11 Woodpeckers in Colorado
There are 11 species of woodpeckers in Colorado, some are common and some are rare. They range from the smallest woodpecker, the Downy, to the largest Woodpecker, the Pileated. The common woodpeckers that are seen in Colorado include the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Lewis’s Woodpeckers.
Red-headed woodpeckers, American Three-toed, and Williamson’s Sapsuckers can be seen during the breeding season although not as common as other woodpeckers in the state. The Ladder-back woodpecker can be seen year-round. Rarer to the state of Colorado is the Acorn Woodpecker and the red-bellied woodpecker.
Woodpeckers can be found in various places, including suburban backyards, woodlands, and forests. This resource is a guide to identifying and learning more about these birds in detail or finding out which kind lives near you in Colorado.
Some people see woodpeckers as a nuisance since they can cause damage to buildings and houses, especially cedar siding. Others see them as good as they eat insects and keep the insect population in check.
No matter which way you see them woodpeckers are interesting creatures and provide a beautiful sound when pecking.
All woodpeckers are protected by the federal migratory bird treaty act which makes it unlawful to kill, harm, hunt, etc. any species of woodpecker.
Where To Find Woodpeckers In Colorado
Looking for woodpeckers in Colorado? While you can see Downy, Hairy, and Northern FLickers in your backyard while others can be found in parks and forests. Great places to see not only woodpeckers but all birds are Rocky Mountain National Park and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Colorado is home to 11 national forests, covering a significant portion of the state’s land at over 14 million areas. Each national forest varies in size, with the largest being the White River National Forest at around 2.3 million acres.
For more birdwatching in Colorado see our article on backyard birds.
1. downy woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens Size: 5.5-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
Downy Woodpeckers are bigger than the House Finch but smaller than Red-winged Blackbirds and are the smallest woodpecker in South Dakota. It has a black-and-white striped head and black wings with white spots and a solid white back and white underparts. The Downy Woodpecker has a black tail with white outer tail feathers with black bars or spots. The adult males have a small red patch on the back of their heads.
Nesting
Look for their nest in dead trees or live trees with dead areas. They carve out an area large enough for the eggs and the bird. They line the nest only with wood chips. The nest can take weeks to make and is done by both the male and female.
A Downy woodpecker only has one brood each year with 3 to 8 eggs which are white in color. The incubation period is around 12 days with both the male and female taking turns. The young will stay in the nest for around 30 days.
Diet
Downy Woodpeckers eat insects and sap from the pine tree’s sap wells. The male tends to eat from the ground while the female likes to find insects from branches and in trees. They will also eat seeds, weeds, and fruit.
The Downy Woodpecker will visit your backyard suet feeders for suet and nuts.
Habitat
The Downy woodpecker can be found year-round in the state of Colorado, especially in places where there are trees. You will see them in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
2. northern flicker
Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Size: 11.0-12.2 inches
Description And Field
The Northern Flicker male and female are similar in color. They both have a rounded head, the bill is curved down and the tail tapers to a long point.
With its gray-brown plumage, Northern Flickers stand out from other woodpeckers in their area. They also have plenty of dark markings on their undersides and brightly colored tail feathers.
Although the same bird their colors differ from the eastern United States (bright yellow wing and tail feathers) and the western US (red wing and tail feathers).
The Northern Flicker is “the woodpecker that doesn’t peck wood.” Instead, it cleans insects from the bark of trees.
Nesting
It nests in holes excavated by other animals, such as squirrels and woodpeckers. It lays 5 to 8 eggs which are all white. They only have one brood per nesting season.
The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young stay in the nest for about a month.
Diet
Northern Flickers mostly will eat insects that they get from the ground. They will “drum” at the ground as other woodpeckers drum in trees and wood. During the winter months, they will also eat fruits and seeds.
The Northern Flicker is a great backyard bird because it is generally easy to attract and stops in at your suet and peanut feeders, but most likely you’ll see them nesting in old trees.
Habitat
You will see Northern Flickers in city parks and backyards in the suburbs. They will also be in woodlands with open trees, burned forests, swamps, and marshes.
