Complete Guide to Woodpeckers Found in North Dakota Identification & Habits

Have You Ever Been Out In The Woods Heard A Sharp Tapping Sound And Wondered Which Bird Was Making All That Noise I Used To Get Frustrated Because I Could Hear The Drumming But Never Knew What Bird It Was. That Curiosity Led Me To Explore More About The Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota And I Realized There Are More Species Here Than Most People Think.

If You’ve Ever Wanted A Simple Way To Tell Them Apart You’re Not Alone. Some Woodpeckers Look Almost The Same And It Can Be Confusing For Beginners. In This Guide We’ll Break Down The Most Common Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota How To Recognize Them And Where You’re Most Likely To Spot Each One.

Woodpeckers Found in North Dakota

• Black Backed Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Lewis’s Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red Bellied Woodpecker
• Red Headed Woodpecker
• Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Black Backed Woodpecker

The Black Backed Woodpecker Is A Bird That Thrives In Burned Or Disturbed Forests Making It Less Common In Populated Areas. Its Mostly Black Plumage Helps It Blend Into Charred Trees While Its White Markings Provide Subtle Contrast This Species Is A Specialist Feeder Prying Bark Away From Dead Trees To Find Wood-boring Beetle Larvae. While Rare In North Dakota Birdwatchers Occasionally Spot Them In The Northern Parts Of The State Particularly After Forest Fires.

What Makes The Blac Backed Woodpecker Especially Interesting Is Its Reliance On Habitats Other Birds Often Avoid. Instead Of Avoiding Burned Wood Lands It Actively Seeks Them Out Showing How Adaptable And Resourceful Woodpeckers Can Be. Birdwatchers Who Want To See One May Need To Travel To Coniferous Forests And Keep An Eye Out For Freshly Burned Areas. Although Uncommon Their Presence Highlights The Diversity Of Wood Peckers Found In North Dakota.

Facts	Detail
Range	Found In Burned Or Disturbed Forests
Key Fact	Medium Sized Mostly Black With White Streaks
Plumage	Black Plumage With White Streaks And Yellow Cap On Head
Behavior	Feeds On Beetle Larvae In Dead Trees
Status	Rare In North Dakota Mostly In The North

Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Wood Pecker Is The Smallest Woodpecker In North America And One Of The Most Common Wood Peckers Found In North Dakota.With A White Belly Black And White Patterned Wings And A Small Bill It’s Easy To Recognize Once You’ve Seen It A Few Times. Males Carry A Tiny Red Patch On The Back Of Their Heads While Females Do Not. Their Short Sharp “pik” Calls Are A Familiar Sound In Wooded Backyards And Parks.

This Species Is Especially Known For Visiting Backyard Feeders. They’re Frequent Fans Of Suet And Sunflower Seeds Which Makes Them A Delight For Birdwatchers Right Outside The Window. Because Of Their Small Size They’re Often Mistaken For The Hairy Wood Pecker But The Downy’s Bill Is Noticeably Shorter. If You’re Looking For An Easy First Step Into Bird Watching In North Dakota Spotting A Downy Is A Perfect Place To Start.

Facts	Detail
Range	Found Across North America In Forests Parks And Gardens
Key Fact	Smallest Woodpecker In North America
Plumage	Black Wings With White Spots And White Belly
Behavior	Loves Suet And Sunflower Seeds At Feeders
Markings	Males Have A Small Red Patch On The Head

Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Wood Pecker Looks Strikingly Similar To The Downy But It Is Larger And Has A Longer More Powerful Bill. This Bird Is Also Black And White With A Red Patch On The Male’s Head But Its Size Makes It Easier To Distinguish Once You Compare The Two Side By Side. One Of The Best Ways To Tell Them Apart Is By Listening: The Hairy Produces A Sharper Louder Drumming Sound.

These Wood Peckers Are Found In Woodlands Orchards And Suburban Parks Where They Forage For Insects Beneath Bark. They Are Known To Peck Harder And Louder Than Downies Creating Deep Resonant Sounds That Echo Through The Trees. When They Visit Feeders They Prefer Suet And Peanuts. For Bird Watchers Identifying A Hairy Versus A Downy Woodpecker Is A Fun Challenge That Sharpens Observation Skills.

