Missouri is a state where several bioregions converge. The diversity of its habitats makes it an abode for various types of woodpeckers, seven of which are common. Six of these native woodpeckers are year-round residents, with only one, the yellow-bellied sapsucker, migrating yearly and spending the winter in the state.
Among the large woodpecker species in Missouri are the pileated woodpecker (17.5 inches) and the northern flicker (12.5 inches). The giant pileated woodpecker takes the title of being the largest in the state. In contrast, the small woodpeckers include the downy (6.1 inches) and the hairy (8.6 inches).
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Missouri
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in Missouri
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red crown, black and white barred back
Common throughout the state
Downy Woodpecker
Small, black wings with white undersides
Common in woodlands and backyards
Northern Flicker
Brown with black spots on the belly, white rump
Common in open areas and grasslands
Hairy Woodpecker
Larger than Downy, black wings with white undersides
Found in woodlands and wooded areas
Pileated Woodpecker
Large, mostly black with a red crest and white stripes
Found in mature forests and woodlands
Red-headed Woodpecker
Solid red head, white belly, black wings
Common in open woodlands and savannas
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black and white with red throat and small red cap
Found in woodlands and residential areas
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Black crown and nape, small white cheek patches, white underparts
Only found in the southern pine forests
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black with white on the face and down the center of the back, yellow cap
Rare, in deep forests in the Ozarks
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Dark green-black with a pink belly and red face
Rare in open woodlands and savannas
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Large, mostly black with white stripes on the back
Believed to be extinct, extremely rare
The ivory-billed woodpecker historically existed in Missouri but is now considered extinct. Its last sighting was in 2004, despite search parties organizing multiple expeditions to find the bird since then. The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is extirpated from the state due to loss of its old longleaf pine habitat. Its numbers declined by 86% from 1966 to 2014.
