![]() They favor large, mature forests that have plenty of rotted and dead wood for foraging.Ĭarpenter ants are the main prey of Pileated Woodpeckers, but they’ll also eat other wood-boring insects in addition to fruits and nuts. Unfortunately, Pileated Woodpeckers are not very common in Washington State, even though they’re found year-round along the northern, eastern, and western borders. Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpeckers in North America, and their distinct, flaming red crests at the tops of their heads make them pretty easy to spot. While most woodpeckers hang out on trees to forage, Northern Flickers are often spotted directly on the ground, using their slightly downcurved bills to dig for ants.Ĥ. Northern Flickers are year-round woodpeckers in Washington State where they occupy forests and woodlands that also offer open grounds for foraging. There are two distinct types of Northern Flickers as well - Northern Flickers in the east have bright yellow patches under their wings, but birds in the west, including Washington State, have red. They’re large woodpeckers in between the size of an American Robin and Crow, with smooth, rounded heads and long, tapered tails. Unlike most species that feature primarily black and white plumages, Northern Flickers are instead brown all over, with lots of patterning on their undersides and wings. Out of all the woodpeckers found in Washington State, Northern Flickers really stand out as far as coloration. Northern Flicker Image: Menke Dave, USFWS | Field guides can point out the specific characteristics to distinguish hard to separate birds, such as the Downy (left) and Hairy (right) Woodpecker.ģ. They are less likely to be found in suburbs and backyards, though they will occasionally take advantage of a feeder, especially those stocked with suet. Since they are larger than Downy Woodpeckers, they rely on larger and taller trees and are generally found in more mature forests and open woodlands. Like the Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpeckers are found year-round in Washington State. Listen for their drumming and look for them perched on tree trunks and on the main limbs of trees. Compared to other smaller sized woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers do a lot of drilling and excavating in order to feed on wood-boring insects and larvae. However, Hairy Woodpeckers are larger and possess a longer bill. Hairy Woodpeckers look nearly identical to Downy Woodpeckers in plumage coloration - they have mostly black and white plumage with the same white stripe running along their backs. However, the bills of Downy Woodpeckers tend to be smaller in proportion than other species.Ģ. Their silhouettes resemble that of a larger woodpecker, with straight backs as they perch on tree trunks and straight, drill-like bills. Males also sport a tiny red patch on the tops of their heads. They have white undersides and black uppers with white checkering and a bold white stripe that runs down the back. It’s small size allows it to forage in places where larger woodpeckers can’t reach, such as tall weed stems and grasses.ĭowny Woodpeckers have predominately black and white colorations very similar to Hairy Woodpeckers. In fact, it’s a regular visitor to backyard gardens, feeders, and even residential parks. It’s also found year-round in Washington State in a wide range of habitats including open woodlands, forests, orchards, groves, and suburban areas. The Downy Woodpecker is a widespread species of woodpecker found year-round across most of the United States and Canada. The first woodpecker on our list is also the smallest. The other species found during breeding season are Lewis’s Woodpeckers and Red-naped Sapsuckers. Year-round species include Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Black-backed Woodpeckers, White-headed Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, and Williamson’s Sapsucker. There’s a large variety of woodpecker species that call Washington State Home, and most of them are found year-round. Species of Woodpeckers of Washington State Keep reading to learn all about the 11 species of woodpeckers in Washington State. Among some of the more common species of woodpeckers, there are also some rare species that can’t be found in most parts of the country. Thanks to it’s unique geography full of coniferous and mixed forests, high elevations, and coastal areas, a diverse selection of woodpeckers - including sapsuckers and flickers- are found here. Washington State is home to a huge population of wildlife and birds. ![]()
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