- Sphyrapicus – 4 species (sapsuckers)
- Melanerpes – 24 species
- Picoides – 3 species
- Yungipicus – 7 species
- Leiopicus – monotypic: yellow-crowned woodpecker
- Dendrocoptes – 3 species
- Chloropicus – 3 species
- Dendropicos – 12 species
- Dendrocopos – 12 species
- Dryobates – 5 species
- Leuconotopicus – 6 species
- Veniliornis – 14 species
- Xiphidiopicus – monotypic: Cuban green woodpecker
What bird looks like a woodpecker?
Underparts are white including black streaks on the side. Red-breasted sapsuckers have a red throat, just like that of downy woodpeckers. In appearance, both birds look quite similar, especially their upperparts. Besides, the legs of both birds are the same and have white spots on their wings.
What is the most common woodpecker?
Woodpeckers
- Pileated Woodpecker. With the exception of the extremely rare ivory-billed woodpecker, the pileated is the largest American woodpecker.
- Red-bellied woodpecker. ...
- Red-headed woodpecker. ...
- Northern flicker. ...
- Hairy and downy woodpeckers. ...
- Yellow-bellied sapsucker. ...
- Description of damage. ...
- Prevention of damage. ...
- Ornamental and shade trees. ...
- Legal status. ...
How do you identify a woodpecker?
Other Ways to Identify
- Sounds: While woodpeckers do not sing, their drumming is as distinctive as any song. ...
- Range and Habitat: Most woodpeckers stay in a general range throughout the year. ...
- Holes: Birders who are fortunate to see woodpeckers excavating holes can use those holes to help determine the bird species. ...
What are all the types of woodpeckers?
Tribe: Picini
- Genus: Picus. The species of this genus are spread all over Europe, North Africa, and Asia. ...
- Laced woodpecker
- European green woodpecker
- Black-headed woodpecker
- Grey-headed woodpecker
- Genus: Mulleripicus
- Genus: Dryocopus. ...
- Black woodpecker
- Genus: Hylatomus. ...
- Lineated woodpecker
See more
How many different kind of woodpeckers are there?
The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes 239 species of woodpeckers which make up the family Picidae. They are distributed among 36 genera, six of which have only one species.
What are the different names of woodpeckers?
These are the Acorn Woodpecker, Arizona Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Lewis's Woodpecker and the Nuttall's Woodpecker. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which has not been seen in North America since the late forties and early fifties, is considered extinct.
What is the most common woodpecker?
The downyThe downy is the smallest (6 ¾ inches long), most common, and most widespread woodpecker. Its black-and-white plumage is similar to that of the larger (9 ¼ inches long) hairy woodpecker.
What bird looks like a woodpecker?
The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) or common flicker is a medium-sized bird of the woodpecker family....Northern flickerClass:AvesOrder:PiciformesFamily:PicidaeGenus:Colaptes16 more rows
What is a black and white woodpecker called?
Downy Woodpeckers give a checkered black-and-white impression. The black upperparts are checked with white on the wings, the head is boldly striped, and the back has a broad white stripe down the center. Males have a small red patch on the back of the head.
What are the big woodpeckers called?
Pileated WoodpeckerA big, dashing bird with a flaming crest, the largest woodpecker in North America (except the Ivory-bill, which is almost certainly extinct). Excavating deep into rotten wood to get at the nests of carpenter ants, the Pileated leaves characteristic rectangular holes in dead trees.
Is it rare to see a woodpecker?
Although they vary in form and habit, most of these birds are widespread and can be found relatively easily. While a significant number of woodpecker species maintain healthy populations, none are free from human threats, which range from habitat loss to harmful pesticides.
Is a Blue Jay a woodpecker?
While the behavior of Jays and other Corvids may look a lot like that of many woodpeckers, they are not genetically related and there are important differences. Woodpeckers have a very distinct way of pecking in trees in search for food and nesting ground.
Is a nuthatch a woodpecker?
Both species are often mistaken as woodpeckers, as they have short legs and shimmy up and down tree trunks, but nuthatches are more closely related to chickadees and tufted titmice, than to woodpeckers.
Is a flicker bird a woodpecker?
The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. Flickers in the northern parts of their range move south for the winter, although a few individuals often stay rather far north. Northern Flickers generally nest in holes in trees like other woodpeckers.
Are flickers and woodpeckers the same?
During breeding season, male woodpeckers drum on tree trunks and utility poles to attract females. Flickers are members of the woodpecker family. They are named for the brilliant yellow or red undersides of their wings and tails that cause the birds to resemble flickering flames when they fly.
What bird looks like a downy woodpecker?
