Delaware, a nature-rich region, is host to a captivating array of woodpecker species. With a grand total of seven unique types, including the striking pileated woodpecker and the vibrant red-headed woodpecker, this state serves as a haven for these intriguing birds. Each species possesses its own set of distinguishing characteristics and can be found thriving in various habitats. While attracting woodpeckers to the yard may require a bit more effort compared to other winged creatures, it proves to be a worthwhile endeavor. By providing a tempting assortment of suet and sunflower seeds, erecting nest boxes, and incorporating native fruit-bearing plants, one can create an inviting haven for these marvelous birds that will surely leave any nature enthusiast feeling inspired and fulfilled.
Pileated Woodpecker
Description
The Pileated Woodpecker is a large and impressive woodpecker species, measuring up to 19 inches in length. It has a black body with striking white stripes on its face and a vibrant red crest. This species also has a pointed bill, which it uses to excavate large holes in trees for foraging and nesting. The Pileated Woodpecker is often referred to as the “woodpecker of the forest” due to its preference for mature forests with ample tree cover.
Habitat
The Pileated Woodpecker is found across North America, from the eastern parts of the United States and Canada to the Pacific Northwest. It inhabits dense forests with a mix of large, mature trees, as it relies on them for food and nesting. These woodpeckers are often associated with old-growth forests, but they can also adapt to suburban areas with suitable habitat.
Behavior
The Pileated Woodpecker is known for its loud and distinctive drumming, which can be heard throughout the forest. This drumming is used to establish territories and attract mates. These woodpeckers feed mainly on insects, particularly wood-boring beetles, ants, and termites. They use their strong bills to chip away at trees and search for their prey. Pileated Woodpeckers are also known to excavate large cavities in dead or decaying trees for nesting.
Conservation Status
The Pileated Woodpecker is considered a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, habitat loss and fragmentation pose a threat to their populations. Conservation efforts focus on preserving and restoring suitable forest habitats to ensure the survival of this iconic woodpecker species.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Description
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a distinctive appearance. As the name suggests, it has a bright red head, neck, and upper breast. The rest of its body is black, with bold white patches on the wings. This species has a sturdy bill, ideal for drilling into bark and wood. Red-headed Woodpeckers are known for their acrobatic flight patterns and can be easily recognized by their striking plumage.
Habitat
Red-headed Woodpeckers can be found in various habitats across North America, including open woodlands, forest edges, and even suburban areas with suitable trees. They prefer areas with a mix of trees that provide both nesting cavities and abundant food sources. This woodpecker species is highly adaptable and can thrive in different environments, as long as they have access to dead trees for nesting and open spaces for hunting.
Behavior
These woodpeckers feed on a diverse diet that includes insects, berries, nuts, and seeds. They are known for their unique caching behavior, where they store food items by wedging them into tree crevices or hiding them under bark for later consumption. Red-headed Woodpeckers are also known for their aggressive nature, often defending their territories vigorously against other birds. They communicate through a variety of calls and drumming sounds.
Conservation Status
The Red-headed Woodpecker is currently listed as a species of conservation concern by many states and organizations. Loss of suitable habitat, including dead trees for nesting, and competition for nesting cavities with other bird species are the primary threats to their populations. Conservation efforts focus on habitat restoration, providing nest boxes, and promoting awareness of the importance of this species in ecosystems.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Description
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a unique appearance. Contrary to its name, the species does not have a prominently red belly. Instead, it has a reddish patch on its lower belly, which is often difficult to see. The main distinguishing feature of this woodpecker is the red cap on its head, along with a black and white striped pattern on its back. The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a slightly curved bill, which it uses to search for insects in tree bark.
Habitat
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are common throughout the eastern United States and can also be found in parts of Central America and the Caribbean. They inhabit various forested areas, including deciduous and mixed forests, swamps, and wooded suburban areas. These woodpeckers are adaptable and can be found in both rural and urban environments, as long as there are suitable trees for feeding and nesting.
Behavior
This species feeds on a wide variety of food, including insects, fruits, nuts, seeds, and even small vertebrates like lizards and tree frogs. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a distinctive foraging technique, where they cling to tree trunks or branches and probe into the bark to find hidden prey. They are also known to store food in crevices for later consumption. These woodpeckers communicate through a variety of vocalizations, including calls and drumming.
