Woodpeckers are one of the most exciting and diverse species of birds to observe in North America. Woodpeckers can be found in nearly every state, and they play an essential role in the ecology of our forests and are fun to watch as they forage for food or build their nests.
In Florida, there are five woodpecker species that you can commonly see and three that are rarely observed. One of these species is quite possibly extinct!
What are The most common woodpeckers in Florida?
The most common woodpeckers in Florida include the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and the Red-headed Woodpecker. Less common Woodpeckers in Florida include the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker and the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
This article will discuss the seven different Woodpecker species found in Florida as well as the one possibly extinct species. We will also provide information on identifying the Woodpeckers in your areas, such as their size, calls, plumage, and feeding behavior.
We have organized this list from the most likely to be seen to the least likely to be seen.
Florida Woodpeckers
According to the latest data from ebird, there are five commonly observed species of Woodpeckers in Florida, two less observed species and one that is quite possibly extinct and less likely to be seen. This data has been collected from over 62,000 dedicated bird watchers throughout Florida.
Here are some quick facts:
- The Red-bellied Woodpecker is the most common Woodpecker in Florida
- The Hairy Woodpecker is the least common Woodpecker in Florida
- The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest Woodpecker in Florida
- The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest Woodpecker in Florida
- The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is the rarest and possibly extinct woodpecker in Florida
- The Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker are common backyard birds of Florida and the species most likely to visit your bird feeders.
8 Types Of Woodpeckers In Florida
1. Red-bellied Woodpecker
The red-bellied woodpecker is a mid-sized woodpecker found in the eastern United States. They are non-migratory and can be seen in Florida all year round.
These birds have black with white stripes running down their backs and wings. The males have red running from their bill to the back of their heads, while the females only have red on the back of their heads.
Both males and females are white below, and the belly of these birds is typically a pale pink or salmon color.
- Length: 23-25cm (9 to 10 inches)
- Weight: 56-91g (2 to 3 oz)
- Wingspan: 33-42cm (13 to 17 inches)
- Size: Larger than a Robin but smaller than a Crow
The red-bellied woodpecker is also a very vocal bird, and its calls consist of a shrill, rolling “kwirr” sound. They also have a coughing “cha cha cha” call used to mark their territory or attract a mate.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers rarely drill into trees to find their food but instead forage for food from trees, the ground, and the air.
Red-bellied woodpeckers primarily eat insects but will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts. They will also eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from bird feeders.
The red-bellied woodpecker is a cavity nester, so they will drill a hole in a tree to make their nest. Both the male and female will take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 4-5 eggs per clutch and incubate their eggs for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another three weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
2. Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker is the smallest member of the woodpecker family in North America. They are found in wooded areas throughout North America and are year-round residents of Florida.
They are primarily black with white stripes running down their backs and white spotted wings. The males have a red patch on the back of their heads, while the females have a white patch.
- Length: 14-17cm (5.5 to 7 inches)
- Weight: 21-28g (0.5 to 1 oz)
- Wingspan: 25-30cm (10 to 12 inches)
- Size: Smaller than a Robin but larger than a sparrow
Their bills are short, straight, and chisel-like, which they use to drill into trees to find insects to eat.
The downy woodpecker is a very vocal bird and will often be heard before they are seen. Their calls consist of a sharp “pik” sound followed by a softer “pik”. They also have a drumming call used to mark their territory or attract a mate.
These birds are most active during the day and can be seen crawling up tree trunks, hopping from branch to branch, or hanging upside down from branches while foraging for food.
Downy woodpeckers primarily eat insects, but they will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts. They are also frequent visitors to bird feeders that offer suet, sunflower seeds or peanuts.
The downy woodpecker is a cavity nester, which means they will drill a hole in a tree to make their nest. Both the male and female will take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 3-6 white eggs per clutch. They incubate their eggs for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another three weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
3. Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker found in North America and is a year-round resident of Florida.
They are primarily black all over with white stripes running down their necks and wings and have a red crest on their heads. The males also have a red forecrown and red whisker near their bills, while the females have a black forecrown and black whisker.
- Length: 40-49cm (about 16 to 20 inches)
- Weight: 250-350g (8.8 to 12 oz)
- Wingspan: 66-75cm (29 to 30 inches)
- Size: Large; about the size of a crow
The Pileated woodpecker has a loud, echoing “kuk” sound similar to laughter. Both males and females drum on trees to mark their territories, attract mates, or warn off other Pileated woodpeckers.
They are powerful foragers that use their long bills to chisel away at tree bark to find their favorite food – insects.
Their chiseling leaves extensive excavations in trees that provide shelter for other smaller birds and mammals.
Pileated woodpeckers also eat fruits, berries, and nuts. They will also eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from bird feeders.
Like other woodpeckers, the Pileated woodpecker is a cavity nester, and the male and female take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 3-5 eggs per clutch and incubate their eggs for about three weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another four weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
4. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker found across North America. They can be seen in Florida during the colder non-breeding months.
They are primarily black and white with a striped face, white wing patches, and yellowish underparts. Males have a red forecrown and red throat, and females have a red forecrown and white throat.
- Length: 18-22cm (7 to 8.5 inches)
- Weight: 43-55g (1.5 to 1.9 oz)
- Wingspan: 34-40cm (13 to 16 inches)
- Size: About the size of a Robin
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has a squeal-like call that sounds like “weeah” and a cat like “meeow” call. They also make a drumming sound on trees or metal objects to warn other birds away from their territories, but it is slower and less regular than other woodpeckers.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are unique among woodpeckers in that they drink the sap of trees. They make small holes in the bark of trees and return to these holes to feed on the sap, and the insects attracted to it.
