Discover the Woodpeckers of North America—Where They Live and Fun Facts

Woodpeckers are one household of birds that want no introduction—their title says all of it. From the dainty Downy to the imposing Pileated, 22 species of woodpeckers may be discovered carving out properties in bushes (and cacti) throughout North America. Whereas most woodpeckers sport some mixture of purple, white, and black, not all do, and the birds listed right here can range extensively of their look, behaviors, and habitats. See in case you acknowledge any of those characters, and to study extra about every species, go to its chook information web page.   

1.) Downy Woodpecker 

The smallest woodpecker in North America, this widespread chook may be seen throughout the nation and all through a variety of habitats year-round. Downy woodpeckers are additionally frequent yard guests and pleased to eat as a lot suet as you may present. 

2.) Furry Woodpecker

Wanting almost an identical to the Downy (here’s how to tell them apart), this medium-size woodpecker may also be present in a lot of the identical territory, inflicting loads of ID confusion. In each Downy and Furry Woodpeckers, females lack the male’s brilliant purple patch on the highest of its head. 

3.) Crimson-bellied Woodpecker

Typically mistaken for the Crimson-headed Woodpecker (very completely different; see #14), the Crimson-bellied is one other medium-size woodpecker present in woodlands, parks, and suburbans areas throughout a lot of the jap United States. Their loud, trilling querr name usually offers away their presence.  

4.) Northern Flicker

A big woodpecker with hanging facial markings and speckled plumage, Northern Glints are as more likely to be seen lapping ants up off the bottom as they’re chipping away at a tree trunk for beetles, termites, and different bugs. Discovered year-round throughout the nation, jap, or “yellow-shafted,” birds flash gold in flight, whereas western, or  “red-shafted,” birds showcase a rosier hue. 

5.) Gilded Flicker 

A denizen of the Sonoran Desert, this woodpecker appears just like the Northern Flicker however is barely smaller and lacks a purple patch on the again of its head. The chook’s golden underwings virtually gleam in flight, inspiring its title. The Gilded Flicker is certainly one of a handful North American woodpeckers that carve out holes and nest in saguaro cacti. 

6.) Gila Woodpecker 

Much like the Gilded, this medium-size, bar-backed woodpecker may be discovered within the deserts of Arizona, Southern California, Mexico, and New Mexico, the place it makes its residence in both bushes or saguaros. As soon as deserted, the holes within the cacti created by Gila and Gilded Woodpeckers are used as nesting websites by many different chook species and animals. 

7.) Golden-fronted Woodpecker 

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker’s core vary is jap Mexico and Central America, however in the USA , it’s a everlasting resident of central Texas and southwestern Oklahoma. The chook appears just like the Crimson-bellied save for the male’s orange-yellow nape, or neck, and splash of yellow above the invoice. 

8.) Pileated Woodpecker

It is onerous to mistake a Pileated Woodpecker: The most important remaining woodpecker within the Western Hemisphere, the chook cuts a definite, crested profile because it glides from tree to tree in jap woodlands, a lot of Canada, and elements of the Pacific Northwest. Its name—a loud, percussive sequence of cuk-cuk-cuks—may be heard at nice distances.  

9.) Lewis’s Woodpecker 

By far our most uncommon North American woodpecker, the Lewis’s Woodpecker sports activities inexperienced, silver, pink, and purple feathers. Discovered throughout western states, the chook additional differs from different woodpecker by feeding largely by flycatching, sallying out from limbs and different perches. In flight, the medium-size chook is commonly in comparison with a crow due to its extensive, rounded wings. 

10.) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

This medium-size woodpecker may be seen all through a lot of the midwest and east throughout winter months. Whereas the title may look like an insult, it is extremely correct: One very important meals supply for these birds is the energy-rich sap of bushes, which they entry by creating little holes, or wells, that they will revisit when it is time to refuel.

11.) Crimson-naped Sapsucker 

Discovered all through the Intermountain West throughout summer season months and in southern western states down into Mexico throughout the winter, this sapsucker’s patch of purple on its neck is the important thing distinction between it and its Yellow-bellied cousin to the east. This chook additionally creates small holes to lap up sap—a lot to the delight of hummingbirds, who fortunately reap the benefits of the free meals. 