The Northern Flicker is the most common woodpecker in Colorado and can be seen year-round but especially during the spring and summer months.
Call And Drumming
The Northern Flicker has a wide range of calls. It has a typical woodpecker-like “drum” and a more musical, gurgling call that is often mistaken for the song of the Red-winged Blackbird.
They make excellent watch birds due to their loud “wicka-wicka-wicka” call that can be heard from quite a distance.
3. hairy woodpecker
Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus Size: 7.1-10.2 inches
Description And Field Marks
Very similar to the Downy Woodpecker in color and looks except the Hairy Woodpecker is larger in size and has a longer bill.
Nesting
Hairy Woodpeckers make their nest in trees, especially diet trees. They lay 3-6 all-white eggs with an incubation period of 10 to 12 days. The young woodpeckers remain in the nest for about a month.
Diet
Their main source of food is insects that they find in trees and branches.
Habitat
Hairy Woodpeckers are year-round residents of Colorado backyards and also wood forests, especially pine trees which are abundant. If you don’t see them you will definitely hear them drumming on trees.
Call And Drumming
4. red-naped sapsucker
Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus nuchalis Size: 7 to 9 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Red-naped Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker with black and white plumage with yellow and red accents. Its upper parts are black-barred with white, and it has a bold white stripe across each wing. It has yellowish bellies, black breast bands, and red throats. Its head is bright red with black stripes through and above the eyes.
The beak of Red-Naped Sapsuckers is short and straight. Males and females look much alike, but females usually have less red on their throats and napes.
Nesting
The Red-naped Sapsucker creates its nest typically in healthy aspen trees or dead conifers. They use their powerful feet and stiff tail feathers to hitch up and down the tree bark and begin to drill circular and rectangular holes. Once they have excavated the nest cavity, they will line it with woodchips.
Once the nest is ready, the female lays 3-7 white eggs which need to be incubated for 12-13 days with a nesting period of about a month. Both the male and female look after the young. The Red-naped Sapsucker may reuse their old nests or build new nests in the same tree.
Diet
The Red-naped Sapsucker is an omnivore and primarily feeds on sap from trees such as willow, birch, alder, and chokecherry. They drill rectangular or circular holes into the inner bark of these trees and lap up the sap using their specialized tongue.
They also consume insects such as ants, spiders, beetles, and flies, as well as fruits and seeds. During the nesting season, they eat more insects to feed their young. Red-naped Sapsuckers are also known to visit bird feeders for breadcrumbs.
Habitat
The Red-naped sapsucker is a short-distance migratory bird and is found in the western parts of the United States, from Washington to Montana, going down to Los Angeles and New Mexico, and moving past the Gulf of California to Mexico.
During the breeding season, it is mainly found in deciduous and evergreen forests, as well as gardens, yards, and forest edges from elevations of 1,000 to 10,000 feet. They also inhabit coastal forests comprised mainly of dead trees or large snags, mixed coniferous forests, open- and closed-canopy forests, burns, and clear-cuts, if there are some remaining standing trees. In addition, they may inhabit orchards and woodlands.
Red-naped Sapsucks can be found in birch, aspens, and willow trees in Colorado during the spring and summer breeding seasons.
Call And Drumming
Both males and females use the scream, squeal, and waa call
5. red-headed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus Size: 7.5-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
You can’t miss these medium-sized birds with their bright red head and white belly. The Red-headed woodpecker is the size of a Hairy woodpecker, between the size of a Robin and a Crow.
It has a powerful, spike bill that it uses to peck at wood to get insects. Its back and the tip of its tail are black but it has white wings. The male and female look the same but an immature bird has a brownish head with brown on its back and although its wings are white they have brown lines on them.
Nesting
The male picks out the nesting site and both the male and female help to build the nest, which is usually in dead trees.
They have one to two broods each year with 3 to 10 eggs which are pure white in color. The incubation period is around 12 to 14 days with both the male and female taking turns. The young will stay in the nest for 24 to 31 days.