Facts	Detail
Range	Common In Woodlands And Backyards Across North America
Key Fact	Larger Than Downy Woodpecker
Plumage	Black And White Plumage With White Belly
Behavior	Stronger Sharper Drumming Sounds
Bill	Long Sturdy Bill For Deeper Drilling

Lewis’s Woodpecker

Lewis’s Wood Pecker Is One Of The Most Unusual Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota Because It Doesn’t Behave Like The Typical Bark Drilling Species. Instead This Bird Often Catches Insects Midair Almost Like A Flycatcher. Its Appearance Is Also Striking With A Dark Greenish Back Body A Rosy Pink Belly And A Red Face Patch. The Contrasting Colors Make It Stand Out Among North Dakota’s Native Birds.

Although Not Common Lewis’s Wood Pecker Is Sometimes Seen During Migration In Open Woodlands Or Near Burned Areas. Unlike Other Woodpeckers It Spends Less Time Drilling And More Time Gliding Between Trees In Search Of Insects And Acorns. Because Of Its Rarity In The Region Spotting One Is Considered A High Light For Serious Birdwatchers. If You’re Lucky Enough To See One You’ll Notice Right Away That Its Flight Is Smoother And More Graceful Than That Of Most Wood Peckers.

Facts	Detail
Range	Seen During Migration In North Dakota
Key Fact	Dark Green Body With Pink Belly And Red Face
Plumage	Dark Green Back Pink Belly And Distinctive Red Face
Behavior	Catches Insects Midair Instead Of Drilling
Status	Rare And Considered A Special Find

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker Is One Of The Most Widespread And Easily Recognized Woodpeckers In North America. In North Dakota You’ll Find The Yellow Shafted Variety Which Flashes Yellow Under Its Wings And Tail When It Flies. These Birds Are Ground Foraging Specialists Often Seen Digging For Ants And Beetles In Lawns Fields And Forest Edges. Their Brownish Body With Black Spots And A Black Chest Crescent Makes Them Stand Out From Other Species.

Northern Flickers Are Also Known For Their Loud “wick-a-wick” Calls And Strong Drumming Sounds. Unlike Most Woodpeckers That Spend Their Time On Trees Flickers Spend Much Of Their Time On The Ground Hopping Through Grass And Flicking Leaves Aside. Bird Watchers Often Hear Their Calls Long Before They See Them. If You Enjoy Bird Watching In North Dakota You’ll Almost Certainly Encounter This Species At Some Point.

Facts	Detail
Range	Yellow-Shafted Variety Common In North Dakota
Key Fact	Brown Body With Black Spots And Crescent On Chest
Plumage	Brown Plumage With Black Spots And Yellow Wing Shafts
Behavior	Loud Wick-A-Wick Call And Strong Drumming
Diet	Feeds Mainly On Ants And Beetles On The Ground

Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated Woodpecker Is The Largest Of All The Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota And One Of The Most Dramatic To Encounter. With A Wingspan Of Nearly 30 Inches And A Striking Red Crest This Bird Is Hard To Miss. Its Black Body With Bold White Stripes On The Face Adds To Its Iconic Look. The Pileated Is Known For Excavating Large Rectangular Holes In Dead Trees As It Searches For Carpenter Ants And Beetle Larvae.

These Birds Are Forest Specialists Preferring Mature Woodlands With Plenty Of Standing Dead Trees. Their Loud Rolling Calls Echo Through The Woods And Are Often Compared To Jungle Cries. Spotting One Is A Thrill Because They’re Less Common And Much Larger Than Most Backyard Species. If You See Huge Wood Chips Scattered Around The Base Of A Tree Chances Are A Pileated Woodpecker Has Been At Work There Recently.

Facts	Detail
Range	Found In Mature Forests Across North Dakota
Key Fact	Largest Woodpecker In North Dakota
Plumage	Bold Black And White Body With Striking Red Crest
Behavior	Creates Large Rectangular Holes In Wood
Habitat	Prefers Mature Forests With Dead Trees

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Despite Its Name The Red Bellied Wood Pecker Doesn’t Have A Bright Red Belly. Instead Its Most Notice Able Feature Is The Red Cap And Nape That Extend Over Its Pale Barred Back. The Faint Reddish Wash On Its Stomach Gives The Species Its Name. This Bird Is Medium ASized And Is Known For Its Loud Rolling “churr” Calls That Are Often Heard In Forests And Backyards Alike.

One Of The Red Bellied’s Most Fascinating Traits Is Its Long Sticky Tongue Which Can Reach Nearly Two Inches Past Its Bill. This Adaptation Allows It To Extract Insects From Deep Crevices In Bark. In North Dakota They Are Often Seen At Bird Feeders Enjoying Suet Nuts And Fruits. While Not As Common As Downies Or Hairies They’ve Expanded Their Range Northward Making Them An Exciting Find In The State.

