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Woodpeckers are one of the most fascinating avians you’re able to find in your backyard – and did you know that there are11 species in Oklahoma ?
There ’s a good probability that if you have more than one woodpecker visiting you , you may actually be playing legion to a few unlike species !
Legend for the following woodpecker migration and range maps
Although the inclination below contains all the common woodpecker found in Oklahoma , it ’s potential to find a aimless specie of pecker that ’s not aboriginal to this particular land . If you do see a vagrant specie , it should be debate an passing rarefied sighting !
The watch over legend can be used for each peckerwood species map to specify what time of year you’re able to see each woodpecker in your expanse .
11 peckerwood specie are found in Oklahoma , including the Lewis ’s Woodpecker , Pileated Woodpecker , Red - Bellied Woodpecker , Golden - Fronted Woodpecker , Ladder - plump for Woodpecker , Yellow - Bellied Sapsucker , Downy Woodpecker , Northern Flicker , Hairy Woodpecker , Red - Cockaded Woodpecker , and the Red - Headed Woodpecker . Several of these woodpecker coinage are permanent residents , while others are much rare and can be only spot seasonally .
Legend for the following woodpecker migration and range maps
The 11 Woodpecker Species in Oklahoma
Lewis’s Woodpecker
genus Melanerpes lewis
rules of order : Piciformes
Family : family Picidae
Size:10.2 – 11.0 in ( 26 – 28 cm )
The Lewis ’s Woodpecker is fairly uncommon , but also moderately hard to miss when you do spot one ! This is a rummy woodpecker in that it does n’t tend to peck into Sir Henry Joseph Wood for grubs – rather , it ’s more fond to consuming the odd flying critter . Unfortunately , this is another peckerwood whose numbers are fairly rarified , as its home ground is shrinking . The Lewis ’s Woodpecker is a lilliputian morsel of a nomad in its nature , in that it will be happy to search for solid food in various territories across the year . However , you ’ll ordinarily find it in burn forests and pineland .
Boasting gorgeous cerise and black features , Lewis ’s woodpecker tends to be rosy around the face and beak , and to the crest and front plumage . You ’ll incur it has a magnificent , wholesale , black plumage to the annex and prat . You in all probability wo n’t hear it pecking or drilling .
Lewis ’s peckerwood , while rare , tends to be discern to the SW , as far out east as Oklahoma , and ordinarily takes up refuge in forests . However , you ’ll also bump it in some muscae volitantes of California – a rare spot that ’s very rewarding .
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Size:15.8 – 19.3 in ( 40 – 49 curium )
Large and loud , this woodpecker is jolly easy to note – particularly as their conjugation cry are so clear-cut ! Rather tragically , this strapping Picidae is sometimes mistaken for a pecker that ’s thought to now be extinct – the ivory - billed peckerwood , which has n’t been seen in the US for many eld . The pileated pecker , almost crowlike in stature , run to feast on pismire and minibeasts find deep in decaying trees . This coinage ’ cakehole - devising can avail give protection to other animate being – pretend it a welcome sight .
Beyond their loud cry and wood rapping , the pileated woodpecker has a scandalous cherry peak , with homochromatic bodies and prospicient , thin beaks . The male person of the metal money is soft to espy as it has a facial grading rather like a mustache .
The pileated woodpecker does n’t tend to be too fickle about where it likes to live . However , you ’ll mainly retrieve it live out in easterly state , though as far northerly as Nova Scotia ! If you ’re a California native , it ’s also not unheard of to spot this common Picidae .
Red-bellied Woodpecker
genus Melanerpes carolinus
Size:9.4 in ( 24 cm )
Increasingly unwashed , the red - bellied woodpecker tends to enjoy flocking to backyard birdfeeder and has a call you might just recognize . They only ever drum during sexual union or attraction , and if you ’ve ever attempt to recount these birds aside in terms of gender – it ’s almost inconceivable on coup d’oeil alone . This is a mid - sized bird that does n’t tend to do too much damage to tree diagram , it ’s one of the docile woodpeckers you ’ll get hold in the US wilds . They run to choose pecking aside at hardwoods and will flock to forests when they are n’t at the feeder .
The reddened - bellied pecker , of course of instruction , has a ruddy stomach , but you will in the main love it for its reddish - tinged crown and its measure - coated feather , as well as a brownish - slanted front and face . Again , it ’s hard to tell the males and females apart .
These woodpeckers be given to be common sights out towards the east and southeasterly states , from Texas out to Florida . They do n’t incline to move around too much , particularly as they will steal nesting spots from other birds !
Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
Melanerpes aurifrons
Size:8.7 – 10.2 in ( 22 – 26 cm )
This southerly Picidae is a queer creature that borrow its looks from some flickers but has behaviors all of its own . They are , sadly , in decline – but you have a good hazard of spotting them in the drier forests of North America . They lean to live out in overt wooded area , and this species is more of a fan of yield and nut case than it is insects . They also lean to live to a ripe age – the sure-enough on platter was almost 6 years old when released into the natural state .
As its name suggests , the Golden - face pecker has a clean bright feather , often with a golden recede pennant , and possible yellow markings towards its beak . You ’ll also note the speckled wing and tail , patterns of which you will also spot in spark , too .
Golden - fronted woodpeckers be given to choose flocking towards the southwest , occasionally bulge up in the backyards of Texas . It ’s also migrate towards Mexico , clearly preferring the more arid temperatures and climates the continent has to offer .
Ladder-Backed Woodpecker
Dryobates scalaris
Size:6.3 – 7.1 in ( 16 – 18 centimetre )
little but plucky , this is a monochrome wench that you will normally find dart and drilling around the southern states . This bird screw the desiccant , lovesome mood , and be given to draw close deep into some of the less moist forests across these territories . Thankfully , they have a stable universe ! These woodpeckers are branch foragers , choosing to peck around keenly for dirt ball . They ordinarily hide themselves during forage – meaning they are not always gentle to spy . That say , they do n’t be given to drop much time in the air , either .
for the most part black and whitened to the backs and wing , these woodpeckers often feature red crowns embroil back , with black markings around their faces and nozzle . They will often have chocolate-brown touch on their battlefront , too .
The ladder - plump for pecker tends to be a usual plenty across the southerly and southwest states , and they can be seen further south in Central America . This tend to be a non - migratory pecker – it is often happy to stay local .
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Size:7.1 – 8.7 in ( 18 – 22 cm )
This peckerwood is a kind of bird that will happily practise holes to fuddle tasty sap from within , something that ’s very welcoming to other species . These birds are reasonably alike to other sapsuckers in terms of behavior and in terms of look . xanthous - bellied sapsuckers tend to be very unique drillers – you will likely recognize their staggered pecking if they happen upon wood or metal near your yard . These birds are known for pick and making nest extremely in high spirits up – over 6,000 foot in the air .
As the name suggests , you will normally be capable to spot a yellow - bellied sapsucker for its hopeful breadbasket , however , it often has a reddish crown and nape , with stunning black and white bars and flecks down its body , tail , and wings .
The Yellow - belly Sapsucker is the most migratory pecker in the world , breeding as far north as eastern Arkansas and the northern boreal woods , and wintering as far to the south as Panama and the Caribbean . Much like other US aboriginal sapsuckers , this snort will commonly be found in forest spot , though this species will migrate from the central plains and lower midwest south towards the west of the Appalachians .
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
Size:5.5 – 6.7 in ( 14 – 17 curium )
Truly tiny , the cute downy woodpecker is a Picidae that ’s common across the due north to cardinal states . In fact , they are the smallest aboriginal woodpeckers in the land . They run to choose milder climates on the whole but are known to travel around . They practice sharp , single calls , and lean to love feeding on seed in feeders . If you have any woodpeckers in your backyard , there is a very upright fortune it is a Dryobates pubescens . They are just bigger than your vulgar garden sparrow .
Exceptionally small but unabashedly noisy , the puberulent peckerwood is for the most part black and white with bit , and the males tend to have ruby-red crowns . They have varying blot and grade insignia across their wings and feather – meaning that neither one nor two may ever count the same !
The downy woodpecker live just about everywhere across the United States , with sightings across res publica as diverse as Florida and Alaska ! If the clime is mild enough – and not too sunny – then there ’s every chance you ’ll spot this bird in your railyard . There are around 13 million of them across the continent .
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Size:11.0 – 12.2 in ( 28 – 31 curium )
This Picidae is experience by many , many different names – and you may well have seen it referred to as the Yellow or Red - shafted Flicker . It ’s a fairly common wench and is also one of the declamatory pecker living across the states . Unlike most peckers , however , they run to feast mainly on solid ground insects – ants , in finicky ! This Flicker will choose to hop around to use up , but may even choose to locate itself on branch occasionally when it project a yield treat or two .
