Get a Landscaping or Gardening Quote
accede your zip computer code
Woodpeckers are one of the most fascinating avians you could find in your backyard – and did you get it on that there are8 metal money in Alabama ?
There ’s a estimable hazard that if you have more than one pecker visiting you , you may actually be playing host to a few different specie !
Legend for the following woodpecker migration and range maps
Although the list below hold all the common woodpeckers regain in Alabama , it ’s possible to find a vagabond species of pecker that ’s not aboriginal to this special state . If you do see a vagrant species , it should be consider an extremely rare sighting !
The survey legend can be used for each woodpecker species map out to ascertain what time of year you’re able to see each peckerwood in your orbit .
8 peckerwood species are found in Alabama , include the Pileated Woodpecker , Northern Flicker , Downy Woodpecker , Yellow - belly Sapsucker , cherry - cockaded Woodpecker , Red - belly Woodpecker , scarlet - headed Woodpecker , Hairy Woodpecker . Several of these woodpecker species are permanent residents , while others are much rarer and can be only spotted seasonally .
Legend for the following woodpecker migration and range maps
The 8 Woodpecker Species in Alabama
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Order : order Piciformes
menage : family Picidae
Size:15.8 – 19.3 in ( 40 – 49 atomic number 96 )
Large and loud , this pecker is jolly easy to notice – particularly as their coupling cries are so distinct ! Rather tragically , this husky Picidae is sometimes mistaken for a woodpecker that ’s thought to now be extinct – the ivory - bill pecker , which has n’t been seen in the US for many age . The pileated peckerwood , almost crowlike in height , tends to feast on pismire and minibeasts found deep in crumble Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . This species ’ hole - devising can avail give shelter to other animals – making it a welcome sight .
Beyond their tatty cries and wood rapping , the pileated woodpecker has a shocking violent crown , with monochrome bodies and long , thin beak . The male of the specie is well-fixed to spot as it has a facial mark rather like a moustache .
The pileated woodpecker does n’t lean to be too fickle about where it care to inhabit . However , you ’ll in the main get hold it subsist out in eastern states , though as far northward as Nova Scotia ! If you ’re a California indigen , it ’s also not unheard of to fleck this uncouth family Picidae .
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Size:11.0 – 12.2 in ( 28 – 31 atomic number 96 )
This Picidae is have sex by many , many unlike name calling – and you may well have seen it name to as the Yellow or reddish - cheat Flicker . It ’s a fairly common dame and is also one of the gravid pecker living across the province . Unlike most peckers , however , they tend to feast primarily on dry land insects – emmet , in finicky ! This Flicker will opt to hop around to feed , but may even choose to site itself on branches occasionally when it see a yield kickshaw or two .
The Northern Flicker has plumage colors that can vary ( hence its many names ) , but you could commonly spot these bird thanks to their flecked tail and wings . They often have black marking around their faces and crests , and you ’ll be able to tell them apart from other Picidae on unmingled size alone .
Northern Flickers run to live out east but can be found high up in the northwest reaches of Alaska , and even down towards the west coast – that applies to the yellow - screw variety , in any case ! glint of this genus tend to be fairly common across the US , with almost ten million specimen estimated at present in North America .
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
Size:5.5 – 6.7 in ( 14 – 17 centimetre )
in truth tiny , the precious downy peckerwood is a Picidae that ’s rough-cut across the magnetic north to central states . In fact , they are the smallest native peckerwood in the country . They be given to favor milder climate on the whole but are know to jaunt around . They apply sharp , exclusive calls , and be given to enjoy feeding on seeds in feeder . If you have any woodpecker in your backyard , there is a very good probability it is a Dryobates pubescens . They are just bigger than your common garden sparrow .
Exceptionally small but unabashedly noisy , the pubescent woodpecker is largely black and bloodless with spots , and the male tend to have violent crest . They have vary spots and stripes across their wings and feathers – mean that neither one nor two may ever look the same !
The downy peckerwood lives just about everywhere across the United States , with sightings across state of matter as various as Florida and Alaska ! If the mood is modest enough – and not too cheery – then there ’s every chance you ’ll spot this bird in your yard . There are around 13 million of them across the continent .
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Size:7.1 – 8.7 in ( 18 – 22 centimeter )
This woodpecker is a miscellany of bird that will happily drill hole to drink tasty sap from within , something that ’s very welcoming to other specie . These birds are pretty similar to other sapsuckers in term of behaviour and in terms of face . yellow-bellied - bellied sapsuckers tend to be very unique drillers – you will likely recognise their staggered pecking if they take place upon Ellen Price Wood or metallic element near your curtilage . These birds are known for pecking and make nests extremely high up – over 6,000 feet in the air .
As the name suggests , you will ordinarily be able to blemish a yellow - belly sapsucker for its bright stomach , however , it often has a reddish crownwork and scruff , with stunning black and clean bars and flecks down its organic structure , tail , and backstage .
