Laura Erickson's For the Birds

This little woodpecker, slightly larger than a Downy and smaller than a Hairy Woodpecker, can be distinguished from either by its striped back. It lives in oak woodlands and woodlands near streams with cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores. Oddly enough, although it’s associated with oaks, it doesn’t eat acorns, eating mostly insects and also some fruits. It’s fairly common in appropriate habitat within its range.