The Northern Flicker has plume colouring material that can vary ( hence its many names ) , but you could normally spot these snort thanks to their flecked tail and wings . They often have pitch-black marking around their faces and crests , and you ’ll be able-bodied to recite them apart from other Picidae on sheer sizing alone .
Northern Flickers tend to live out east but can be feel richly up in the northwestern compass of Alaska , and even down towards the west coast – that applies to the yellow - jockey smorgasbord , in any casing ! flicker of this genus tend to be fairly common across the US , with almost ten million specimens estimated at present in North America .
Hairy Woodpecker
Dryobates villosus
Size:7.1 – 10.2 in ( 18 – 26 atomic number 96 )
If there is a fortune you ’re going to spot a woodpecker in your backyard somewhere in the states , then it ’s probably going to be a hirsute species ! The Dryobates villosus is passing common , but it ’s actually reasonably shy and retiring . They have very simple call but will be felicitous to drill and grind away on just about anything . They are also select opportunists – they ’ll steal sap from holes drill by other birds ! The haired woodpecker is also have it away for its mighty peck – it await lowly , but it drill loudly !
The hirsute woodpecker course has a reasonably hairy appearance , though it ’s also noted for its comparatively long , pointed banker’s bill , as well as its distinct inglorious and blank coloring . Some coinage , however , can have a bun in the oven a brownish shade . They are generally white-hot to the dresser and are speckled to the wing .
Where to begin ? This Picidae does n’t tend to be crabby about climate , though you ’ll unremarkably see it amongst conifers . There are more than eight million of these birds across the continent , and their numbers pool are growing – there are no particular states where they are most fertile .
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Dryobates borealis
Size:7.9 – 9.1 in ( 20 – 23 centimeter )
The reddened - cockaded pecker is n’t actually all that red to look at – but we ’ll follow to that . It ’s a uncommon Picidae in that it wo n’t cluster to burn down or dead Tree . They prefer rubber in numbers and lean to peck away at living plants and trees . Sadly , these woodpeckers are some of the rarest to obtain in the US , if not the public . They are a rare treat to spot . This bird is rough Turdus migratorius - sized , and will normally make a distinct call – you ’ll be prosperous to find out it . They tend to work away at pine bark in little groups .
Small to mid - sized , these fuzzy - await woodpecker tend to have all - over dark-brown bars on their wings and tail , with striking calamitous and blank facial markings . You ’ll usually see them scaling pine tree trees .
You will normally only find the red - cockaded woodpecker in the southeast of the US , and even then , there are only thought to be 15,000 specimen in the wild . Conservation and studies are on-going for this menace mintage .
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Size:7.5 – 9.1 in ( 19 – 23 cm )
This big , boldly - colored bird is a wonderful sight for many , and while you might not discover it call too often , its rale and drumming on trees will likely be a vulgar sound across its native states . However , it does n’t actually peck at trees for food – it snatch flying beasts as they quiver past times . This woodpecker has sadly fallen in issue over the year due to food scarcity . However , when it ca n’t snatch a hemipteran or two , it gayly banquet on nuts and acorn .
Their name is a giveaway – they have bright ruddy crowns and head , with white-hot dead body feathers and monochrome annex and tail . You probably wo n’t get a line their call too loudly .
These acorn - foraging bird buy at the easterly to central states , stretching up as far as outer Canada . They tend to enjoy the strong reaches , however , as they will frequent daub in Florida and down in New Mexico .
How to Attract Oklahoma Woodpeckers to Your Yard
need to see more peckerwood in your backyard ?
As you’re able to see , there are more than a few grand woodpecker species to seem out for across Oklahoma . Some may not clump to gardens and backyards in party favour of forests and timberland reaches – however , there ’s a fortune a rare bird or two may make its elbow room to you .
If you ’re keen to start tell apart woodpeckers in your grounds , why not take a look at our guide onhow to pull in pecker ? That ’ll give you the basics of what ’s required to attract woodpeckers .
Then , we ’d commend read our emptor ’s pathfinder onchoosing the good pecker feeder . define up a woodpecker birdfeeder or two is the best manner to guarantee that woodpeckers will visit your 1000 . While you ’re at it , do check that to register our full guide onwhat to feed woodpeckers , too – as getting their diet right will make a stack of divergence !
There are a bunch of other ways to attract woodpeckers such asgetting a boo bathand planting native trees that woodpeckers bed .
All State Woodpeckers
Want to see what woodpecker species are found in other states ? Here ’s our thoroughgoing list of peckerwood observe in each state :
