The smallest and commonest woodpecker in most areas. Found anywhere with trees, and a regular garden bird, often at feeders where happily mixes with other species. Small enough to feed on larger plant stems and reeds and from the smallest branches, hanging acrobatically. Occasionally in feeding flocks. Reasonably tame and approachable. In flight, look for small size, tiny bill, and narrow-striped head. Compared with HAWO is substantially smaller and less powerful, more compact and darker-headed and -tailed. Call: a pik. ID: Small and cute with tiny pointed bill, indeed bill size is the best way to eliminate HAWO. Clean white underparts, black upperparts with white back, spotted coverts, and barred flight feathers�a very fresh look. Striped head pattern. Ad ?: red nape patch. Ad ?: white nape. Juv: very similar to adult, but duller, more flecking on underparts, and sometimes red flecking (more on ?) on crown. W. populations have less white in wing.