15 Types of Woodpeckers: Woodpecker Species and Photos

Woodpeckers are a common sight in forests, parks, and even backyards, often identified by their distinctive tapping on tree trunks. There are various types of woodpeckers, which differ significantly from each other. These include the Downy woodpecker, Pileated species, and the Northern Flicker, each with unique characteristics and behaviors. 

This article will explore their habitats, behaviors, and diets. Whether you are a bird-watching enthusiast or just curious about these winged creatures, read on to discover more about the world of woodpeckers.

Related articles: Woodpecker Facts, Animals That Start With W.

Taxonomic Classification of Woodpeckers

The woodpecker is part of the Picidae family, encompassing around 240 species across 37 genera. They are part of the Piciformes order, which includes other bird families like barbets and toucans. 

Aside from their distinctive drumming behavior, they also have stiff tail feathers, which act as a third leg that helps them balance against tree trunks. The distinction between woodpecker species depends on their size, plumage color and pattern, and bill shape. 

Three examples of woodpeckers that belong to different genera are the Downy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers, which belong to the Picoides, Melanerpes, and Dryocopus genera, respectively. 

The habitat of each woodpecker species is closely linked to its dietary preferences and evolutionary adaptations, creating a symbiotic relationship between the birds and their environment.

15 Types of Woodpecker Species

Quick links to the different types of woodpeckers:

1. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

The Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest woodpecker species, with a modest length range of 5.5 to 7.1 inches. 

The feathers of these North American woodpeckers are soft, hence its name. Its wings have a black and white spotted pattern contrasting beautifully with its white belly and underparts. Males have red patches on their heads, while females do not have it.

Moreover, they are highly adaptable, thriving in urban and wild environments, such as deciduous forests, city parks, orchards, and states from Alaska to Florida. 

The bird communicates by drumming on tree trunks to mark its territory or attract a mate. 

Its diet consists mainly of insects and larvae, but it eats berries, acorns, and grains.

2. Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

The Hairy Woodpecker is a distinctive bird with black and white feathers that contrast with the greenery of North American forests. The males have a small red patch on the back of their heads. 

It is larger than the Downy Woodpecker and has a long, dagger-shaped beak well-suited for clinging to tree trunks. 

This species is adaptable to various habitats, including dense forests, open woodlands, parklands, and suburban areas, as long as there are trees. 

This type of woodpecker feeds on various insects, including wood-boring beetles, ants, and caterpillars. Its long, barbed tongue allows it to extract insects hidden deep within tree trunks, which helps control pest populations. 

3. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird in the forests, woodlands, parks, and residential areas of the eastern and central United States. It is easily noticeable due to its red-capped head that stretches from the bill to the nape, although the red belly is less noticeable.

The males have a larger red cap than the females, with only a small red patch on the nape. It also has bars on its back, which makes it a captivating sight in its natural habitat. 

Red-bellied Woodpeckers emit a loud, rolling call during the breeding season. In addition to their unique appearance and calls, the bird has some notable habits, such as storing food in tree crevices for later use. 

The species has adapted to human-dominated habitats, but habitat loss remains a significant threat to survival.

4. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

The Pileated Woodpecker lives in North American forests. It is larger than the average woodpecker, as big as a crow. 

The bird's fiery-red crest on its head sets it apart from other woodpeckers; the term 'Pileated' is derived from the Latin word 'pileatus,' which means 'capped.' 

Both males and females possess this vibrant crest, but males have an additional red stripe on their cheeks, distinguishing them from females with black cheeks. 

They create large, rectangular cavities in mature trees of forests and woodlands, though they prefer dead or dying trees since the wood is soft and easy to work. These cavities serve as a pantry and a nursery, storing food and nurturing new life. 

The Pileated Woodpecker primarily feeds on insects, especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. They also consume fruits, nuts, and berries. 

5. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

The Northern Flicker is a unique bird that stands out from other members of the woodpecker family. Unlike many of its tree-dwelling counterparts, this type of woodpecker spends much of its time on the ground, searching for ants and beetles. Its beak, which is slightly curved and pointed, acts like a little shovel, helping it to unearth its prey. 

The Northern Flicker's distinctive fluttering and gliding pattern creates a 'flickering' effect when in flight.

This bird lives in North America's woodlands, Central America's parks, and even some city edges in the Caribbean. Northern Flickers can thrive in diverse habitats and add a splash of color to their surroundings.

Its brown back with black bars and white rump patch are notable features, along with the yellow or red hues on the shafts of its feathers. 

6. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a bird species found in deciduous and coniferous forests. It has a bright yellow belly and a black-and-white pattern on its wings and back. The males have a distinctive red throat and cap. 

Moreover, due to its migratory pattern, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is unique in the eastern North American woodpecker family. Its breeding grounds are in the far north, and it migrates southwards for the winter. 

The bird observes sapsucking behavior and drills shallow holes in tree bark. These holes attract insects, which provide an additional food source for the bird. 

This behavior also has ecological significance. The sap wells created by the bird serve as a food and hydration source for other bird species and insects, highlighting the interdependence of nature. 

However, the bird's behavior can cause damage to fruit trees in orchards. Therefore, it is essential to find a balance between the bird's ecological role and its impact on human activities.

7. Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

The Red-headed Woodpeckers stand out in the avian world. Its red head resembles a ripe apple, and black upperparts and white underparts contrast its medium-sized frame. 

