Woodpeckers are an integral part of Connecticut’s natural landscape. They are found throughout the state, from the wooded hills of the northwest to the coastal areas of the east. Woodpeckers are an important part of Connecticut’s ecology, providing food for other animals and helping to maintain the health of the forests. The geography of Connecticut provides a variety of habitats for woodpeckers to thrive in, from the deciduous forests of the northwest to the coniferous forests of the east. These birds are also found in urban areas, where they can often be seen drumming on buildings and trees. Woodpeckers are an important part of Connecticut’s biodiversity, and their presence is essential to the health of the state’s ecosystems.
Table of Contents
Woodpeckers in Connecticut
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER
- Picoides arcticus
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: Medium-sized woodpecker at about 9 inches in length. They have large heads and large, broad bills. Dark black on top, black and white barring on the wings, and a white underside. A white line runs underneath the eyes. Males have a yellow patch on their heads.
Habitat and Behavior: Typically spends all seasons in the far north. Prefers forests that have recently burned, with dead or dying trees. Will forage in these dead trees for long periods of time to find insects.
Diet: The Black-backed Woodpecker feeds on wood-boring insects like beetle larvae. Will also eat some fruits and nuts.
What Does A Black-Backed Woodpecker Sound Like?
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) · call, calling whilst foraging
Frank Lambert
Mammoth Lakes, Mono County, California, United States
Downy Woodpecker
- Picoides pubescens
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
Identification and Color: Adult Downies are black and white, with a black back, white belly, and a small patch of red on the back of the head. They have a short bill and a barred tail.
Habitat and Behavior: Downy Woodpeckers live in forests, woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas. They are year-round residents in most of their range. They forage on tree trunks and branches, using their bills and barbed tongue to peck at bark to find food.
Diet: Downies feed on insects, spiders, berries, and nuts. Downies sometimes store food by caching it in cracks in trees or other hidden spots. Can be spotted at seed and suet feeders.
What Does a Downy Woodpecker sound like?
Thomas Magarian
2310 North Wygant Street, North Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Hairy Woodpecker
- Picoides villosus
- Size: 9″ (22.5 cm)
Identification and Color: The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized black and white bird with a long bill, a small head, and a long tail. Males have a small red patch on the back of the crown.
Habitat and Behavior: Prefers a dense forest. These woodpeckers are fairly common in wooded areas across the United States. Hairy Woodpeckers are known to be very curious and will often explore their surroundings by pecking at trees and wooded objects. (Ideally trees and not your house!)
Diet: Mainly insects and insect larvae found in trees. Will also eat berries, seeds, and nuts.
What Does a Hairy Woodpecker sound like?
Richard E. Webster
Snake Creek, Great Basin N.P., Nevada, United States
Northern Flicker
- Colaptes auratus
- Size: 12″ (30 cm)
Identification and Color: A fairly common large woodpecker, but size is where the similarities to other woodpeckers end. The male Northern Flicker is unique with a brown back, black bars and spotted breast. All North American Flickers have white rumps. There are also two different color groups of Northern Flickers – Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted. Yellow-shafted flickers have yellow underwings. Red-shafted flickers have reddish pink underwings.
Habitat and Behavior: Northern Flickers are hole-nesting birds, often making a home in a dead tree. Can be seen hopping around the ground while foraging or latched onto a tree eyeing a spot to search for food.
Diet: Northern Flickers mainly eat insects off the ground, but will also eat berries and nuts.
What does a Northern Flicker sound like?
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Pileated Woodpecker
- Dryocopus pileatus
- Size: 15″ (38 cm)
Identification and Color: These birds are mostly black with white stripes on their faces and necks. Both males and females have a brilliant red crest on their heads, but only males have a red stripe on their cheek. The Pileated Woodpecker is fairly large and has a long neck. They have a long and chisel-like bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Residents of the northeast and southeast mainly. They do not generally migrate. Favors anyplace with many trees, may be found at dead trees or even young trees depending on location. They forage by pecking into trees which is very loud.
Diet: The Pileated Woodpecker mainly eats the ants found in trees. They will also eat other insects, fruits, and nuts.
What does a Pileated Woodpecker sound like?
Brian Hendrix
Hendrix Habitat – Fairview, Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Melanerpes carolinus
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: The Red-bellied woodpecker gets its name from the vaguely-visible reddish color on its belly, which is typically only seen when the bird is perched. They have a black and white striped back, white underparts, and a red nape.
Habitat and Behavior: The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a non-migratory bird, meaning it will stay in the same general area year-round. Forages for insects in trees or catches them in air. Can dominate other smaller woodpeckers and birds at feeders.
Diet: Consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Will also eat seeds, nuts and fruit.
What does a Red-bellied Woodpecker sound like?
Bill Grantham
St. Marks NWR, Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Red-headed Woodpecker
- Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: Red-headed Woodpeckers have black backs, a large white patch and underparts, then black at the tip of the tail. Male adults have bright red heads. These birds are medium-sized woodpeckers and have rounded heads with powerful spear-like bills.
Habitat and Behavior: Red-headed Woodpeckers in northern and western areas usually migrate to southeastern states during the winter. Prefers open forests with cleared areas. Will forage by pecking trees, catching insects in the air, or on the ground.
Diet: Omnivorous diet consisting of berries, insects, and even some small rodents occasionally.
What does a Red-headed Woodpecker sound like?
Jim Holmes
Slim Road, Bullock County, Alabama, United States
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Sphyrapicus varius
- Size: 8″ (20 cm)
Identification and Color: Males and females have red crowns with mainly black and white bodies. Males also have a red chin patch. Both have white and grey underparts with a little yellow. They have long wings and are smaller woodpeckers, between 7 and 8 inches.
Habitat and Behavior: Located throughout a vast area. They will breed in the far north, migrate throughout the central United States, and spend the winter in the south, going as far as Mexico. Prefers woodlands with mixed trees. They will forage by making small holes in trees.
Diet: The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker eats various insects, tree sap, fruit, or berries.
What does a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker sound like?
Sue Riffe
Brownfield Bog WMA, Oxford Co., Maine, United States
Conclusion
Woodpeckers are an important part of Connecticut’s natural landscape. They play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the insect population, dispersing seeds, and providing food for other animals. They also provide a great source of entertainment for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. By protecting woodpeckers, we can ensure that they will continue to be a part of Connecticut’s natural landscape for many years to come.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in Connecticut.
