusgroup.us%2Falbums%2Fmay%2Fcontent%2Fdowny-woodpecker-dryobates-pubescens%2F" title="Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)"%3EDowny Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EDowny+Woodpeckers+have+an+interesting+and+somewhat+complicated+taxonomic+history.++According+to+Wikipedia%2Cthe+Downy+Woodpecker+was+originally+described+and+illustrated+with+a+hand-colored+plate+by+English+naturalist+Mark+Catesby+in+his+The+Natural+History+of+Carolina%2C+Florida+and+the+Bahama+Islands%2C+published+between+1729+and+1732.+When+in+1766+the+Swedish+naturalist+Carl+Linnaeus+updated+his+Systema+Naturae+for+the+twelfth+edition%2C+he+included+the+downy+woodpecker%2C+coined+the+binomial+name+Picus+pubescens+and+cited+Catesby%27s+book.+The+species+name%2C+pubescens+is+the+Latin+for+%22pubescent%22+or+%22downy%22.+A+phylogenetic+study+published+in+2015+found+that+the+existing+understanding+of+relationships+among+these+small+woodpecker+species+was+incorrect.+In+the+revised+generic+classification%2C+the+downy+woodpecker+was+placed+with+four+other+species+in+the+resurrected+genus+Dryobates.%0A+that+had+been+erected+in+1826+by+the+German+naturalist+Friedrich+Boie+with+the+downy+woodpecker+as+the+type+species.+There+are+seven+recognized+subspecies+of+Downy+Woodpecker%2C+found+from+western+Alaska%2C+through+south+and+central+Canada%2C+to+the+southeastern+United+States.+This+one+is+D.p.+pubescens.+%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Downy Woodpeckers have an interesting and somewhat complicated taxonomic history. According to Wikipedia,the Downy Woodpecker was originally described and illustrated with a hand-colored plate by English naturalist Mark Catesby in his The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, published between 1729 and 1732. When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he included the downy woodpecker, coined the binomial name Picus pubescens and cited Catesby's book. The species name, pubescens is the Latin for "pubescent" or "downy". A phylogenetic study published in 2015 found that the existing understanding of relationships among these small woodpecker species was incorrect. In the revised generic classification, the downy woodpecker was placed with four other species in the resurrected genus Dryobates. that had been erected in 1826 by the German naturalist Friedrich Boie with the downy woodpecker as the type species. There are seven recognized subspecies of Downy Woodpecker, found from western Alaska, through south and central Canada, to the southeastern United States. This one is D.p. pubescens.