Diet
Their diet consists mainly of insects, fruits, and seeds. It is one of the few woodpeckers that will store its food in tree cavities to consume later. They will also visit backyard suet feeders during the winter.
Habitat
The red-headed woodpecker is one of the more aggressive woodpeckers as it will fight with birds larger than itself and even take over nest boxes from other birds including ducks.
They like areas where they are dead trees. They can be plentiful in an area one year and can be rarely seen the next year.
You will see them in eastern Colorado during the breeding season from May to October, although they are not common.
Call And Drumming
6. ladder-backed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Picoides scalaris Size: 6.3-7.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
A ladder-backed woodpecker is a small woodpecker the size between a sparrow and a robin. It is primarily colored black and white, with a barred pattern on its back and wings resembling the rungs of a ladder. The male has a red crown patch while the females have a black crown. Juveniles are similar to adult males, though the red is less extensive.
Nesting
The ladder-backed Woodpecker typically nests in a cavity excavated in a tree, large cactus, utility pole, or fencepost, usually 4-20′ above ground, although sometimes higher. Both sexes may excavate the cavity, but the male may do most of the work.
The pair may remain together for most of the year, performing displays such as raising head feathers, bobbing and turning the head, spreading wings and tail, and taking flight for territorial defense.
The female usually lays 3-4 white eggs, which hatch at about 13 days. Both parents feed the young insects, but the age when the young leave the nest is not well known.
Diet
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker has an omnivorous diet, primarily composed of insects such as wood-boring beetles, leafworms, caterpillars, ants, true bugs, and some insect larvae. They will also feed on berries and cactus fruit when necessary.
They may also come for mealworms offered at feeding stations, peanut butter, and black oil sunflower seeds. Additionally, they may be attracted to suet feeders in the northern parts of their range.
Habitat
The Ladder-backed woodpecker is primarily found in dry brushy areas and thickets deserts, such as the southeastern corner of California into Mexico. They may also inhabit treeless areas such as deserts, desert scrubs, and thorn forests with elevations of up to 7,600 feet.
They are found in the southwestern United States and are similar in appearance to Nuttall’s woodpecker but have less black on their head and upper back. Although not common, you can see them in southeastern Colorado all year round.
Call And Drumming
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker’s vocalizations and calls include a repeated, high-pitched “pik,” a slightly descending “jee jee jee” series, and a slower “kweek kweek kweek.” Its drum is an uncomplicated roll
7. american three-toed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Picoides dorsalis Size: 8.3-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
American Three-toed Woodpeckers are larger than a Downy but smaller than a Hairy Woodpecker. Both males and females are black and white with the male having a yellow patch on the forehead.
They are known for their distinctive appearance of having only three toes. They share this with the Eurasian Three-toed woodpecker. It was first thought that they were one species as they look alike but the DNA and voice of both species are different.
With only three toes, these species may be able to lean farther away from the tree and thereby hit the tree harder than other woodpeckers, all of which have four toes.
Nesting
The male will tap on the bark of trees to attract females and then perform a courtship display to attract her attention. Once she has accepted his advances, he will build the nest together with her.
American Three-toed Woodpeckers typically make their nests in the cavities of trees or under shingles. They create a bowl-shaped structure to lay their eggs and raise their young. The birds will also store food for later use during the winter in these same spots.
The female lays 3 to 7 white almost round eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days. The young stay in the nest until they can survive on their own.
Diet
They search for food (mainly beetles) by peeling back the bark of dead trees mostly spruce and pine trees. They also eat the larvae of wood-boring beetles.
Habitat
You will see this woodpecker in Northern North America and the Western mountains. They make their home mostly in Canada. They are on the endangered list and are rare birds but can be spotted in Colorado during summer mostly in national forest areas.
You will mostly find them in burnt-out forests and they prefer spruce trees. Follow the beetle population and you will see American-three-toed Woodpeckers.
Call And Drumming
8. Williamson’s sapsucker
Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus thyroideus Size: 8-11 inches
Description And Field Marks
They are medium-sized woodpeckers the size of a robin. Males are mostly black with a yellow patch on their belly and white on their wings and behind their eyes. Females are black and white with brown heads.
