Birds

Picoides pubescens is purported to be the world smallest woodpecker, at 16 to 17.5 CM long. Measured from the tip of the beak to the tail tip. The latter being the standard method used by ornithological scientists. Following those guidelines I have to point out that Dendrocopos minor, at 15 to 16.5 CM in length is the rightful owner to that title. Or am being pedantic, for it was a USA colleague of mine that made that claim. It was only the fact that I was entering this ‘Photo a Week Challenge’ that I felt the need to check it out. Looks as though he was a little, (no pun intended), confused. If you check this site out ‘about.com ‘, you’ll find that Picoides pubescens, the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest North American woodpecker, no claim to it being the worlds smallest. This site ‘NatureGate‘ makes no claims to Dendrocopos minor, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker being the worlds smallest. I now ask myself does it really matter, as a trivia quiz question, maybe?