10 Species of Woodpeckers in Idaho
There are 10 species of woodpeckers in Idaho that are common and 5 species that are rare. The most common woodpecker in Idaho is the Hairy Woodpecker. Other common woodpeckers are the Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpeckers, Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Lewis’s 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 Idaho.
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 woodpecker species.
Where To Find Woodpeckers In Idaho
Idaho offers diverse habitats that support a variety of woodpecker species. Here are some places where you can potentially find woodpeckers in Idaho:
- Sawtooth National Recreation Area: Located in central Idaho, the Sawtooth Mountains provide a mix of coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Look for woodpeckers such as the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker in these areas.
- Coeur d’Alene National Forest: Situated in the northern part of the state, this forest encompasses a range of habitats including mixed conifer forests and wetlands. Here, you may spot woodpeckers like the Pileated Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and American Three-toed Woodpecker.
- Hell’s Canyon National Recreation Area: Straddling the border between Idaho and Oregon, Hell’s Canyon offers a dramatic landscape with deep canyons and diverse habitats. Watch for woodpeckers such as the Lewis’s Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Red-naped Sapsucker.
- Payette National Forest: Found in west-central Idaho, the Payette National Forest provides a range of habitats, including mixed conifer forests and mountainous terrain. Woodpecker species you might encounter here include the Hairy Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker.
- City of Rocks National Reserve: Situated in southern Idaho, this reserve is known for its unique rock formations and pinyon-juniper woodlands. Look for woodpeckers like Williamson’s Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker in this area.
- Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness: Straddling the border between Idaho and Montana, this wilderness area offers extensive forests and rugged mountain terrain. Keep an eye out for woodpeckers such as the American Three-toed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker.
These are just a few examples of the potential woodpecker habitats in Idaho. Remember to check local birding resources or consult with local birding groups for more detailed information on woodpecker sightings and specific locations within the state.
For more birdwatching in Idaho see our article on backyard birds.
1. northern flickers
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 a common woodpecker in Idaho all year-round and can be spotted both in winter and summer.
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.
2. black-backed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Picoides arcticus Size: 9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The black-backed woodpecker is a species of bird that is a native North American woodpecker. It is considered important because it plays an essential role in the boreal forest ecosystem, contributing to fire maintenance and creating habitats for other wildlife.
This predominantly black woodpecker has some white markings on it by the underbelly, throat, and above its bill. Males and juveniles have a yellow patch on the top of their heads which is missing in the adult female. It is the same size as the Hairy Woodpecker.
Nesting
The black-backed woodpecker builds its nest in trees or on branches, usually excavating cavities into dead trees or stumps. The female lays between two to six white eggs. Both parents share the duties of incubating the eggs and raising their young. After hatching, both parents feed and care for their young until they fledge at around 28 days old.
Diet
The Black-backed Woodpecker is an essential part of the food chain in Wyoming, as it primarily eats wood-boring insects and larvae. It also has a significant role in dispersing fungi spores from tree trunks, helping maintain healthy forests.
Habitat
They also find burnt forests and insect-infested forests and make them their home.
The black-backed woodpecker can be found primarily in the northern boreal forests of Canada and the northern part of the United States. You will find them during the breeding season in northwest Idaho.
Call And Drumming
3. pileated woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus Size: 16.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The largest woodpeckers in Minnesota are the Pileated. It’s almost the size of a crow with an all-black body with white stripes down a long neck and a bright red crest on the back of their heads and strong bills. White under-wing and white wing patches are easily seen in flight.
Pileated Woodpeckers fly in fairly straight lines, unlike other woodpecker species, who fly in undulating lines.
These birds have been known to thrive in forests, especially throughout the Chippewa National Forest in Northern Minnesota. Therefore, Pileated Woodpeckers provide an important source of biodiversity to the state’s ecosystem and also act as indicators for healthy woodlands.
These are noisy, loud woodpeckers. Their drum is slow and powerful, accelerates, and then trails off, not more than two times a minute.
Nesting
Pileated Woodpeckers drill out nest holes in large tree trunks. These nests can take from 3 to 6 weeks to build as they are very large, up to 2 feet wide.