They also eat flying insects, fruits, and seeds. In the winter, they will also eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from bird feeders.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a cavity nester. The male and female take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 3-7 eggs per clutch and incubate them for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another three weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own. Before the fledglings leave the nest, their parents teach them the sapsucking technique.
5. Red-headed Woodpecker
The red-headed woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found across North America and is a year-round resident of Florida.
They are all black with a white chest and belly, white patches on their wings, and a red head, neck, and throat.
Males and females look alike, but juveniles have brownish heads without a red hue.
- Length: 19-23cm (7.5 to 9 inches)
- Weight: 56-91g (2 to 3.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 42cm (16.5 inches)
- Size: Larger than a Robin but smaller than Crow
The Red-headed woodpecker has a shrill “tchur” call, similar to that of a Red-bellied Woodpecker but with a higher pitch. They also drum on trees or metal objects to warn off other birds.
Red-headed woodpeckers are omnivores and are adept at catching flying insects such as moths and grasshoppers while in flight. They will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts in the fall and winter. They will also eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from bird feeders.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the few woodpeckers that store food in crevices for later feeding.
The red-headed woodpecker is a cavity nester, and the male and female take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 4-7 eggs per clutch and incubate their eggs for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another three weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
6. Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a small woodpecker found in the southeastern United States. They can be seen in Florida all year round.
They are primarily black and white with a white cheek patch and visible black and white bars on the backs. Males have a small red streak (“Cockade”) at the top of their white cheek patches.
- Length: 20-23cm (7.9 to 9.1 inches)
- Weight: 42-52g (1.5 to 1.8 oz)
- Wingspan: 36cm (about 14 inches)
- Size: About the size of a Robin
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker uses a high-pitched “tsick or sklit” call which sounds raspy when it has been disturbed, and also has a rough “sripp or churt” call heard when nesting.
Red-cockaded woodpeckers primarily eat insects such as ants, cockroaches, termites, and beetles but will also eat wild fruit and seeds. Very rarely seen at bird feeders but may eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts if given a chance.
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a cavity nester. The male and female take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers also drill extra holes around their nest cavity to protect their nests from climbing snakes. The extra holes cause the tree to leak sap, making it difficult for the snakes to reach the nest.
Females will lay between 3-4 eggs per clutch and incubate them for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another four weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
7. Hairy Woodpecker
The hairy woodpecker is a mid-sized woodpecker found in the eastern United States. They are non-migratory and can be seen in Florida all year round.
These birds have black with white stripes running down their backs and wings and white underparts. The males have red on the back of their heads, while the females have no red.
They appear similar to Downy Woodpeckers, except they are larger and have longer bills.
- Length: 18-26cm (7 to 10 inches)
- Weight: 40-95g (1.4 to 4 oz)
- Wingspan: 33-41cm (13 to 16 inches)
- Size: About the size of a Robin
The hairy woodpecker has a sharp “peek” sound similar but lower pitched to a Downy Woodpecker call. They also have a drumming call to mark or defend their territory, attract a mate, or respond to an intruder.
They are active foragers probing tree trunks and limbs, scaling off the bark, and drilling into the wood for their preferred food.
Hairy woodpeckers primarily eat insects but will also eat fruits, berries, and nuts. They will also eat suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts from bird feeders.
The hairy woodpecker is a cavity nester, so they will drill a hole in a tree to make their nest. Both the male and female take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
Females will lay between 3-6 eggs per clutch and incubate their eggs for about two weeks before the chicks hatch.
After hatching, it takes roughly another four weeks for the chicks to fledge or grow their adult feathers and be able to fly on their own.
8. Ivory-billed Woodpecker
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is/was the largest woodpecker in North America. It is found in forests in the southeastern United States and is thought to be endangered or possibly extinct.
Ivory-billed woodpeckers are primarily black, with two white stripes running down the sides of the neck and back. Males and females have a large, creamy white (Ivory) bill and a large crest. Males have a red crest, and females have a black crest.
- Length: 46-51cm (18 to 20 inches)
- Weight: 450-570g (16 to 20oz)
- Wingspan: 76-80cm (30 to 31.5 inches)
- Size: A little larger than a crow
Ivory-billed woodpeckers primarily eat insects, with large beetle larvae being its primary food source.
The ivory-billed woodpecker is believed to be a cavity nester with nesting behavior similar to the Pileated Woodpecker. Both the male and female will take turns drilling the hole and incubating the eggs.
It is thought that the females would lay between 1-5 white eggs per clutch, and both parents would incubate their eggs for about three weeks before the chicks hatch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of woodpeckers live in Florida?
There are seven observed species of woodpeckers in Florida. The most common include the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The least common woodpeckers in Florida include the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is the rarest and is the least likely species to be observed in Florida.
What Is The Largest Woodpecker In Florida?
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Florida.
What Is The Smallest Woodpecker In Florida?
The Downy Woodpecker is the Smallest woodpecker in Florida.
Keep an eye out for the Woodpeckers of Florida
Woodpeckers are an impressive and essential part of our ecosystem. They play a vital role in the health of our forests and provide us with enjoyment as we watch them go about their daily activities.
In Florida, there are five woodpecker species that you can commonly see, two less commonly seen and one rare, possibly extinct woodpecker that you might never get to see.
If you have questions about identifying more species of birds in Florida or finding out which ones live near you, let us know! We would love to help identify new bird species for our readers.
With this information, we hope you can enjoy observing these exciting birds in your area!