Nesting
The nesting pair selects a live tree to make its nest usually in large, older trees. They lay 4 to 6 glossy white eggs and only have one brood per breeding season. The eggs are incubated for 12 to 14 days.
Diet
Williamson’s Sapsuckers mainly eat sap from coniferous trees. They also eat ants and beetles by picking them from the live trees and branches.
Habitat
Williamson’s Sapsucker is a migratory woodpecker species that breeds in the western United States. Although not common in Colorado, you can see them all over the state during the breeding season in the summer months. This species can be found in mixed conifer and deciduous forests with many different species of trees.
Call And Drumming
9. Lewis’s woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes lewis Size: 10.2-11 inches
Description And Field Marks
Lewis’s woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker species native to western North America. They have a red crown and nape, yellowish-orange face and neck, and greyish-brown wings and back.
Nesting
The nesting behavior of Lewis’s Woodpeckers involves finding a cavity in a tree to excavate for the nest usually lower than 60′ above ground. The male typically chooses the nesting site, and the birds may mate for life and use the same nest site repeatedly.
Lewis’s Woodpeckers lay between 2 and 5 eggs per clutch, which are white with brown and purple spots. They are oval-shaped and measure around 2 inches in length. The eggs typically hatch in 12-14 days. The eggs are incubated mainly by the female, with the male providing short-term relief. Both parents care for the nestlings, bringing back insects in their bills to feed them, and the young birds leave the nest after 4-5 weeks.
Diet
The diet of the Lewis’s Woodpeckers consists mostly of insects, but they also consume a wide variety of fruits and berries, as well as acorns and other nuts. They catch insects in the air while in flight, gleans insects from tree surfaces, take small fruits from trees, harvest acorns or other nuts, then breaks them into pieces and store them to feed on during the winter.
Additionally, it may feed at flat, open bird feeders and may act aggressively toward other birds.
Habitat
Lewis’s Woodpeckers are mainly found in open coniferous and riparian forests, orchards, and parks. Their migration behavior is quite variable from year to year. Some may be permanent residents in a particular area, while others may move south and to lower elevations during the winter.
In winter when large numbers of these birds are present, they may even travel to the lowlands of the southwest. They may migrate singly or in flocks, but the way they migrate typically remains consistent from year
Lewis’s Woodpeckers remain in the south of Colorado all year, but those in the north may migrate south for the winter after breeding.
Call And Drumming
Additionally, its unique call is a good way to identify it.
Rare Woodpeckers to Colorado
10. red-bellied woodpecker
How to attract more Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard feeders:
Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Size: 9.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The red-bellied woodpecker is widespread and common across the United States. Their physical appearance makes them easy to identify, and they are also known for their distinctive call.
You can identify them by their red belly (hence the name) and black and white stripes down their back. Male Red-bellied Woodpeckers also have a red cap, but females only have napes of red.
It’s a medium-sized woodpecker, it’s loud, and it will peck on your siding. These are the woodpeckers that are a nuisance in suburban areas because they can cause a lot of damage to your cedar shingles.
Nesting
Red-bellied Woodpeckers also build nest sites in dead trees and make the same nest yearly. The male and female help to excavate the hole and care for the eggs. They lay up to 4-5 eggs on top of wood chips inside the nest cavity. The eggs hatch after about 2 weeks, and the young birds leave the nest after about 4-5 weeks.
Diet
Red-bellied Woodpeckers devour spiders, insects, and seeds from grasses, fruits, and nuts. They are especially fond of acorns and beech nuts. In fact, they play an important role in dispersing these seeds since they often cache (or store) more food than they can eat in one sitting.
Loves suet, peanut butter, and peanuts from your backyard feeders.
Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are found mostly in all Eastern US states, and they don’t migrate. Although rare in Colorado, in recent years, there have been a few sporadic sightings of red-bellied woodpeckers, particularly along the eastern and northeastern parts of the state.
Call And Drumming
11. acorn woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes formicivorus Size: 8-9 inches
Description and field marks
The Acorn Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker species native to western North America. Both males and females look similar with the head, neck, and upper parts mostly black.
