Woodpeckers are a common sight in Nebraska, with several species making their home in the state. These birds are well adapted to the geography of Nebraska, which is characterized by rolling hills, grasslands, and woodlands. Woodpeckers can be found in all of these habitats, as they are adept at finding food sources in a variety of environments. They also use their beaks to create cavities in trees for nesting and roosting. Woodpeckers also play an important role in the ecology of Nebraska, as they help to control insect populations and disperse seeds. They also provide an important source of food for other wildlife, such as hawks and owls. Woodpeckers are an important part of the natural landscape of Nebraska, and they are a reminder of the beauty and diversity of the state’s wildlife.
woodpeckers IN NEBRASKA
Read on to learn more about the 8 woodpeckers that visit Nebraska.
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?
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) · call, drumming
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?
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus leucothorectis) · call, interaction calls
Richard E. Webster
Snake Creek, Great Basin N.P., Nevada, United States
LEWIS’S WOODPECKER
- Melanerpes lewis
- Size: 11″ (28 cm)
Identification and Color: They have long bodies, wings, and tails. Their bill is smaller but still sturdy. A dark red face, a black head, and a white collar. Black and green on top and a reddish-pink belly.
Habitat and Behavior: Lives between the southwest and northwest. Will live in downed or recently burned forests, river groves, or foothills. Flying slowly and deliberately, they can catch insects midair and sometimes perch in open areas.
Diet: The Lewis’s Woodpecker eats many different insects. Will also eat nuts, fruits, and berries.
What Does A Lewis’s Woodpecker Sound Like?
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) · call
Andrew Spencer
Mancos, Montezuma Co., Colorado, 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?
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) · song
Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado, 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?
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) · call
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?
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) · call
Jim Holmes
Slim Road, Bullock County, Alabama, United States
Red-naped Sapsucker
- Sphyrapicus nuchalis
- Size: 8″ (20 cm)
Identification and Color: Males and females have red crowns and black and white large striped heads. The tops of their bodies and wings are mostly black, with some white. The underparts are mottled black and white. Males have red chins, and females have white chins. A medium-sized woodpecker with a sharp bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Located throughout the west, breeding in the north and wintering in the southern half. Likes mixed forests and woodlands, generally avoiding oak or pines during the breeding season. Will climb around trees and make many holes in them.
Diet: The Red-naped Sapsucker feeds on insects, fruits, and tree sap. May also eat some berries.
What does a Red-naped Sapsucker sound like?
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) · begging call
Andrew Spencer
Fox Creek, Conejos Co., Colorado, 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?
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) · call
Sue Riffe
Brownfield Bog WMA, Oxford Co., Maine, United States
Conclusion
Woodpeckers are an important part of Nebraska’s wildlife. They provide a valuable service to the environment by helping to keep insect populations in check. They also provide a source of food for other animals, such as hawks and owls. By understanding the importance of woodpeckers in Nebraska, we can better appreciate the natural beauty of the state and take steps to ensure their continued survival. With the right conservation efforts, woodpeckers can continue to thrive in Nebraska for many years to come.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in Nebraska.
