This is the smallest and most common woodpecker in Golden Gate Park. The name "downy" is a misnomer. The bird has no actual down feathers. The name comes from the description of the nasal tufts which are down-like as opposed to being hair-like as in the similar but larger Hairy Woodpecker.
This female was one of a pair attending a nest in the dead flower spike of a Century Plant (Agave sp.). There are two races along the Pacific Coast. This is the smaller, whiter turati which ranges through most of the California lowlands.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held (no adapter)