The forehead and crown are pale white, forming a distinct cap that extends to the nape and the face has a unique pattern with a white eye ring and a black line extending from the bill to the eyes, resembling a mask. They have a strong, pointed bill, which is often used to excavate holes for caching acorns.
Nesting
Acorn Woodpeckers often nest in large groups, forming colonies consisting of a few individuals to over a dozen birds. Within a colony, there is a dominant breeding pair that is responsible for most of the reproduction. while other members assist in raising the young.
They excavate nesting cavities in dead or decaying parts of trees. Acorn Woodpeckers are known for their extensive excavation work, creating numerous holes in trees, not only for nesting but also for storing acorns. They can raise multiple broods in a single breeding season.
Diet
Acorns are the mainstay of an Acorn Woodpecker’s diet. They are highly specialized in harvesting, storing, and consuming acorns. The woodpeckers collect acorns from oak trees, and they create small holes or “granaries” in tree trunks or other structures to store the acorns for future use. These granaries can contain thousands of acorns and serve as a food source during leaner times.
Acorn Woodpeckers supplement their diet with a variety of fruits and berries, insects, and even tree sap.
Habitat
Acorn Woodpeckers have a strong affinity for oak trees and are often found in oak woodlands or forests. These habitats provide them with an abundant supply of acorns.
Their range is primarily concentrated in the western parts of North America, including California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.
However, there have been occasional sightings of Acorn Woodpeckers in Colorado, particularly in the southwestern part of the state in the San Juan National Forest, Dolores River Canyon, and Cortez and Mesa Verde National Park in Montezuma County.
Call and drumming
Their calls include a distinctive, high-pitched “waka-waka-waka” or a series of nasal “kwirr” notes.
FAQs
What Time Of Year Are Woodpeckers Most Active?
Woodpeckers are most active during the morning and evening hours.
Do Woodpeckers Only Live In Forests?
Woodpeckers can be found living throughout North America, and they are generally year-round residents. They prefer to live in areas with lots of trees, as they use these trees for food, nesting sites, and roosting sites.
How To Attract Woodpeckers To Your Backyard
The best way to attract woodpeckers to your backyard is to provide them with a natural habitat that includes plenty of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation. You can also provide birdhouses or nesting boxes for them to use.
How Can You Identify Each Type Of Woodpecker?
Step 1: Look At The Overall Size Of The Woodpecker.
The Pileated Woodpecker is the biggest and is mostly black with white stripes on its face and neck. To identify this woodpecker, look for a large triangle of the red crest on the top of its head.
Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers can be easily identified by their bill size in relation to their head size. Downy Woodpeckers have a small bill while Hairy Woodpeckers have a bill that is almost the same size as their head.
Step 2: Look At The Coloration Of The Woodpecker.
There are a few ways to identify woodpeckers by their appearance. One way is to look at the coloration of the woodpecker. Male woodpeckers usually have a red patch on the back of their heads, while females do not.
Step 3: Look At The Habitat Of The Woodpecker.
The habitat can help identify the type of woodpecker. Woodpeckers are typically found in forests, so if you see a woodpecker in a forest, it is most likely a Hairy Woodpecker. If you see a woodpecker in an open field, it is most likely a Downy Woodpecker.
What Is The Average Lifespan Of A Woodpecker?
Woodpeckers are small birds with a lifespan of 6 to 10 years.
What Do Woodpeckers Eat?
Woodpeckers are a type of bird that is known for its ability to peck at trees. Woodpeckers mainly feed on wood-boring insects, larvae, grubs, eggs, and pupae. They use their sharp and heavy bill to chisel and dig into trees to reach the food.
Suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts are the best foods for attracting woodpeckers. Woodpeckers eat a variety of insects, including beetle larvae, ants, and caterpillars. They also consume a mix of berries, grains, and acorns.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about the different types of woodpeckers in Colorado, keep an eye and especially an ear out to see these birds.
For more information on woodpeckers in Colorado as well as other birds check out the Rockies Audubon Society.