The Yellow - bellied Sapsucker is the most migratory woodpecker in the earth , breed as far northerly as easterly Arkansas and the northern boreal forest , and wintering as far south as Panama and the Caribbean . Much like other US aboriginal sapsuckers , this shuttle will normally be found in woods spot , though this species will transmigrate from the key plains and low midwest southward towards the west of the Appalachians .
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Dryobates borealis
Size:7.9 – 9.1 in ( 20 – 23 centimetre )
The red - cockaded woodpecker is n’t really all that red to appear at – but we ’ll hail to that . It ’s a rare Picidae in that it wo n’t flock to burnt or dead trees . They prefer prophylactic in numbers and be given to pick up away at living plants and trees . Sadly , these pecker are some of the rarest to find in the US , if not the world . They are a rare treat to spot . This shuttlecock is roughly robin - sized , and will ordinarily make a distinct call – you ’ll be lucky to discover it . They lean to operate off at pine bark in small groups .
belittled to mid - sized , these fuzzy - looking woodpeckers tend to have all - over brown bars on their wings and tails , with striking black and lily-white facial markings . You ’ll unremarkably see them scale true pine Tree .
You will ordinarily only find the violent - cockaded woodpecker in the southeast of the US , and even then , there are only recall to be 15,000 specimens in the wild . preservation and studies are on-going for this jeopardize species .
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
Size:9.4 in ( 24 curium )
progressively common , the red - belly pecker lean to savour constellate to backyard feeders and has a call you might just recognize . They only ever drum during mating or attractive feature , and if you ’ve ever endeavor to differentiate these shuttlecock apart in terms of gender – it ’s almost impossible on coup d’oeil alone . This is a mid - sized bird that does n’t be given to do too much terms to trees , it ’s one of the gentler woodpeckers you ’ll find in the US wilds . They lean to prefer pecking away at hardwood and will flock to woods when they are n’t at the feeder .
The red - bellied woodpecker , of path , has a red breadbasket , but you will principally know it for its red - tinged crown and its bar - coat feathers , as well as a brown - dark front and boldness . Again , it ’s hard to evidence the males and female apart .
These woodpeckers tend to be coarse pile out towards the east and southeastern state , from Texas out to Florida . They do n’t tend to move around too much , particularly as they will steal nesting spots from other boo !
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Size:7.5 – 9.1 in ( 19 – 23 centimetre )
This turgid , boldly - colorise bird is a tremendous sight for many , and while you might not find out it call too often , its rattles and drumming on tree will probably be a coarse strait across its native land . However , it does n’t actually pick at at tree diagram for food for thought – it snatches flying beasts as they flitter past tense . This woodpecker has sadly fall in numbers over the days due to food scarceness . However , when it ca n’t snatch up a bug or two , it merrily feasts on screwball and acorn .
Their name is a giveaway – they have shiny cerise crowns and heads , with white body feather and monochrome wings and tails . You belike wo n’t get word their song too loud .
These acorn - scrounge birds frequent the easterly to primal states , stretch up as far as outer Canada . They tend to savor the fond reaches , however , as they will frequent spots in Florida and down in New Mexico .
Hairy Woodpecker
Dryobates villosus
Size:7.1 – 10.2 in ( 18 – 26 centimeter )
If there is a chance you ’re extend to spot a peckerwood in your backyard somewhere in the states , then it ’s credibly going to be a hairy species ! The Dryobates villosus is extremely common , but it ’s actually fairly shy and bed . They have very simple call but will be happy to drill and bone on just about anything . They are also prime opportunist – they ’ll slip sap from holes drill by other bird ! The hirsute pecker is also known for its mighty pile – it seem pocket-size , but it drills aloud !
The haired pecker naturally has a fairly hirsute appearance , though it ’s also notable for its comparatively long , pointed bill , as well as its discrete black and ashen food colouring . Some species , however , can carry a dark-brown shade . They are broadly speaking whitened to the chest and are speckled to the wing .
Where to originate ? This Picidae does n’t tend to be fussy about mood , though you ’ll commonly see it amongst conifers . There are more than eight million of these birds across the continent , and their numbers are growing – there are no particular states where they are most fertile .
How to Attract Alabama Woodpeckers to Your Yard
require to see more pecker in your backyard ?
As you’re able to see , there are more than a few wondrous woodpecker species to look out for across Alabama . Some may not flock to gardens and backyards in favour of forests and woodland reaches – however , there ’s a chance a rare bird or two may make its way to you .
If you ’re keen to start spotting woodpeckers in your grounds , why not take a spirit at our guide onhow to draw peckerwood ? That ’ll give you the basic principle of what ’s required to attract woodpeckers .
Then , we ’d recommend reading our vendee ’s guidebook onchoosing the best peckerwood feeder . countersink up a peckerwood feeder or two is the good way to guarantee that woodpeckers will impose your cubic yard . While you ’re at it , do check that to record our full guide onwhat to feed peckerwood , too – as getting their diet right will make a lot of difference !
There are a bunch of other ways to appeal pecker such asgetting a bird bathand planting native Tree that woodpeckers love .
All State Woodpeckers
Want to see what pecker species are find oneself in other state ? Here ’s our complete list of peckerwood found in each state :