12.) Crimson-breasted Sapsucker 

The Crimson-breasted Sapsucker sticks to a decent vary alongside the Pacific Coast, and whereas it prefers coniferous forests, it will possibly nonetheless be discovered making grids of sap wells in combined woods with deciduous bushes. Their brilliant purple breast and head, in addition to their darker plumage, set these birds aside from the opposite two sapsucker species; atypically, men and women look alike. 

13.) Williamson’s Sapsucker 

One other chook of the Intermountain West throughout summer season months and a everlasting resident in California’s mountain ranges, males of this species are distinct, that includes jet-black plumage with two daring white traces on their face, a purple patch on their chin, and yellow bellies. Females look utterly completely different, with an total brown or grey look and barring on their backs. 

14.) Crimson-headed Woodpecker 

This dapper chook was as soon as certainly one of our commonest woodpeckers—however not anymore. Whereas they’re conspicuos with their crimson  heads, crisp white stomach, and black-and-white wings, these birds are actually elusive, most frequently present in open woodlands and agricultural fields. The birds reside in small colonies and love acorns and beech nuts, which they’re going to cache for later. 

15.) Nuttall’s Woodpecker 

This small woodpecker is an unique resident of California’s oak woodlands, the place its horizontal again stripes differentiate it from the similar-looking Downy and Furry Woodpecker.  This barring makes the Nuttall’s and Ladder-backed Woodpecker simple to confuse, however the Nuttall’s is total darker in look, with a large patch of black on their higher again.

16.) Ladder-backed Woodpecker 

A everlasting resident of the Southwest, the Ladder-backed appears rather a lot like a Nuttall’s however with extra white on its face and again.  The territories for each solely overlap within the California foothills, although, so identification can normally be made by vary alone. 

17.) White-headed Woodpecker 

White-headed Woodpeckers are certainly one of our most range-limited  North American woodpecker species. They’re solely present in high-altitude pine forests of western states and up into British Columbia. This chook can also be the one woodpecker on this checklist with a white faces and utterly black physique; females lack the male’s patch of purple on the highest of its head. 

18.) Crimson-cockaded Woodpecker 

The one woodpecker on this checklist that’s take into account threatened. As soon as comparatively widespread throughout the southeastern United States, this species is now uncommon resulting from lack of habitat primarily from logging. Named for a tiny patch of purple feathers—the “cockade”—behind the attention of the male, these largely black and white birds are extremely depending on longleaf pine forests to outlive.  

19.) Acorn Woodpecker

 This chook earns its title: Within the fall, it obsessively collects acorns, caching them in a useless snag loaded with pre-drilled holes till they’re wanted throughout powerful winter months. Acorn Woodpeckers are communal birds with odd household dynamics, and these “granaries” can be utilized by generations of woodpeckers. 

20.) American Three-toed Woodpecker

A everlasting resident of western mountains and northern North America, this smaller woodpecker is low key and straightforward to overlook because it rests in opposition to the trunks of bushes. Three-toed Woodpeckers—which do certainly have three toes—forage for bugs by chipping away on the bark of useless bushes, so that they gravitate towards forests disturbed by fires or bark beetle outbreaks.  

21.) Black-backed Woodpecker

With an analogous however not as southern-reaching vary because the Three-toed, the Black-backed appears markedly related, with males additionally sporting a yellow patch of feathers on the brow. Additionally just like the Three-toed, Black-backed Woodpeckers have three toes and are extremely depending on not too long ago burned forests for habitat. The place the 2 overlap, the Black-backed tends to rule. 

22.) Arizona Woodpecker

Because the title suggests, this species is nearly solely present in southeastern Arizona in the USA, with its vary extending down into Mexico. The medium-size woodpecker has a brown again, white cheek patch, and closely noticed underside, giving it an look not like every other woodpecker on this checklist. Discover them in mountainous pin-oak forests.