Nebraska, with its vast outdoors spanning trails, woods, open spaces, state parks, lakes, and rivers, is home to as many as twelve woodpecker species. Of them, eight species are common and recognized in state checklists, while the remaining are labeled rare or accidental, namely the acorn woodpecker, Williamson’s sapsucker, red-naped sapsucker, and American three-toed woodpecker.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Nebraska
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in Nebraska
Downy Woodpecker
Small size, black wings, white undersides
Woodlands, parks, and residential areas
Hairy Woodpecker
Larger size, longer bill, white undersides
Similar to Downy, prefers mature forests
Northern Flicker
Brown with black bars, white rump
Open woodlands, grasslands, and farmlands
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red on the head, black and white stripes
Wooded areas near rivers and swamps, mostly in eastern Nebraska
Pileated Woodpecker
Large, black with white stripes, red crest
Large, mature forests with dead trees
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Dark iridescent plumage, pink belly
Open woodlands and burned forest areas
Red-headed Woodpecker
Bright red head
Woodlands and open fields
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black and white, yellow belly
Forested areas with trees containing sap
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black and white, three toes
Coniferous and mixed forests in remote areas
Red-naped Sapsucker
Black and white, red throat patch
Coniferous and mixed forests
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Black and white, red throat patch
Similar to the Red-naped Sapsucker’s habitat
Acorn Woodpecker
Black, white face, red crown, and throat
Oak woodlands and deciduous forests
The northern flicker, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers are permanent, year-round state residents. The yellow-bellied sapsucker is an exception, as it is a migratory species. The best time to see it is during the spring and fall migration. On the other hand, the Lewis’s and red-headed woodpeckers are more common in the state during their breeding season (April through July). The northwestern part of Nebraska hosts the red-naped sapsucker only during the said breeding season.
