Woodpeckers in Pennsylvania

Being wetland-filled and woodsy, Pennsylvania is a woodpecker paradise. No wonder as many as nine species of these hammering birds call it their home. The largest in the state is the pileated, with a length of 17.5 inches. If you are a resident of western Pennsylvania, you cannot miss seeing the bird on older black cherry trees. On the other hand, the smallest woodpecker native to the state is the downy, measuring just 6.1 inches. It is also the most common resident.

Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Pennsylvania

Name	Identifying Features	Where They Are Found in Pennsylvania
Downy Woodpecker	Small size, black and white plumage, red spot on the back of the head	Throughout the state
Hairy Woodpecker	Larger than Downy, similar plumage	Wooded areas, forests, and suburban neighborhoods
Northern Flicker	Brown plumage with black spots, white rump	Open areas, woodlands, and urban parks
Pileated Woodpecker	Large size, striking red crest, black and white plumage	Forested areas and wooded parks throughout the state
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Red patch on the back of the head, black and white barred plumage	Woodlands, forests, and suburban areas
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Yellow belly and white stripes on wings	Forested areas, orchards, and wooded suburban neighborhoods
Black-backed Woodpecker	Black back with white spots, white underside	Dense coniferous forests in the northern parts of the state
Red-headed Woodpecker	Entirely red head and neck	Sparse populations in open woodlands and along rivers
Lewis’s Woodpecker	Dark greenish-black plumage, pink belly	Open woodlands, burned areas, and river valleys

All the woodpeckers listed above are regular residents, except the Lewis’s and black-backed woodpeckers, which are accidental species. The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a migratory species seen only in early spring and fall. They travel north in the summer for breeding and fly down south for the winter. The Keystone State acts as their pitstop.