Alabama’s Woodpeckers

Photo of Northern flicker in bird bath by Pam Smith

By Carrie Threadgill, Wildlife Biologist, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

Alabama has a rich diversity of bird species across the state, including eight species of woodpeckers. The loud knocking you hear in the woods sometimes? It is the sound of a woodpecker’s strong bill drumming on a tree. These unique birds drill holes in trees looking for insects and other food, which they can extract with their long, sticky tongues. They will excavate cavities in trees for nesting and roosting. They also drum on trees to communicate with other woodpeckers. Several species found in Alabama are often difficult to identify because of their similarities to other woodpeckers. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers

Alabama’s two smallest woodpecker species can be very difficult to tell apart with an untrained eye. Downy and hairy woodpeckers have similar black and white spotted or checkered backs with white bodies and black bills. The male of both species has a small red patch on the back of its head, which the females lack.

While they are very similar in coloration, the hairy woodpecker is slightly larger than the downy, and has a larger black bill. Downy woodpeckers often are seen on smaller branches foraging, while hairy woodpeckers can be seen along the main trunks of trees. Both species eat a varied diet including insects, fruit and seeds, and can be found in a variety of habitats. Downy and hairy woodpeckers will also visit backyard bird feeders.

Northern Flicker

While red-bellied woodpeckers are the most common species in Alabama, the most popular is the northern flicker, or yellowhammer. The flicker, Alabama’s state bird, is called a yellowhammer because of the yellow coloration under the tail and wings that can be seen when it flies.

The flicker has brown and black barring on its back and wings, and a white breast with black spots. Other markings include a red patch on the nape, a gray crown on the top of the head and a distinct black “necklace.” Flickers often forage on the ground for ants and other insects, fruit and seeds. Like most other woodpeckers in Alabama, the flicker lives in a variety of habitats and will visit backyard suet and seed feeders.

Pileated Woodpecker

The largest woodpecker known to live in Alabama, and second largest woodpecker in the United States, is the pileated woodpecker. This large woodpecker is 15-17 inches tall with a black body and white patches on the neck and wings. It has a large red crest that is easy to see when perched in trees.

Pileated woodpeckers prefer larger trees in older growth forests where they primarily eat carpenter ants and beetle larvae. It will leave unique rectangular holes in trees while foraging. Nest cavities created by pileated woodpeckers are large enough to provide shelter for several species including owls and ducks. Unlike other woodpecker species, the pileated is rarely seen in the open and does not use urban areas. However, its calling and drumming can be heard from great distances.

Pileated woodpeckers are often mistaken for the ivory-billed woodpecker, which has been extirpated from Alabama and until recently thought to be extinct in the United States. The Ivory-billed woodpecker is larger than the pileated and has two white stripes on the underside of the wings, along with white patches on top of the wings that would be easy to see. Also, it has the distinct ivory-colored bill instead of the gray bill of pileated woodpeckers. With recent news of possible ivory-billed woodpeckers in Arkansas and Florida, there has been an increase in misidentification of pileated woodpeckers.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Alabama’s most common woodpecker -- and the most often misidentified -- is the red-bellied woodpecker. Sometimes described as red-headed because of the red cap and nape, it is actually named for its pinkish belly, which is mostly hidden when perching on a tree.

The red-bellied is a medium-sized woodpecker, around 9-10 inches tall, with black and white barring on its back. It eats more fruit than insects, and like many woodpeckers, it will store or cache food in cracks and crevices of trees or fences. It lives in most habitats including urban and suburban areas.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

One of the more unusual woodpecker species in Alabama, and the only endangered one, is the red-cockaded woodpecker. This medium-sized woodpecker has black and white barring across the back, similar to downy and hairy woodpeckers. It has white cheek patches, which help to distinguish it from the other two smaller species, and a black cap and nape. Males have a red patch on each side of their cap, which is called the cockade.

The red-cockaded woodpecker is only found in mature, open pine forests, typically longleaf. It is the only woodpecker in Alabama that excavates a cavity in a live pine tree. This species requires large pine trees that have red-heart disease, which makes the inner wood softer. Excavation of a new cavity can take several years to complete. These woodpeckers will use artificial cavities, so biologists have inserted man-made nest boxes into suitable pine trees to increase this bird’s nesting opportunities.

Another unique characteristic of red-cockaded woodpeckers is that they live together in small family groups consisting of a breeding pair and several helpers, which are often offspring from previous years. These birds have seen drastic population declines that coincided with the decline in longleaf pine forest in the Southeast, their preferred habitat.

Red-headed Woodpecker

As the name suggests, the red-headed woodpecker has a solid red head. This trait contrasts with a black and white body making it easy to identify. Both male and females of this species look alike.

The red-headed is unique among Alabama’s woodpeckers in that it rarely excavates holes in trees while foraging. Instead, it catches insects while flying. It also forages for other food items such as nuts, fruit, mice, bird eggs and even young birds. Red-headed woodpeckers are found in a variety of habitats, including urban areas.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The yellow-bellied sapsucker is only found in Alabama during winter, and it is the only Alabama woodpecker that does not breed in the state. Similar in appearance to some of Alabama’s other woodpeckers; this medium-sized bird has black and white barring on its back and a yellow belly and chest. It has white stripes along the edge of its wings, two white stripes on the face, a red crest and a black necklace.

The male has a red chin, while the female has a white chin. The sapsucker’s feeding strategy involves making a series of holes in horizontal rows along a live tree trunk creating sap wells. They use these wells to catch insects, so they will check the holes often to eat the insects trapped as well as the sap. The yellow-bellied is found in Alabama during the winter, fall and spring, and can be seen in a variety of areas including urban parks and yards. It often goes undetected because in winter it very rarely makes any sounds.