Conservation Status
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is not currently considered a species of concern by conservation organizations. Its populations are stable, and the species has demonstrated adaptability in both natural and human-altered habitats. Protecting mature trees and providing nest boxes can help support healthy populations of Red-bellied Woodpeckers in residential areas.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Description
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a small to medium-sized woodpecker known for its unique coloration and feeding habits. It has a black and white striped pattern on its head and back, a yellow belly, and pale yellow wing linings. Unlike other woodpeckers, this species has a long, thin bill that it uses to drill small, evenly spaced holes in tree bark. These holes serve as sap wells, attracting insects for the woodpecker to feed on.
Habitat
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers breed in the boreal forests of North America and can be found in the eastern parts of the United States and southern Canada during the summer months. During winter, they migrate to more southern regions, including parts of the southeastern United States and Central America. They inhabit both coniferous and deciduous forests, as long as there are suitable trees for creating sap wells and nesting cavities.
Behavior
As their name suggests, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers primarily feed on sap and the insects that become trapped in their sap wells. They use their specialized bill to create rows of small holes in tree bark, which they then lick or suck sap from using their brush-like tongue. In addition to sap, they also feed on insects, fruits, and berries. This woodpecker species is known for its drumming behavior, often used to establish territories and attract mates.
Conservation Status
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is classified as a species of least concern globally. However, local populations can be affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. Protecting and managing forests with a mix of tree species and providing dead trees for nesting can help support healthy populations of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.
Downy Woodpecker
Description
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker species in North America, measuring around six inches in length. It closely resembles the larger Hairy Woodpecker but can be distinguished by its smaller size and shorter bill. This woodpecker has a black and white pattern on its wings, back, and head, with a small red patch on its crown. Its black bill is sharp and chisel-like, allowing it to chip away at bark and wood in search of food.
Habitat
The Downy Woodpecker can be found throughout North America, from forests and woodlands to suburban parks and gardens. Its adaptable nature and ability to thrive in various habitats make it a common sight in backyard feeders. These woodpeckers generally prefer areas with a mix of trees that offer both food sources and suitable nesting sites, including dead or decaying trees.
Behavior
Downy Woodpeckers have a varied diet that consists of insects, seeds, berries, and even tree sap. They search for food by pecking at the bark of trees using their bill, prying loose insects and larvae, and extracting them with their tongues. These woodpeckers are agile climbers and can easily cling to branches and tree trunks in any position. They communicate through a series of calls, including a distinctive drumming sound.
Conservation Status
The Downy Woodpecker is not currently considered a species of concern. These woodpeckers are adaptable and can thrive in a variety of habitats, including urban and suburban areas with suitable trees for feeding and nesting. Providing bird feeders and creating habitat features such as dead trees and nest boxes can help attract and support Downy Woodpeckers in residential areas.
Hairy Woodpecker
Description
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker species closely related to the Downy Woodpecker. It has a similar black and white pattern on its wings, back, and head, but it is larger in size. The main distinguishing feature of the Hairy Woodpecker is its longer bill, which is more robust compared to the Downy Woodpecker’s bill. Like other woodpeckers, it uses its bill to drill into bark and wood in search of insects.
Habitat
Hairy Woodpeckers can be found throughout North America, inhabiting a range of forested habitats, including both deciduous and coniferous forests. They are particularly attracted to areas with abundant dead or decaying trees, as these provide ideal nesting and foraging sites. Hairy Woodpeckers can also be spotted in residential areas with suitable habitat, including mature trees and wooded parks.
Behavior
This species feeds on a variety of insects, including ants, beetles, and wood-boring insects. They use their powerful bill to excavate small holes in tree bark, exposing hidden prey. Hairy Woodpeckers also feed on seeds, berries, and nuts. Like other woodpeckers, they communicate using a variety of calls, including drumming, which helps establish territories and attract mates.
Conservation Status
The Hairy Woodpecker is widely distributed and not currently considered a species of concern. However, habitat loss and fragmentation can impact their populations, especially the availability of suitable dead trees for nesting and foraging. Conservation efforts focus on preserving and restoring forest habitats, including leaving standing dead trees when safe to do so, to support healthy populations of Hairy Woodpeckers.
Northern Flicker
Description
The Northern Flicker, also known as the Yellow-shafted Flicker, is a large woodpecker species with distinctive markings. It has a brownish body with black bars on its back and wings and a black crescent on its chest. The undersides of its wings and tail feathers are bright yellow, visible during flight. This species also has a noticeable white rump patch. Northern Flickers have a unique appearance among woodpeckers due to their ability to forage for ants on the ground.
