You have to be very careful while identifying Vermont’s woodpeckers. The hairy and downy woodpeckers look very similar and are the most common. The black-backed and American-toed woodpeckers also resemble each other, barring some key differences. Of them, the last one is the hardiest of all, and no American woodpecker species breeds as far north as it does. But not all on the below list have look-alikes. The northern flicker is unique in its appearance and doesn’t even look like a woodpecker, so to speak. Its yellow-shafted variant is very common here.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Vermont
Name
Identifying Features
Where They Are Found in Vermont
Downy Woodpecker
Small size, white spots on black wings, white back
Common throughout forests and woodlands
Hairy Woodpecker
Larger than Downy, entirely black upperparts, white underside
Found in wooded areas and suburban parks
Northern Flicker
Medium-sized, brown with black bars on the back, white rump
Often seen in open habitats and fields
Pileated Woodpecker
Large, mostly black with white stripes on the face and neck
Inhabits mature forests, especially with large trees
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Medium-sized, red cap on head, black-and-white barred back
Common in woodlands and suburban areas
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Medium-sized, black and white striped face, yellow belly
Frequents deciduous forests and orchards
Black-backed Woodpecker
Medium-sized, black back with white spots, black cap and face
Found in boreal and sub-boreal forests
Red-headed Woodpecker
Medium-sized, entirely red head and neck, black back and wings
Occasionally seen in open woodlands
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Small, black and white, with three toes
Prefers coniferous forests and mixed woodlands
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Medium-sized, dark greenish-black plumage, red face and belly
Rarely observed, prefers open forests
Though the red-headed woodpecker has a wide range in the country, it is uncommon in Vermont. The Lake Champlain Valley Area, however, hosts a sizeable breeding population. Birders can rejoice at the fact that the population of red-bellied woodpeckers has continuously increased in VT for over a decade. Specifically, their population has increased by 1800%, according to the Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003-2007), with the maximum increase recorded in the Champlain Valley.
