Montana is a haven for woodpeckers, hosting a diverse range of ten species that captivate both locals and visitors alike. From the beloved and eye-catching Red-headed Woodpecker with its vibrant red head and unique feeding methods, to the smallest but ever-present Downy Woodpecker, Montana’s woodpecker population never fails to impress. Home to the larger Hairy Woodpecker and the ground-digging Northern Flicker, Montana offers a rich variety of woodpeckers for enthusiasts to explore. The magnificent Pileated Woodpecker, with its striking red crests, stands as the largest woodpecker in the state. Additionally, the western third of Montana is home to the less common American Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and Red-naped Sapsucker. To attract these fascinating birds to your yard, consider providing their preferred food, leaving dead trees for foraging, and putting up nest boxes.
Montana’s Woodpecker Species
Montana is home to 10 species of woodpeckers, each with its own unique characteristics and habitats. These woodpeckers include the Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and Red-naped Sapsucker.
The Downy Woodpecker
Description
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America and can be found year-round in Montana. It is about 6-7 inches in length with a wingspan of 9-12 inches. The male Downy Woodpecker has a small patch of red on the back of its head, while the female does not. Both have black wings with white spots, a white belly, and a black and white striped pattern on their backs.
Habitat and Range
Downy Woodpeckers can be found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, parks, and even urban areas. They are adaptable and can be found throughout Montana.
Behavior and Diet
These woodpeckers are often seen hopping along tree trunks or hanging from branches, using their stiff tail feathers for balance. They have a distinct drumming sound that they create by pecking on trees. Their diet consists primarily of insects and their larvae found in trees, as well as berries and seeds.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Downy Woodpeckers to your yard, it’s important to offer food they like. This can include suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds. Providing a bird feeder with these food options will encourage them to visit. Additionally, leaving dead trees or tree branches in your yard will provide them with foraging opportunities.
The Hairy Woodpecker
Description
The Hairy Woodpecker is slightly larger than the Downy Woodpecker, measuring around 7-10 inches in length with a wingspan of 13-16 inches. It has a similar appearance to the Downy Woodpecker, with black wings adorned with white spots, a white belly, and a black and white striped pattern on its back.
Habitat and Range
Hairy Woodpeckers can be found in various forested habitats across Montana. They prefer mature forests but can also be found in parks and wooded areas.
Behavior and Diet
Like the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker is known for its drumming sound created by pecking on trees. They have a strong bill that allows them to dig into tree bark in search of insects and their larvae. Their diet also consists of seeds and berries.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Hairy Woodpeckers to your yard, providing a bird feeder with suet, peanuts, and sunflower seeds is recommended. They are also attracted to dead trees for foraging, so leaving dead trees or tree snags in your yard can serve as a natural food source and encourage them to visit.
The Northern Flicker
Description
The Northern Flicker is a large woodpecker species, measuring approximately 12-14 inches in length with a wingspan of 17-21 inches. They have a distinctive brown coloration with black bars on their back and belly. The undersides of their wings are a bright orange or yellow, which is visible during flight.
Habitat and Range
Northern Flickers can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, open fields, and urban areas. They are common throughout Montana.
Behavior and Diet
Unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers often forage on the ground, digging for ants and other insects. They have a unique behavior known as “anting,” where they rub ants on their feathers to repel parasites. Their diet also includes beetles, ants, berries, and seeds.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Northern Flickers to your yard, offering mealworms, suet, and a variety of seeds can help. They are also attracted to open areas with dead trees or snags, which provide foraging opportunities. Creating a brush pile in your yard can mimic the natural habitat they prefer.
The Pileated Woodpecker
Description
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species in Montana, measuring around 16-19 inches in length with a wingspan of 26-30 inches. They have a striking appearance, with a black body, white stripes on their face, and a distinctive red crest on their head.
Habitat and Range
Pileated Woodpeckers prefer mature forests with large trees, but they can also be found in wooded areas, parks, and occasionally in suburban neighborhoods. They are widely distributed across Montana.
Behavior and Diet
These woodpeckers are known for their loud, resonating drumming sounds that can be heard throughout the forest. They create rectangular or oval-shaped holes in trees when foraging for insects and their larvae. Their diet also includes fruits, nuts, and berries.
Tips for Attracting
Attracting Pileated Woodpeckers to your yard can be a bit more challenging due to their preference for large, forested areas. Providing suet, shelled peanuts, and a variety of fruits can help. Leaving dead trees or snags in your yard can also attract them, as they provide nesting sites and food sources.
The Red-headed Woodpecker
Description
The Red-headed Woodpecker is particularly beloved in Montana for its striking red head and unique food-catching methods. It measures around 7-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 16-17 inches. It has a black body with a bright red head and neck, along with white patches on its wings.
Habitat and Range
These woodpeckers can be found in various habitats including open woodlands, riverbanks, parks, and orchards. They are widely distributed throughout Montana.
Behavior and Diet
Red-headed Woodpeckers are well-known for their acrobatic feeding behaviors. They can catch insects on the wing, fly out to grab nuts or fruits, and even store food in cracks and crevices for later consumption. Their diet consists of insects, nuts, acorns, and berries.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Red-headed Woodpeckers to your yard, offering a variety of food options is important. This can include peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. Providing nest boxes can also encourage them to stay and potentially breed in your yard.
