New Hampshire is home to a variety of woodpecker species, including the Red-bellied, Downy, Hairy, and Pileated woodpeckers. These birds are an important part of the state’s ecology, playing a role in the dispersal of seeds, the control of insect populations, and the creation of nesting cavities for other species. Woodpeckers are also a popular sight in New Hampshire, with their bright colors and loud calls. The geography of the state provides a variety of habitats for woodpeckers, from the dense forests of the White Mountains to the open fields of the Seacoast. Woodpeckers are able to find food sources in these habitats, such as insects, nuts, and fruits, and use dead or decaying trees for nesting and roosting. The varied topography of New Hampshire also provides woodpeckers with plenty of opportunities to forage and nest, allowing them to thrive in the state.
woodpeckers IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Read on to learn more about the 9 woodpeckers that visit New Hampshire.
American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Picoides dorsalis
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
Identification and Color: The American Three-toed Woodpecker has a short body with a short, pointed, and strong bill. Males have a yellow patch on their heads. Speckled black and white on top and bottom, solid black in between, and white lines by the eyes.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in the far north, including Canada and Alaska, also found in the Rocky Mountain ranges. Prefers conifer forests with fir, spruce, and pine trees. Forages by picking small pieces of bark off trees and does not go very deep into them.
Diet: Mainly insect-based diet of beetles and caterpillars found in trees. They may also eat some fruits or sap.
What does an American Three-toed Woodpecker sound like?
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis dorsalis) · call
Andrew Spencer
Marma Lake, Eagle Co., Colorado, United States
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?
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
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
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?
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) · call
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?
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
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 New Hampshire’s ecosystem. They help to keep insect populations in check, disperse seeds, and provide food for other animals. The presence of woodpeckers is a sign of a healthy environment. With the help of the Fish and Game Department and the public, woodpeckers can continue to thrive in New Hampshire. The state’s woodpeckers are an integral part of the environment, and their conservation is essential for the health of the ecosystem.
Before you go, be sure to check out our other articles about birds in New Hampshire.
