10 Common Woodpecker Species In The US

Woodpeckers are among the most interesting and peculiar birds in the US. Their assumed use of powerful beaks to drill into the wood while hunting for insects is deemed to provide shelter for other species that often benefit from their presence in abandoned holes. Of course, North America has over 22 woodpecker species; however, only some are as easy to spot in the United States.

There are differences in size, appearance, and behavior in each species. Still, all will feature the characteristic drumming sound, which warns us that at least one Woodpecker is in the neighborhood. This article will discuss 10 common woodpecker species in the US, covering their habitat range, size, weight, appearance, and feeding patterns. Whether you are an ornithologist or just curious, you'll find something interesting from these great birds.

Downy Woodpecker

This is one of the most common and easily identifiable among all types of woodpeckers. This species is found in every country in North America and virtually all types of habitats. The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest in the US; its approximate length in different sources varies from 5.5 to 6.7 inches; its wingspan ranges from 9.8 to 11.8 inches. These birds weigh between 20 and 30 grams, or in other measures, they weigh about 0.70 to 1.00 ounces.

Their diet is also very varied. Insect-eating woodpeckers majorly feed on beetle larvae by pounding them out with strong beaks from the bark of trees. They also feed on ants, caterpillars, and spiders, especially in summer. During winter, they consume seeds, berries, and sometimes the sap of trees when few insects are around.

Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker is among the most commonly occurring avian species in the United States of America. It is frequent and can be seen together with the Downy Woodpecker since it has a similar appearance. However, the coverage area of the Hairy Woodpecker is much larger, and it thrives in various aviary conditions, including dense forests and small natural reserves, gardens planted in urban areas and similar places, and so on.

The Hairy Woodpecker looks much larger than the Downy; in fact, this bird is 7.1 to 10.2 cm long with a wingspan of 13 to 16 cm and a thickness of 6.5 mm, and because of this dimension, it is more robust. It looks quite similar to the Downy, with black and white coloration, a white line running down the center of its back, and checkered wings. Hairy Woodpeckers feed mostly on insects of a beetle living in the wood, particularly the larvae in the bark. It feeds on them by chipping on the tree bark to pick them. They also eat ants and other insects, such as the caterpillars and other small invertebrates within the trees.

Pileated Woodpecker

The pileated Woodpecker is one of the most typical representatives of the family and is the largest of the widespread woodpeckers in North America. This species is widely observed in the east of the US and parts of the Pacific Northwest, in inhabited mature forests, especially with large decaying trees. They measure between 16 to 19 inches and weigh 8.8 to 14 ounces. These birds have evident black plumage, all-white flight feathers in the wings, and this lovely bright red crest.

It feeds predominantly on large insects, especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, excavating from trees through deep rectangular holes. It also feeds on fruits, nuts, and seeds, especially in winter when large insects are less available. This feeding behavior is useful in re-using dead woods and abandoned tree holes, which are also nesting areas for other species arising to ecological significance in a forest habitat.

Red-headed Woodpecker

The Red-headed Woodpecker is among the most sensational birds. Its bright red head mingles quite strikingly against its black and white body. This bird can generally be found easily throughout eastern and central United States in open woodlands and groves, especially in areas with dead or dying trees. Orchards and the outskirts of suburbs also suit them. This bird is 7.5 to 9.1 inches long, has a wingspan of 16 to 17 inches, and weighs between 2 and 3.2 ounces.

They feed on various animal and plant foods, mostly insects, seeds, fruits, and nuts. As per the report, the species is documented as one of the rarest woodpeckers because this species catches flying mid-air; the bird is agile. Moreover, the Red-headed Woodpecker is also a food hoarder during winter. In this regard, tree bark and fence posts have acorns and seeds wedged into them. It adjusts to changes in diet and behavior and lives in various habitats, from forests to farmlands.

Acorn Woodpecker

The Acorn Woodpecker is best known for its peculiar habit of storing acorns in granaries, trees, or structures pierced with small holes filled with acorns. A native bird in the western US, it is common in oak woodlands, especially in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. These social birds are about 7.5 to 9 inches long, have a 13 to 16-inch wingspan, and weigh between 2.3 to 3.2 ounces.