Smartly patterned in black and white, with a touch of red on the males, downy woodpeckers and hairy woodpeckers look remarkably similar to each other. Both downies and hairies have black central tail feathers and white outer tail feathers, but there are a few sneaky clues to differentiate between the two.
What are the different groups of woodpeckers?
These groups are: Common woodpeckers. Western woodpeckers. The Flickers. The Sapsuckers. The Pileated woodpecker.
Where are the woodpeckers found?
Eastern Woodpeckers. The Eastern parts of the USA are home to a number of great woodpecker species. Although there are many more types of woodpeckers that occur here, the 3 woodpeckers included in this category can only be seen in this part of the world. These 3 species are:
What is a sapsucker bird?
Sapsuckers. Sapsuckers are small woodpeckers that get their name from their habit of feeding on the sap of trees and other plants. These birds know which plants to drill into at which time of the year and this not only ensures a constant supply of their favorite food but also attracts insects that want to share the meal.
What is the difference between a red-breasted sapsucker and a red-headed saps
The Red-breasted sapsucker looks a lot like the other 3 species in the group but with one big difference, it has a blood-red head and chest. These are smallish woodpeckers that, like the other sapsuckers, use their bills to create holes in the trunks of trees to access the flowing sap. Red-breasted Sapsu ckers look somewhat similar to the red-headed woodpecker but are much less crisply marked and only occur on the west coast of the United States.
What do flickers eat?
Flickers are fairly large woodpeckers that are unusual in that they forage mostly on the ground, feeding on ants and beetles. Both species look very similar to one another with the main difference being the cinnamon brown top to the head in the Gilded Flicker differing from the Gray cap of the Northern Flicker.
What is the difference between Downy and Downy woodpecker?
Both of these classic American woodpeckers have a small red patch of plumage on the backs of their heads. The Downy woodpecker is the smaller of the two species and has a much shorter bill.
What type of woodpecker is a white head?
White-headed Woodpecker. The White-headed Woodpecker is another species that favors ponderosa pines in the extreme western areas of the United States. This type of woodpecker is almost all black, apart from white wing patches and a white head.
1. Red-headed Woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker is a medium sized bird that has a small population of about 20,000 individuals. As you might have guessed, it is known for its distinctive red head! This species of bird can be found in many types of habitat, from dense forests to open savannahs and swampy areas.
2. Acorn Woodpecker
The Acorn woodpeckers are very small birds that can only grow up to around 4 inches in size. This type of woodpecker is a very shy type of bird that likes to live in different types of forests.
3. Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a small bird that typically measures about 5 inches in size with gray feathers and a yellow underbelly. It has black wings, but it isn’t always easy to spot in the woods because it blends in so well!
4. Gila Woodpecker
This species of woodpecker is known for its adorable call. They often use it to announce the presence of insects that wouldn’t normally be detected by human ears, such as ants or termites!
5. Golden-fronted Woodpecker
The Golden-fronted woodpeckers are very beautiful birds with a bright yellow stripe on the top of their heads. They have grayish white feathers and a red patch behind their eye.
6. Ladder-backed Woodpecker
The Ladder-backed woodpecker is a mid-size bird that can measure up to 13 inches in size. These birds have a black back and a red crown on top with a white throat.
7. American Three-toed Woodpecker
The American three-toed Woodpecker is one of the largest types of woodpeckers with a length up to 18 inches. These types of birds have gray bodies with white on their stomach and a yellow patch on top of their heads.
Readers share pictures of woodpeckers that show the beauty of these amazing birds. Look for these 10 types of woodpeckers across America
Readers share pictures of woodpeckers that show the beauty of these amazing birds. Look for these 10 types of woodpeckers across America.
Types of Woodpeckers: Red-Headed Woodpecker
Talk about a stunning species. This bold type of woodpecker has a large, scarlet-colored head and spiky bill—and it’s skilled at catching insects midair. Both sexes sport a white belly, black back and white wing patches. Smaller than a crow, this Midwest and East Coast bird has a round, crestless head.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
The name of this beautiful bird is misleading. Its belly is actually pale with tinges of red in the right light, and it has a black-and-white striped back with a bright red nape. Males also have a red crown. In the eastern United States where it lives, you’ll spot this bird picking at bark rather than drilling into it.
Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker is the smallest and most common type of woodpecker, living year-round in most of the U.S. except the extreme Southwest. Slightly smaller than a robin, this cute bird has a pale belly, checkered black-and-white head and back, and a surprisingly short bill for a woodpecker. Males show a flash of red at the back of their heads.
Hairy Woodpecker
While its markings are similar to the downy’s, the hairy woodpecker is about one-third larger, close to the size of a robin. Its chisel-shaped bill is prominent, about the same length as its head. Its coloring varies across North America, and at times it appears to be stained with brown watercolors and has less spotting.
