I've struggled for years to be able to tell the difference between the Hairy and Downy woodpeckers that are both prevelant in the forests and yards of the North East US. Coloring on the males and females tend to be quite similar, with the primary difference being their size (the Hairy being a few inches taller). I've observed both the male and female perched near each other in the large pines in my yard, though they seem to visit the feeders (primarily the suet) separately. I found this link helpful when trying to distinguish between the Hairy and Downy woodpeckers that visit my yard.
Images
