Despite being the smallest US state, Rhode Island exhibits rich diversity in its landscapes, making it the home to around ten woodpecker species. Of them, the three most common are the northern flicker, downy and hairy. The downy is the most common and the smallest (measuring only 6.1 inches). The pileated is the largest, with a length of 17.5 inches. Life has not been easy for this bird in the Ocean State. In the mid-1980s, they could be found only in a few places here. However, their population has gradually increased with the maturation of Rhode Island’s forests. But the red-bellied has undergone the most population increase (0.8% annually from 1966 to 2019) for the same reason.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Rhode Island
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in Rhode Island
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
Red-headed Woodpecker
Entirely red head and neck
Sparse populations in open woodlands and along rivers
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black back with white spots, white underside
Dense coniferous forests in the northern parts of the state
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Dark greenish-black plumage, pink belly
Open woodlands, burned areas, and river valleys
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black and white plumage
Found in remote coniferous forests
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is the only sapsucker residing in the state. They breed in Canada and come to Rhode Island for the winter. All the other birds on the above list can be seen throughout the year.