Facts	Detail
Range	Found In Eastern And Central North America
Key Fact	Red Cap And Nape With Barred Back
Plumage	Pale Belly With Faint Red Wash And Black And White Barred Back
Behavior	Visits Feeders For Suet Fruits And Nuts
Adaptation	Long Sticky Tongue For Insect Hunting

Red Headed Woodpecker

The Red Headed Woodpecker Is One Of The Most Striking Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota Instantly Recogniz Able By Its Bold Red Head White Body And Jet Black Wings. Unlike Most Woodpeckers That Drill For Insects This Species Also Hunts In The Air Catching Insects In Flight. It’s Known For Its Versatility Eating Everything From Acorns And Nuts To Grasshoppers And Beetles.

Sadly The Red Headed Woodpecker Has Experienced Population Declines Due To Habitat Loss And Competition For Nesting Cavities. They Prefer Open Woodlands Groves And Orchards Where They Often Store Food In Tree Crevices For Later Use. Spotting One In North Dakota Is Always A Treat Because Of Its Colorful Plumage And Unique Foraging Habits. Bird Watchers Often Describe It As One Of The Most “photogenic” Native Birds Of The State.

Facts	Detail
Range	Prefers Open Woodlands And Orchards
Key Fact	Brilliant Red Head With Black Wings And White Body
Plumage	Bold Black And White Body With Striking Red Head
Behavior	Catches Insects In Midair And Stores Food In Trees
Status	Populations Declining In Some Areas

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Is A Migratory Species That Drills Neat Rows Of Holes Called Sap Wells Into Tree Bark. These Holes Release Sap Which The Bird Drinks And Uses To Attract Insects. Interestingly Hummingbirds And Other Birds Sometimes Feed From These Wells Too Making The Sapsucker’s Work Important For More Than Just Itself. It Has A Mottled Body With A Red Forehead And Throat (in Males) And A Pale Yellowish Wash On The Belly.

In North Dakota This Species Is Seen During Migration Often Passing Through Wooded Areas And Orchards. Its Irregular Drumming Sounds And Cat Like “mewing” Calls Help Birdwatchers Identify It Even When The Bird Itself Is Hidden. Although Less Common Than Backyard Favorites Like Downy Or Hairy Woodpeckers The Yellow Bellied Sapsucker Adds Variety To The List Of Woodpeckers You Might Encounter In The State.

Facts	Detail
Range	Migratory Species In North Dakota
Key Fact	Creates Rows Of Sap Wells In Tree Bark
Plumage	Mottled Body With Red Forehead And Pale Yellow Belly
Behavior	Attracts Hummingbirds And Insects To The Sap
Status	Migratory Woodpecker That Breeds Further North And Winters South

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Red-headed Woodpeckers In North Dakota?

Yes They Live In North Dakota But They’re Less Common Due To Habitat Loss.

What Bird Is Mistaken For A Woodpecker?

Nuthatches Are Often Confused With Woodpeckers Because They Climb Tree Trunks In A Similar Way.

How Can You Tell A Sapsucker From A Woodpecker?

Sapsuckers Drill Neat Rows Of Sap Wells While Other Woodpeckers Usually Bore Deeper Holes For Insects.

What Does It Mean When A Woodpecker Visits You?

Many People See It As A Sign Of Determination Persistence Or New Opportunities Knocking.

Is It Rare To See A Red-headed Woodpecker?

Yes They’re Considered Uncommon In Many Areas So Spotting One Is Always A Special Event.

Conclusion

Woodpeckers Found In North Dakota Represent A Rich Variety—from The Tiny Downy To The Massive Pileated. Each Species Has Its Own Unique Behaviors Calls And Feeding Habits Making Bird Watching In North Dakota Both Exciting And Rewarding. Some Species Like The Downy And Hairy Are Common Backyard Visitors While Others Like Lewis’s And The Black-backed Are Rarer And Require Patience To Spot.

If You’re Hoping To See More Of These Fascinating Birds Consider Adding Suet And Sunflower Seeds To Your Feeders Leaving Dead Trees Standing When Safe And Paying Attention To Drumming Sounds In Your Area. With A Little Luck You’ll Soon Find Yourself Recognizing The Patterns Calls And Habits Of These Incredible Species. The Next Time You’re Outdoors Remember You’re Sharing Space With Some Of The Most Hardworking And Resourceful Birds In North America.

Further Reading

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• Small Black Bird with White Belly
• Birds With Orange Beaks
• Big Birds in Ohio
• Small Yellow Birds
• Florida Birds with Long Beaks
• Skynettool Fire Tool

Thank You For Reading!