Woodpeckers in California

Out of the 22 species of woodpeckers in the US, as many as 19 are found in California, making it the state with the most woodpeckers. Another unique feature is that it is the only state where you can find the Nutall’s woodpecker, a small bird measuring 13-16 inches.

Northern and Central California have the downy woodpecker, the smallest in the state, measuring 6.1 inches. It closely resembles the hairy woodpecker, which is larger and most common in the northern part of the state. The hairy woodpecker shares its range with the acorn and pileated woodpeckers – the largest in the state (17.5 inches). On the other hand, the red-naped sapsucker breeds in the same range but winters in Southern California, where it lives alongside the gilded flicker, Gila, and ladder-backed woodpeckers.

Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in California

Name	Identifying Features	Where They Are Found in California
Northern Flicker	Brown with black spots, red patch on nape	Common in open areas, parks, and woodlands statewide
Acorn Woodpecker	Black, white, and red head with distinctive facial pattern	Found in oak woodlands, foothills, and parks
Downy Woodpecker	White belly, small size, and white spots	Common in wooded habitats throughout the state
Gila Woodpecker	Brownish-gray with black-and-white barring on the wings	Found in desert areas and saguaro cactus habitats
Red-breasted Sapsucker	Red throat and crown, white belly, and barred back	Found in mountainous areas and coniferous forests
Nuttall’s Woodpecker	Black crown and nape, barred wings with a solid black patch on the upper back	Common in oak woodlands and chaparral habitats
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Ladder-like pattern on back, black crown, and white face	Found in desert and arid regions of the state
Hairy Woodpecker	Similar to Downy but larger with a longer bill	Common in wooded areas and forests across California
White-headed Woodpecker	White head and body with black wings and back	Found in coniferous forests, especially in mountains
Gilded Flicker	Yellow underparts, red mustache mark	Occurs in deserts, scrublands, and open areas
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Black and white striped head, yellow belly	Occasional migrant, found in wooded areas
Red-naped Sapsucker	Similar to Yellow-bellied but with red on nape	Occasional in mountainous and forested regions
Pileated Woodpecker	Large size, black with white stripes on face	Rarely seen, typically in mature forests
Lewis’s Woodpecker	Pinkish-red belly, gray collar, dark face	Sporadic, found in open woodlands and mountainous regions
Williamson’s Sapsucker	Yellow belly and white wing patch	Occurs in high mountain forests and coniferous habitats
Black-backed Woodpecker	Black with white barring on back	Rarely seen in mountainous regions with dead trees
Eurasian Wryneck	Distinctive brown and gray mottled pattern	Very rare, occasional sightings in wooded areas
Red-headed Woodpecker	Distinctive red head and white belly	Rarely found in certain wooded areas of California
American Three-toed Woodpecker	Black and white with three toes	Occasional sightings in coniferous forests

Lewis’s woodpecker, Black-backed woodpecker, and Williamson’s sapsucker are some of the rare species inhabiting California. The state has also reported sightings of some accidental species of woodpeckers, such as the Eurasian wryneck, Red-headed, and American three-toed woodpecker.

FAQs

Q. Are woodpeckers protected in California?

Ans. Yes, woodpeckers enjoy federal protection in California. However, they can become a nuisance in your home. In that case, you can avoid damage to your property by adopting preventive measures when you hear their drumming at close quarters.