Habitat
Northern Flickers are found across North America, from coast to coast. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, grasslands, and even urban areas with suitable trees for nesting and feeding. These woodpeckers are often associated with open areas such as fields and meadows where they can find their preferred food source of ants and beetles.
Behavior
Unlike other woodpecker species, Northern Flickers frequently forage on the ground in search of ants, beetles, and other insects. They can often be seen using their long, slightly curved bill to probe into the soil or tree trunks in search of prey. Northern Flickers also feed on fruits and berries when available. They communicate through a variety of calls and drumming, especially during the breeding season.
Conservation Status
The Northern Flicker is a common and widespread species, and its populations are currently stable. However, habitat loss and degradation can impact their numbers, especially in urban and suburban areas where suitable trees for nesting and feeding are removed. Conservation efforts focus on preserving open areas and maintaining dead trees for nesting to ensure healthy populations of Northern Flickers.
Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Yard
Offering Preferred Foods
Woodpeckers can be attracted to your yard by providing them with their preferred foods. These include suet, a high-energy food made from animal fat, and sunflower seeds. Suet can be offered in specialized feeders or simply attached to a tree trunk. Sunflower seeds can be provided in feeders designed to accommodate woodpeckers, with perches and a platform to hold the seeds.
Providing Dead Trees
Woodpeckers rely on dead or decaying trees for nesting and foraging. By leaving dead trees in your yard, you can create valuable habitat for woodpeckers. Dead trees provide additional nesting sites and attract insects, which woodpeckers feed on. If safety permits, consider leaving dead trees standing or retaining dead branches for the benefit of woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds.
Installing Nest Boxes
If suitable natural cavities are scarce in your area, consider installing nest boxes designed specifically for woodpeckers. These boxes should mimic natural cavities, with appropriate dimensions and entrance hole sizes to accommodate different woodpecker species. Make sure to place the boxes at an appropriate height and in a suitable habitat, such as near trees or vegetation that woodpeckers prefer.
Planting Native Fruit-Bearing Plants and Trees
Another way to attract woodpeckers to your yard is by planting native fruit-bearing plants and trees. Woodpeckers are known to feed on berries and fruits, and providing a diverse range of native plant species can attract them. Some examples of fruit-bearing plants and trees that woodpeckers enjoy include serviceberries, dogwoods, and elderberries.
Providing a Water Source
Woodpeckers, like all birds, require a source of water for drinking and bathing. Providing a bird bath or shallow container of water in your yard can attract woodpeckers and other bird species. Make sure to clean and refill the water regularly to prevent the spread of diseases. Adding rocks or stones to the water source can provide perches for woodpeckers to drink and bathe comfortably.
Tips for Spotting Woodpeckers
Use Binoculars
Woodpeckers can be elusive and may perch high up in trees, making them difficult to spot with the naked eye. Using binoculars can help you get a closer look at woodpeckers and observe their distinct markings and behavior. Look for movement in the trees and listen for their calls to locate them more easily.
Listen for Their Distinctive Calls
Each woodpecker species has its own unique call that can help you identify their presence. Familiarize yourself with the calls of the woodpecker species in your area by listening to recordings or utilizing bird identification apps. Once you become familiar with their calls, you can easily recognize when woodpeckers are nearby.
Look for Signs of Woodpecker Activity
Woodpeckers leave behind telltale signs of their presence, even if they are not immediately visible. Look for holes or marks on tree trunks, branches, or utility poles, which are signs of woodpecker feeding or nest excavation. Fresh wood chips and bark peels at the base of trees can also indicate recent woodpecker activity.
Study Their Habitat Preferences
Understanding the habitat preferences of different woodpecker species can increase your chances of spotting them. Research the specific woodpecker species found in your region and learn about their preferred habitats. Look for woodpeckers in areas with suitable trees, such as forests, woodlands, parks, and even suburban gardens.
Conclusion
Woodpeckers are fascinating birds that add a unique touch to any environment they inhabit. Delaware is home to several woodpecker species, each with its own distinct characteristics and habitat preferences. By understanding the descriptions, habitats, behaviors, and conservation status of these woodpeckers, individuals can appreciate and support the conservation efforts for these beautiful birds. By following the tips for attracting woodpeckers to your yard and improving your chances of spotting them, you can enhance your bird-watching experiences and contribute to the preservation of these remarkable species.