With its diverse habitats, including swamps, forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, and plains, New York is ideal to host various woodpeckers. Upstate New York is where you can find the yellow-bellied sapsucker, northern flicker, downy, hairy, and pileated woodpeckers. They breed in the Adirondacks. Western New York has all the aforementioned birds, plus the red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers. The pileated woodpecker, the largest in the state at 17.5 inches, frequents the state’s southern forests and hills. On the other hand, the downy – the smallest at 6.1 inches – is a native of the Empire State.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in New York
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in New York
Downy Woodpecker
Black-and-white plumage with a small bill and a white stripe down the back
Found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban areas
Hairy Woodpecker
Larger size compared to the downy woodpecker, similar black-and-white plumage
Commonly seen in mature forests and woodlands
Northern Flicker
Brownish-gray plumage with black spots and a white rump, often seen on the ground foraging for ants
Open habitats such as fields, forests edges, and suburban areas
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red cap and nape, black-and-white barred back
Woodlands, parks, and suburban areas with mature trees
Pileated Woodpecker
Large size with a distinctive red crest and black-and-white plumage
Mature forests with large trees, especially near water bodies
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Black-and-white plumage with a red throat patch
Deciduous and mixed forests, often seen in maple and birch trees
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black-and-white plumage with a yellow crown and a distinctive barred pattern on the back
Coniferous forests, especially where beetle-infested trees are present
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Distinctive pink-red belly and dark green back
Open woodlands, particularly in mountainous regions
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black plumage with white spots on the wings and a white patch on the back
Coniferous forests, particularly in areas affected by wildfires
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Black back with white barring, yellow belly, and red throat
Coniferous and mixed forests, particularly in higher elevations
Red-headed Woodpecker
Bright red head with a black and white body
Open woodlands, especially near water sources
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a migratory species inhabiting the state. It travels to New York in spring and moves southwards to the southeastern US through Mexico and Central America for the winter. Apart from the species mentioned above, all the others are year-round residents of the state.