They wear a clown-like facial pattern with a red crown, white forehead, and black body covered with white patches on the wings. Acorns are their major food, but they love to feed on insects, fruits, and sap when the weather is warm. They live in extended family groups; quite unlike other woodpeckers, they work cooperatively to maintain and defend their sometimes enormous acorn granaries, which can reach the sizes of thousands of acorns and are key for survival in winter months.

Gila Woodpecker

The Gila Woodpecker is an arboreal species primarily associated with riparian woodland and regions with giant saguaro cipher. This small bird measures between 8 and 10 inches and weighs 2.5 to 3.5 ounces. Its wing length is about 7 to 7.5 cm.

Gila Woodpeckers have brownish-tan bodies, black-and-white barred wings, and red caps on the males, making them easy to identify. Woodpeckers are well adapted to desert life, often breeding in holes excavated in cacti, particularly saguaros. Insects, fruits, and small reptiles are all part of their diet. They will also eat ca and nectar fruit nectar and venture into bird feeders for suet and seeds. Their adaptability and distinctive desert habitat make them one of the more singular woodpeckers in the US.

Williamson's Sapsucker

Williamson’s Sapsuckers are found in the mountainous western states of the United States. They are average-sized fellas with a body length of 8 to 9 inches and a weight of 1.5 to 2.3 ounces. Males are gorgeous, with blackheads and backs, a yellow belly, and a red throat patch.

Females are duller, brown-headed with black-and-white barred bodies. Interestingly, as their common name might suggest, they mostly feed on tree sap, drilling tiny, shallow holes into trees to extract the sap. They will also eat the insects the sap attracts, including ants, beetles, and occasionally fruits and berries. This species is relatively rare in some ways, but it can be found in suitable habitats throughout its range.

Lewis's Woodpecker

This is an unusual species, named after explorer Meriwether Lewis, a species of western US open woodlands and pine forests, especially in burned or timbered around trees. They are relatively long, measuring 10 to 11 inches long; the wingspan is 19 to 20 inches long. The weight measures approximately between 3.1 and 4.9 ounces.

The Lewis's Woodpeckers look interesting; for instance, one will have a dark greenish-black back, pinkish underneath, and red faces. This makes them very unlike many other woodpeckers. They also behave somewhat unlike most woodpeckers by fly catching; they sweep through the air to catch insects. They eat fruits, acorns, and nuts, which they stock in tree crevices for later usage. Their acrobatic flight and preference for open spaces differentiate them from the rest of the species.

American Three-toed Woodpecker

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is located in the Alaskan, Canadian, and northern United States boreal forests; its habitat includes coniferous forests with many dead or dying trees. These small woodpeckers have a size of 8.5-9.5 inches in length, a wingspan of 15-16 inches, and a weight of 1.6 to 2.5 ounces. They have all these easily recognizable characteristics- their black-and-white barred pattern and males' visible yellow crown.

Since the name gives them away, these birds have three toes instead of the usual four. This adaptation allows them to cling to tree trunks as they forage. They primarily rely on a diet of wood-boring beetles, larvae, and other insects they can scour out from beneath the tree bark, particularly in regions recently devastated by forest fires or disease. Their diet and the makeup of their toes make them incredibly remarkable animals that can inhabit the northern forests.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker is a low- to medium-frequency ground-dwelling woodpecker of wide distribution throughout North America that prefers open woods, edge territories, and even suburban and urban gardens. They are 11 to 14 inches long and have an average weight range of 3.9 to 5.6 ounces.

This seemingly small group of birds may be recognized by a brown to dark-brown coat spotted with black, a black semicircle on the chest, and yellow or red underwing coloration, varying by the subspecies. Although most woodpeckers pass on other surfaces to forage, the Northern Flickers are sometimes seen walking on the ground in search of food, the most important of which is the ants. They also consume beetles, fruits, and seeds. Because of their attractive plumage coloration, they can be readily identified in almost all areas.

Conclusion

Woodpeckers are fascinating birds and very different among themselves. Each species has definite preferences regarding habitat, food, and adaptation for survival in different parts of the United States. Exactly how these birds are crucial for ecosystem and forest health can be seen by comparing the Northern Flicker, a ground-foraging bird, and the Acorn Woodpecker, which collects acorns. Attractively colored and individually occupying different niches, woodpeckers are among North America's most fascinating and ecologically important bird species.