Acorn Woodpecker
These quirky woodpeckers love to stockpile nuts, including acorns, in small holes in tree trunks. “This year I’ve been putting oranges out for the songbirds in the backyard, and I was surprised to see acorn woodpeckers also enjoying them.
Northern Flicker
With markings unlike those of any others on this list, northern flickers have a black bib, spotted belly, white rump and a brownish gray back patterned with spots, bars and crescents. Males also may show red or black whiskers, a red nape crescent and stripes of yellow or red throughout their tail feathers.
How many types of woodpeckers are there in the world?
Woodpeckers are known for their powerful beaks, long tongues, sometimes flashy colors, and their excellent climbing skills. There are over 200 types of woodpeckers in the world and at least 17 species in North America, and it’s those 17 woodpecker species that we’ll be looking at in this article.
How big are woodpeckers?
Pileated Woodpecker. Size: 16-19 inches (the largest North American woodpecker) Identifying markings: Mainly black with a red crest, black and white stripped face, white stripe down the neck, and white wing linings. Males have a red “mustache”. Diet: Ants and other wood-boring insects, some berries.
What is a Lewis and Clark woodpecker?
Lewis’s will also sit on wires and other perches out in the open, which other woodpeckers do not do. They are social woodpeckers and can often be found in family groups. This unusual woodpecker was named after Meriweather Lewis, half of the famed explorers Lewis & Clark.
How many species of woodpeckers are there in North America?
17 Woodpecker Species of North America (Pictures) There are many varieties of woodpeckers all across North America. While there are common characteristics the birds of the woodpecker family share, each species can be quite unique! They range from small to large and plain to colorful.
How to identify a golden fronted woodpecker?
Identifying markings: Golden Fronted Woodpeckers are mainly identified by their gold marking above their beak and at the nape of their neck. Barred black and white back, face and underparts grayish tan. Males have a red cap.
Why are woodpeckers important?
Woodpeckers have important roles to play as part of the ecosystem. They can help control insect populations and keep trees healthy. There are many types of wood-boring insects, and when populations get out of control they can decimate large strands of trees.
Where do yellow-shafted woodpeckers live?
In general the yellow-shafted is found in the east and the red-shafted in the west. There is also a Gilded Flicker which is only found in the southwestern U.S. into Mexico and mainly lives in giant cactus forests. Northern Flickers are one of the few North America woodpeckers that migrate.
What family is a woodpecker in?
Leach, 1820. Subfamilies. Jynginae – wrynecks. Picinae – true woodpeckers. Picumninae – piculets. Woodpeckers are part of the family Picidae, that also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions.
How big is a woodpecker?
Woodpeckers range from tiny piculets measuring no more than 7 cm (2.8 in) in length and weighing 7 g (0.25 oz) to large woodpeckers which can be more than 50 cm (20 in) in length.
What do woodpeckers use their bills for?
Woodpeckers have strong bills that they use for drilling and drumming on trees, and long sticky tongues for extracting food (insects and larvae). Woodpecker bills are typically longer, sharper and stronger than the bills of piculets and wrynecks; however, their morphology is very similar.
How much does a woodpecker weigh?
The largest surviving species is the great slaty woodpecker, which weighs 360–563 g (12.7–19.9 oz), but the extinct imperial woodpecker and ivory-billed woodpecker were probably both larger. The plumage of woodpeckers varies from drab to conspicuous.
What are the four toes of a woodpecker?
Woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks all possess characteristic zygodactyl feet, consisting of four toes, the first (hallux) and the fourth facing backward and the second and third facing forward. This foot arrangement is good for grasping the limbs and trunks of trees.
Where do black woodpeckers nest?
A male black woodpecker attending its chicks. All members of the family Picidae nest in cavities, nearly always in the trunks and branches of trees, well away from the foliage. Where possible, an area of rotten wood surrounded by sound timber is used.
Why do birds stay in groups?
Birds may be forced to remain in groups due to a lack of habitat to disperse to. A pair will work together to help build the nest, incubate the eggs and raise their altricial young. However, in most species the male does most of the nest excavation and takes the night shift while incubating the eggs.
1.Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers of Ohio that come with Stripped colouration on their backs, gleaming red cap, plain buffy breast and face, a long tail and a long pointed bill. These are commonly found in eastern Woodlands and forests hitching along branches and trunks of large trees preferably old stands of oak.
2.Red-headed Woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker in Florida is a gorgeous bird species with red on its head and has an entirely crimson head, snowy white body, black-white wings. Also, both adult males and females are indistinguishable by plumage but males are slightly larger than females.
