As far as Iowa woodpeckers go, the Downy is the smallest of the bunch. They may not have the color of the Redhead, or the spunkiness of the Red-Belly, or the brute size of the Pileated…but they are greatly appreciated for being an integral part of my backyard ecosystem. They can eat a lot of insects including beetle larvae, ants, and caterpillars. So they are small…but mighty…useful.