Comments:  According to Boyle, a common permanent resident in woodlands and suburban areas throughout New Jersey.  This bird can often be seen at the suet feeders in the Great Swamp. Much smaller than some of the other woodpeckers. This bird is generally seen clasped to the side of a dead tree trunk picking for insects, not dangling on a branch as suggested by the Audubon drawing.

Stokes:  Both Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker have "teek" contact call. Downy:  whinny call and a "queek queek" given during courtship.  Hairy:  "wicki-wicki-wicki" during courtship.

Robbins: Call "pik", is much softer than Hairy's; rattle call descends in pitch toward end. 

Peterson:  A rapid whinney of notes, descending in pitch at the end; not so run together as those of Hairy Woodpecker.  Note a flat "pick", not as sharp as Hairy's note.

Comments on the voice of the Downy Woodpecker:

See also, "Downy Woodpecker" from "Bent's: Life Histories of Familiar North American Birds",  http://home.bluemarble.net/~pqn/ch11-20/downy.html 

To hear how to pronounce "Downy Woodpecker" in the Delaware Lenape language, see, http://www.delawaretribeofindians.nsn.us/birds.html