The American Three-toed Woodpecker
Description
The American Three-toed Woodpecker measures around 7.5-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 14-16 inches. It has a black body with white stripes on its back, and a yellow patch on its forehead. As the name suggests, these woodpeckers have three toes instead of the usual four found in most woodpecker species.
Habitat and Range
The American Three-toed Woodpecker can be found in coniferous forests in the western third of Montana. They prefer mature forests with dead or dying trees.
Behavior and Diet
These woodpeckers are known for their distinctive habit of peeling away bark from trees in search of insects, particularly wood-boring beetles. They also feed on ants, spiders, and their larvae. They can often be seen scaling tree trunks in search of food.
Tips for Attracting
Attracting American Three-toed Woodpeckers can be a bit more challenging due to their preference for specific habitats. Leaving dead or dying trees in your yard is essential, as this provides a valuable food source. You can also offer suet and a variety of seeds in a bird feeder to attract them.
The Black-backed Woodpecker
Description
The Black-backed Woodpecker is similar in size to the American Three-toed Woodpecker, measuring around 8-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 15-16 inches. It has a black body with white stripes on its back and a distinct yellow patch on its forehead. As its name suggests, it also has a black back.
Habitat and Range
Black-backed Woodpeckers can be found in coniferous forests, especially those with burnt or recently dead trees. They are primarily found in the western third of Montana.
Behavior and Diet
These woodpeckers are highly adapted to foraging on recently burned or dead trees. They have the ability to detect insects under the bark of these trees and extract them with their strong bills. Their diet primarily consists of wood-boring beetles, larvae, and ants.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Black-backed Woodpeckers to your yard, it’s important to mimic their preferred habitat. Leaving dead trees or snags in your yard will provide a valuable food source and potential nesting sites. Offering suet and a variety of seeds can also supplement their diet.
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Description
The Williamson’s Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker, measuring approximately 8-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 16-18 inches. It has a black and white striped head, a black back, and a white belly. Males have a red chin and throat, while females have a white chin and throat.
Habitat and Range
These woodpeckers can be found in dry coniferous forests and mountainous regions of Montana. They are most commonly found in the western part of the state.
Behavior and Diet
Williamson’s Sapsuckers have a unique feeding behavior where they drill holes in trees to create sap wells. They then feed on the sap and the insects that are attracted to it. Their diet also includes ants, caterpillars, and fruits.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Williamson’s Sapsuckers to your yard, providing dead trees or snags for foraging is important. They are also attracted to sap, so creating sap wells by drilling small holes in trees can encourage them to visit. Offering a variety of fruits and insects can supplement their diet.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Description
Lewis’s Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker species, measuring around 10-11 inches in length with a wingspan of 17-19 inches. It has a unique appearance with a dark greenish-black body and a pinkish-red belly. Its head is gray with a red face patch.
Habitat and Range
These woodpeckers can be found in open pine or mixed coniferous forests, particularly in burned or recently disturbed areas. They are found in the western part of Montana.
Behavior and Diet
Lewis’s Woodpeckers have a distinct flight pattern, with slow, buoyant wingbeats. They are also known for catching insects on the wing, similar to flycatchers. Their diet consists of flying insects, ants, beetles, and berries.
Tips for Attracting
Attracting Lewis’s Woodpeckers to your yard can be challenging due to their preference for specific habitats. Providing dead trees or snags is important, as they provide food sources and nesting sites. Offering suet, fruits, and a variety of insects can also attract them.
Red-naped Sapsucker
Description
The Red-naped Sapsucker measures around 8-9 inches in length with a wingspan of 16-17 inches. It has a black and white striped head, similar to the Williamson’s Sapsucker, but with a red patch on the nape of its neck. Its back is black, and its belly is white.
Habitat and Range
Red-naped Sapsuckers can be found in various forested habitats, including coniferous forests and aspen groves. They are commonly found in the western part of Montana.
Behavior and Diet
These woodpeckers have a similar feeding behavior to the Williamson’s Sapsucker, creating sap wells to feed on sap and insects. Their diet also includes ants, insects, and fruits.
Tips for Attracting
To attract Red-naped Sapsuckers to your yard, providing dead trees or snags is essential. They are also attracted to sap, so creating sap wells by drilling small holes in trees can encourage their visit. Offering a variety of fruits and insects can supplement their diet.
Tips for Attracting Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers can be attracted to your yard by following a few simple tips:
Offer Food Woodpeckers Like
Woodpeckers have varied diets, but they are particularly attracted to suet, shelled peanuts, sunflower seeds, mealworms, and a variety of fruits. Providing these food options in bird feeders or on feeding stations in your yard can entice woodpeckers to visit.
Leave Dead Trees for Foraging
Dead trees, also known as snags, are important food sources for many woodpecker species. Leaving dead trees in your yard will provide them with foraging opportunities as they search for insects and larvae. It also serves as potential nesting sites for woodpeckers.
Put Up Nest Boxes
Woodpeckers often use natural tree cavities for nesting. To provide additional nesting opportunities, you can put up nest boxes specifically designed for woodpeckers. These boxes should have the appropriate size entrance hole and be placed in suitable habitat areas.
By implementing these tips and taking the time to understand the specific habitat and dietary needs of different woodpecker species, you can create a welcoming environment for these fascinating birds in your own backyard.