12 Woodpeckers in New Mexico

There are 12 species of woodpeckers in New Mexico some are common and some are rare. The most common woodpecker in New Mexico is the Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Other common woodpeckers are the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Acorn Woodpecker.

Rarer to the state of New Mexico are the Lewis’s Woodpecker, the Red-Headed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Williamson Sapsucker. The Gila Woodpecker and the Arizona Woodpecker are very rare but can be spotted in New Mexico in certain areas (see below for details).

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 New Mexico.

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 New Mexico

New Mexico is home to several species of woodpeckers that can be found in various habitats across the state. Here are some places where you can potentially find woodpeckers in New Mexico:

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge: Located near Socorro, this refuge provides a diverse woodpecker habitat. Look for the Gila woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, and northern flicker.
Sandia Mountains: This mountain range near Albuquerque offers a mix of coniferous and deciduous forests, which are attractive to woodpeckers. Look for the acorn woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, and downy woodpecker.
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge: Situated in the South Valley of Albuquerque, this refuge has diverse habitats, including bosque woodlands and wetlands, where you may spot the downy woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, and northern flicker.
Lincoln National Forest: This forest in southern New Mexico provides suitable habitat for several woodpecker species, including the Arizona woodpecker and the Lewis’s woodpecker.
Santa Fe National Forest: Located near Santa Fe, this forest has mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests where you can find the downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, and northern flicker.
Gila National Forest: Situated in southwest New Mexico, this forest is known for its diverse birdlife. Look for the Arizona woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, and Gila woodpecker.

For more birdwatching in New Mexico see our article on backyard birds.

Woodpeckers in New Mexico

1. Hairy Woodpeckers

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 New Mexico backyards and also wood forests, especially pine trees which are abundant. Look for them in and around Santa Fe and in the Gila National Forest. If you don’t see them you will definitely hear them drumming on trees.

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 a common woodpecker in New Mexico all year-round but their numbers increase in the winter from birds migrating to New Mexico from Canada.

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. downy woodpeckers

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 woodpecker can be found year-round in the state of New Mexico, especially in the northern part of the state. You will see them in residential areas, cities, farmland, and wooded areas.

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, 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 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, 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 northern New Mexico during the spring and summer breeding seasons however in the southern and western parts of the state they are more common during winter.

Call And Drumming

Both males and females use the scream, squeal, and waa call

5. red-headed woodpeckers

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.

Once an abundant species, the Red-headed woodpecker population has been declining over the past several decades. They are now considered rare in New Mexico but can be spotted in the northeastern part of the state during the breeding season.

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 appear similar to Nuttall’s woodpecker but have less black on their head and upper back.

The Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are very common in New Mexico and can be seen in the eastern part of the state all year but are more common during the non-breeding season.

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. 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.

Acorn Woodpeckers can be found in several regions of New Mexico, particularly in the southern and central parts of the state. Look for them in the Gila National Forest, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, Lincoln National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest, and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Call and drumming

Their calls include a distinctive, high-pitched “waka-waka-waka” or a series of nasal “kwirr” notes.

8. 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 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 best time to spot American Three-toed Woodpeckers in New Mexico would be during the breeding season, which typically occurs from late spring to early summer. The best places to find them are in the Carson National Forest, the Santa Fe National Forest, and the Gila National Forest.

Call And Drumming

9. 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 New Mexico, you can see them in the western part of the state during the breeding season. This species can be found in mixed conifer and deciduous forests with many different species of trees.

Call And Drumming

10. 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 are not common in New Mexico but are more common in the northern part of the state near Santa Fe however can be spotted throughout the entire state.

Call And Drumming

Additionally, its unique call is a good way to identify it.

11. Gila woodpeckers

Scientific Name: Melanerpes uropygialis Size: 8-10 inches

Description and field marks

The head, neck, and upper parts of the Gila Woodpecker are primarily brown or gray-brown in color. They have a crown on the head and the nape are black, forming a distinct black cap. The face features a bold, black eye stripe extending from the bill to the neck, contrasting with a pale yellow or beige color around the eyes and throat. The underparts are a pale yellow or buff color.

Gila Woodpecker is its black cap and face markings, including the black eye stripe and pale yellow or beige areas around the eyes and throat.

nesting

Gila Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, and both males and females participate in excavating the nesting cavity. They typically breed from late spring to early summer. The female lays a clutch of 2-5 white eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them for about 14 days. After hatching, both parents contribute to feeding the chicks until they fledge, which occurs around 26-30 days after hatching.

diet

The Gila Woodpecker has a diverse diet that primarily consists of insects and other invertebrates. Gila Woodpeckers have a unique adaptation that allows them to extract nectar from flowers. They are known to feed on the nectar of various desert plants,

Gila Woodpeckers also consume seeds. They may feed on the seeds of desert plants like mesquite, acacia, and other trees or shrubs that produce seed pods. In some instances, Gila Woodpeckers feed on tree sap.

habitat

The Gila Woodpecker is native to the southwestern United States (mostly in Arizona) and northern Mexico. The preferred habitat of the Gila Woodpecker includes desert and semi-desert regions with scattered trees and saguaro cacti. They are well adapted to arid environments and can be found in various habitats such as desert washes, riparian areas, and open woodlands.

Although rare in New Mexico they can be spotted in the Gila National Forest, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and White Sands National Park.

call and drumming

Gila Woodpeckers have various calls, including a series of loud, rolling “cha-cha-cha” notes or a rapid, chattering “rattle.” They can also produce drumming sounds on wood, which are typically slower and softer than those of larger woodpeckers.

12. Arizona woodpecker

Scientific Name: Dryobates arizonae Size: 7.1-7.9 inches

Description and field marks

The male and female Arizona Woodpeckers have similar plumage. They have a black head with a distinctive white stripe running from the bill, over the eye, and down the neck. The upper parts are black with white barring or spotting, giving a scaled appearance. The underparts are buff to white with fine black barring. The wings show white patches, visible in flight or when the bird spreads its wings.

Nesting

Arizona Woodpeckers typically excavate their nests in dead or decaying trees, often choosing trees that have soft, rotting wood. Both the male and female participate in excavating the nest cavity.

After the nest cavity is prepared, the female Arizona Woodpecker lays a clutch of usually 3 to 5 white eggs. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, which lasts for around 11 to 14 days. Both parents participate in raising the nestlings for about 25 to 30 days before fledging.

Diet

The diet of the Arizona Woodpecker primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates including Wood-Boring Insects. They also eat seeds, nuts, and fruits.

Habitat

The Arizona Woodpecker is only found in 2 states in the U.S., Arizona, and New Mexico. They are seen only in the southern corns where these states border each other.

Arizona Woodpeckers are typically found in oak woodlands, pine-oak forests, and riparian areas within the Madrean Sky Islands region. They prefer habitats with mature trees and a mix of open and forested areas.

Although very rare in New Mexico they can be spotted in the southwestern corner of the state.

call and drumming

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.