Pileated Woodpeckers lay 3 to 5 white eggs each breeding season. The incubation period is 15 to 18 days and the young will remain in the nest for 24 to 31 days.
Diet
They really like carpenter ants, so they’re often found foraging at the bottoms of dead trees or on fallen logs.
Habitat
Likes mature forests and open woodlands. Pileated Woodpeckers look for dead trees and logs, which offer food and a nest cavity.
You will find Pileated in the Idaho Panhandle all year long but there are more sightings during the summer months.
Bird Notes
Pileated Woodpecker holes are rectangular rather than round or oval like other woodpeckers, and they are deep enough to break smaller trees in half.
Call And Drumming
4. 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
Aside from a few other states in the west, Idaho is actually one of the few states that the American Three-toed Woodpecker can be found. They remain in the state year-round
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 that can be seen in the northwest part of Wyoming year-round.
You will mostly find them in primarily in coniferous forests with mature forests, particularly in the higher elevations of the mountainous regions. The American Three-toed Woodpeckers can be found in Idaho year-round.
Call And Drumming
5. 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 Idaho forests, especially pine trees which are abundant.
Call And Drumming
6. 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, flies, 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 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, as well as 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 Idaho during the breeding season in spring and summer then head south for the fall and winter.
Call And Drumming
Both males and females use the scream, squeal, and waa call
7. Lewis’s woodpeckers
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 to year.
Lewis’s woodpeckers breed in Idaho so you will see them in spring and summer mostly in the northern part of the state near the Montana border.
Call And Drumming
Additionally, its unique call is a good way to identify it.
8. 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 New Mexico. 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 woodpeckers are common and can be found year-round in the state of Idaho. You will see them in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.
Call And Drumming
9. white-headed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Picoides albolarvatus Size: 8-9 inches
Description And Field Marks
The White-headed Woodpecker has striking black and white plumage. Its head, neck, and throat are pure white, contrasting sharply with the rest of its body, which is primarily black. The wings and back are black, with prominent white patches on the wings that are visible in flight. The underparts, including the belly, are also white. The male also has a small red patch on the nape of their necks.
Nesting
These woodpeckers excavate their own nesting cavities in dead or decaying trees. The nesting cavity is created by both the male and female, who take turns excavating the hole. The entrance hole is usually a circular or slightly oval shape. The only material put in the cavity is wood chips for the nesting floor.
The female lays 3 to 5 glossy white eggs. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs for about 12 to 14 days. Both parents also participate in feeding the nestlings. The young leave the nest 24 to 27 days after hatching.
Diet
The White-headed Woodpecker is often seen foraging on the trunks and branches of trees, where it searches for insects, beetles, and their larvae. It may also feed on seeds and pine nuts.
Habitat
The White-headed Woodpecker is typically found in coniferous forests, particularly those with mature pine trees.
White-headed Woodpeckers are very rare in the United States and are only found in certain areas, Idaho is one of them. Look for them in the Boise National Forest where they breed.
Call And Drumming
Its call is a sharp, metallic “peek” or “tchik” sound.
10. 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. In Idaho, you can see them in the national forests during the breeding season. This species can be found in mixed conifer and deciduous forests with many different species of trees.
Call And Drumming
Extremely Rare Woodpeckers to Idaho
There are several (5) woodpecker species that are rare in Idaho but if you are lucky enough you may spot one.
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker could be seen in Idaho but a sighting is considered accidental.
- Red-breasted Sapsucker is considered extremely rare in Idaho but has been seen in Boise National Forest.
- Red-headed Woodpeckers–an accidental sighting may occur in Idaho but has only been recorded a few times in the state history.
- Red-bellied Woodpeckers are extremely rare in Idaho with the last confirmed sighting in the 1990s.
- Acorn Woodpecker was seen in Idaho in 2015 and it was the only recorded sighting in the state.
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. They also consume a mix of berries, grains, and acorns.
Conclusion
Now that you know more about the different types of woodpeckers in Idaho, keep an eye and especially an ear out to see these birds.
For more information on woodpeckers in Idaho as well as other birds check out the Idaho Audubon Society.