This species is found in the eastern and central United States, extending west to the Rockies. They live in open woodlands, orchards, parks, and residential areas. 

Moreover, dead trees are a preferred nesting and food storage location, which makes them vulnerable to habitat loss.

The Red-headed Woodpecker has a diverse diet, consuming a variety of insects, seeds, berries, nuts, fruits, and even bird eggs. It can catch insects in mid-flight, similar to a flycatcher. 

8. Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)

Lewis's Woodpecker has a green-black upper body, while its face and chest have a pinkish-red blush, setting it apart from other woodpeckers. They also fly like a crow.

The Lewis's Woodpecker lives in the western regions of North America. Its habitat ranges from the open pine woods of British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to the fragmented forests of Arizona and New Mexico in the United States. 

This type of woodpecker has a unique way of catching insects mid-flight, similar to a flycatcher. When it doesn't want insects, it eats berries and nuts. 

9. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Acorn Woodpeckers feature a black-and-white pattern with a red cap, while their faces have a detailed black, white, and red pattern. Their unique facial features, which include striking white eyes surrounded by black, white, and red patterns, have earned them the title of jesters of the bird world.

Living in the Western United States oak woodlands, Acorn Woodpeckers are known to hoard and eat acorns, similar to squirrels. They drill precise holes in trees to store each acorn, sometimes resulting in thousands of acorns stored in a single tree. 

Likewise, these woodpeckers have a diverse diet that includes insects, sap, fruits, and sometimes even bird eggs or small animals. 

10. Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)

The Gila Woodpecker has a red cap and shades of brown and gray. Males have red caps, a defining characteristic of this medium-sized bird. 

It is named after the Gila River Basin and is vital in the local ecosystem, living among the Saguaro cactus forests in Southern Arizona and western Mexico.

They are active during the early morning and late afternoon, often near the saguaro cactus, which provides habitat, food, shelter, and water for the birds. 

Likewise, this bird feeds mainly on insects found on the cacti, but they also consume fruits, berries, and cactus flowers. 

They are loyal to their nesting sites and often reuse the same hole for breeding. During the breeding season, the Gila Woodpecker becomes territorial and will defend its space with aggressive displays. 

11. Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis)

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a remarkable bird species that draws attention due to its size. 

With a length of approximately 20 inches and a wingspan of up to 30 inches, it is one of the largest woodpecker species in the world. 

Its black and white plumage is distinct, and its males have a red crest. However, what sets it apart is its long, ivory-colored, chisel-like beak, which is an important survival tool used for pecking into tree bark in search of insects and beetle larvae.

This type of woodpecker typically lives in large, old-growth forests with dead trees. Historically, these birds once lived throughout the Southeastern United States, including Florida, North Carolina, and Louisiana. 

Moreover, the bird is often called the "Grail Bird" due to its elusive nature, and if one is ever spotted, it is considered a significant natural sighting.

Unfortunately, the species is now critically endangered¹, and there is concern that it may even be extinct. Its last confirmed sighting in the state of Louisiana was in 1944.

12. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a bird species in Europe and northern Asia. It has black and white plumage, with males having a red dash on the back of their heads. This bird has a stout beak and a long, sticky tongue, perfectly adapted for drilling into tree trunks and catching insects. 

Its diet consists mainly of insects, including seeds, nuts, and bird eggs. Moreover, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is adaptable, making its home in various environments, including forests, parks, and gardens. 

13. Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker is easily recognizable thanks to the golden patch on its forehead. This bird is on the larger side, standing at 8.7 to 10.2 inches. 

Males have a vibrant red cap, while females have a black one. Their bodies are primarily grey, with barred back and wings, white underparts, and a yellow nape. 

These types of woodpeckers live in Central and North America, ranging from the southern regions of the United States to Nicaragua. Their preferred habitats include open woodlands, savannas, scrublands, and palm groves. They also adapt to residential areas and perch on utility poles. 

The Golden-fronted Woodpeckers eat insects, fruits, seeds, and small reptiles or mammals. They have a unique way of foraging where they peck at the ground like a flicker and use their long tongue to extract insects from crevices.

14. Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)

The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is a bird species with a distinctive black and white "ladder" pattern. This pattern helps it blend seamlessly into its preferred arid habitats, such as open woodlands, scrublands, and deserts. 

This bird typically inhabits the southwestern United States and Mexico, particularly in areas with mesquite, yucca, and cacti.

The Ladder-backed Woodpecker prefers particular habitats that attract insects such as beetles and ants. During the winter, insect populations decrease, so it adapts its diet to fruits and seeds. 

Additionally, they can thrive in natural and artificial environments, making it a common sight in urban and suburban areas. Despite its prevalence, it often lives in the shadow of its well-known counterparts, the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.

15. Arizona Woodpecker (Picoides arizonae)

Tucked away in the pine-oak woodlands of Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico is the Arizona Woodpecker. It is the only woodpecker in North America with a brown back. 

While its scientific name suggests that it lives only in Arizona, it can also be found in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Western Mexico.

This type of woodpecker has white "ladder" markings on its brown plumage that sets it apart from other woodpeckers. Males have a red cap at the back of their heads, whereas females don't. 

It primarily feeds on insects such as beetles and ants that it skillfully extracts from bark crevices or wood. Likewise, it occasionally eats fruits and berries when they're available. 

The Arizona Woodpecker is about 7-8 inches long and probes around tree trunks and branches for food. Unlike other woodpeckers, it communicates with calls and body signals rather than drumming on trees.