Arkansas attracts abundant wildlife due to its diverse natural resources, clear water bodies, and mild climate. Among the 400 bird species, woodpeckers are famous for their vibrant colors and tendency to inhabit residential areas. Eight permanent species and two accidental species are found in the Natural State, of which the red-bellied woodpecker is the most common.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Arkansas
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in Arkansas
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red crown and nape, pale belly, and zebra-striped back
Common in woodlands, forests, and urban areas
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black and white striped head, yellow belly
Occasional migrant, seen in wooded areas
Downy Woodpecker
White belly, small size, and white spots
Common in a variety of wooded habitats statewide
Northern Flicker
Brown with black spots, red patch on nape
Common in open areas, parks, and woodlands
Hairy Woodpecker
Similar to Downy but larger with a longer bill
Found in wooded areas and forests throughout the state
Pileated Woodpecker
Large size, black with white stripes
Present in mature forests and wooded regions
Red-headed Woodpecker
Distinctive red head and white belly
Found in open woodlands, parks, and savannas
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
White cheek patches, black cap, and barred back
Rarely seen in southern pine forests
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Pinkish-red belly, gray collar, dark face
Sporadic, found in open woodlands and mountainous regions
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Extremely rare and possibly extinct, it was once known for its large size and ivory-colored bill
Historically found in forested areas (rare now)
The red-cockaded woodpecker is an endangered species inhabiting the state. The estimated population of this rare bird is 100-200 colonies or 200-400 individuals.
The Lewis’s woodpecker is an accidental species spotted only four times in Mount Sequoyah, with the last sighting in 2022.
The ivory-billed woodpecker was considered extinct in Arkansas in the mid-twentieth century until it was sighted in 2004 in the Big Woods. However, researchers and ornithologists from Cornell University could not confirm the sighting records. Since then, much research has been conducted to relocate the bird, but it has not succeeded. The destruction of its habitat is the main reason for the disappearance of the third-largest woodpecker in the world.