3.Rufous-bellied Woodpecker
Rufous-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized brownish Woodpecker commonly found in south and south-east Asia specifically in India, Nepal Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China. It has a short crest, short black bill, dark eye strip with small red patches. Males have a reddish patch near the eye, missing in females.
4.Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker has a straight, chisel-like bill, blocky head, wide shoulders, and straight-backed posture. Also, Downy Woodpeckers smallest black and white animal widely spread Woodpecker in North America and also one of the popular birds of Iowa.
5.Great-spotted Woodpecker
Most commonly found in Europe, North America and most of Eurasia, the great spotted Woodpecker is a stout bird with black and white spotted plumage and a red patch under the tail. This highly distinct Woodpecker is one of the most striking bird species.
6.Green-Barred Woodpecker
Green bird Woodpecker is a bird species found in East and Central South America, Brazil, Bolivia and Central Argentina. They have a yellow-green body with black-spotted Bars on the wings, back and tail, black forehead and red hind crown. Moreover, males have a red moustache ( which is black in females).
7. Acorn Woodpecker
Reminiscent of a troupe of wide-eyed clowns, acorn woodpeckers are very unusual woodpeckers that prefer to live in large groups most commonly in western oak Woodlands. Acorn woodpeckers have a brownish blackhead, white forehead and white eyes.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers are known for their unusual ability to bore into wood, yet they only peck at the surface.The Downy Woodpecker is a small bird that measures about 5.5 – 7.0″ inches in length, and can be found in North America, Europe, Asia and parts of Africa.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpeckers are large, black birds that live in the eastern United States. They are known as the largest woodpecker in North America. They are found throughout most of the country, with populations thriving in southern New England and parts of Canada.
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpeckers are a type of woodpecker that is seen throughout the United States. They love to peck on wood, and can be found chiseling away at trees, telephone poles, and homes. These small woodpeckers peck at trees and wood to get food.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flickers are common throughout North America. Northern Flickers are a type of woodpecker that love to peck on wood for nesting material and food. This can be seen by the large holes they make in trees, or just about any wooden object.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpeckers are one of the most recognizable species in North America. In addition to their distinctive red heads, they also have a black back and large white wing patches. Do Red-headed Woodpeckers peck on wood? Yes, but not as much as other woodpecker species.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are native to North America and range from the southern United States to Canada. They are often seen climbing trees and hammering on dead or dying branches to get insects out from inside them.
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpeckers are a type of woodpecker that live in the United States. They can be found mainly in southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Acorn Woodpeckers peck into trees to get food such as insects or sap from the tree bark.
Eastern Woodpeckers
Western Woodpeckers
- The western half of North America has the biggest diversity of different kinds of woodpeckerson the continent. So if you’re looking to add a few new species to your life list, head west!
Southern Woodpeckers
- Caption: Golden-fronted Woodpecker There are many different types of woodpeckersthat can be seen in the southern states. There are 3 species that can only be seen here.
Flickers
- There are two species of flickers found in the United States, the Northern Flicker, and the Gilded Flicker. The Northern Flicker is found pretty much throughout the continental United States, whereas the Gilded Flicker can only be spotted way down in the American southwest in the States of California and Arizona where this woodpecker breeds in the saguaro cactus. Flickers arefairl…
Sapsuckers
- Sapsuckers aresmall woodpeckers that get their name from their habit of feedingon the sap of trees and other plants. These birds know which plants to drill into at which time of the year and this not only ensures a constant supply of their favorite food but also attracts insects that want to share the meal. The insects that are attracted to the sap...
The Pileated Woodpecker
- Being the largest and most impressive woodpecker in the United States, the Pileated Woodpeckeris instantly recognizable at about twice the size of the next largest species. These birds can be seen throughout much of the eastern states as well as in the northwest. Pileated Woodpeckers construct their own nest holes in dead trees and these holes are often used by oth…
FAQs
- Do woodpeckers eat from bird feeders?
Although they aren’t the most common visitors to bird feeders, these birds do enjoy suet from suet feedersand mealworms from platform feeders, and it’s also a good idea to offer a woodpecker bird seed like sunflower seeds and peanuts from a peanut feeder. - How do I attract woodpeckers to my garden?
The most effective way to attract different types of woodpeckersto your yard is to offer them fresh water and the kinds of foods they like in a safe and quiet environment.
Final Thoughts
- With 22 different types of woodpeckersto look out for, the United States is a great place to be if you like seeing woodpeckers as much as I do. These interesting birds are great fun to watch as they climb around the trunks of trees, often running up and down vertical faces and even clinging upside-down. Happy bird watching!