Woodpeckers

I was deep in a northern woods hiking up a ridge on an old logging trail. As I crested the ridge, I spotted this massive black and red feathered rocket zooming at my face. It was a pileated woodpecker flying at me on the same logging trail. I ducked while the woodpecker soared up and over me. I was thankful that my nose was not skewered by a woodpecker beak and thrilled by the close encounter. At that moment, the Pileated Woodpecker proved it was one of the most fascinating and entertaining denizens of the woods.

There are seven species of woodpecker that are fairly common in Wisconsin; Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker, Red Bellied, Red-Head, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, and Pileated. Four of these woodpeckers are year-round residents of Wisconsin; Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Pileated. The other three are summer residents, breeding in the deciduous forests of Wisconsin and wintering in more southern climates. Each has its own ecological survival niche and each is a very important component of the ecosystem that it inhabits. Woodpeckers are an important control on the insect population. This is especially true in the winter, when the birds eat the potential inset breeding stock.

Woodpeckers have been around for at least 25 million years. In that time, they have evolved different mechanisms to make climbing around on trees easier and to be more efficient at digging bugs out of the bark of trees. Woodpeckers have a special shock absorber tissue in the front and back of their skulls that cushions their brains when beating their heads against a tree. The tail feathers of woodpeckers are also very stiff which allows the tail to be used to support them while looking for bugs. Their tongues are long and have barb-like skin that allows the woodpecker to wrap up the insect and pull it out of the tree. The yellow-bellied sap sucker has a brush-like tongue that helps it to suck up the sap from trees that flows out of the holes it drills in the bark. Two of the toes on a woodpecker’s feet face forward and two face to the rear. This allows the bird to climb any direction on a tree.

Most woodpeckers nest in cavities that they excavate in a tree. Tree nest cavities are very desirable nesting locations so the woodpeckers must often defend them against small mammals and other birds. The drumming sound of a woodpecker is a territorial warning to other birds to leave the nest cavity alone. Often the nest cavity is used only once so the abandoned nests become vital nesting sites for other birds and critters in subsequent years.

Woodpeckers also create impressive signs in their quest for food and shelter. Woodpecker sign generally consists of holes in trees and snags (a standing dead tree) with wood chips scattered all around the base of the tree or snag. The evidence of an industrious woodpecker in the middle of the woods in early February is a reminder of how adept these birds are at surviving our Wisconsin winters. After most of the birds have packed it in for the season, these hardy birds fly around the woods, bashing their heads against the trees, while surviving just fine.

Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker In Wisconsin. They are slightly larger than a chickadee. They have the typical woodpecker profile with a straight beak and straight body. Their primary coloration is white and black with a splash of red on the back of the male’s head. The body is white with the wings being mottled black and white. The head has two black stripes; one of which goes through the eye. The head is rounded and smooth and the bill is shorter than half the width of its head. Downys nest in cavities in trees that are chiseled out by the males. It can take two to three weeks for the males to create the nest. The female usually lays four to five eggs which hatch in 12 days. The hatchlings double their weight in 24 hours and are fully grown in about 17 days. Downys are very common in backyards, and at bird feeders. They also like the edges of woodlots and more open woods. In the summer the birds will also feed on the insects in the galls on plant stalks

Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker is very similar in size, shape and coloration to the Downy- although it is about the size of a Robin. Like the Downy, the Hairy has mottled black and white wings and a white belly. The Hairy is a longer thinner bird while the Downy is more rounded like a chickadee. The Hairy has a white patch on its back and the male has a splash of red feathers on its head. The bill of the Hairy is about as long as the head is wide, The Hairy female lays three to six eggs which incubate for eleven or twelve days. The young birds remain in the nest for around 16 days. The bill of the Hairy is about as long as the head is wide. The Hairy is a frequent visitor to suet feeders and backyards. The bird also inhabits woods lots, field edges and mature forests. Basically, a Hairy Woodpecker will go anywhere it can find a meal. The Hairy generally works its way up a tree trunk and also uses the larger branches. Hairy Woodpeckers eat many insects that are pests for gardens and farms. 

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker is a brown bird with black spots all over it. The Flicker has a light brown head with a red mark near the base of the head. Flickers have a white rump and bright yellow feathers under their wings which are only visible when they fly. It’s about the size of a blue jay. Flickers have a curved bill that they use to dig up ants and other insects from the ground. Both male and female birds help to make the nesting cavity which has a three-inch wide entrance and then opens up to a chamber big enough to hold the eggs and the incubating adult. The five to eight eggs hatch in about 12 days Unlike most woodpeckers, Flickers spend most of their time on the ground. These adaptable birds can be found in backyards, wood lots, parks, and open fields. When feeding in trees, Flickers generally work the larger branches rather than climbing up the trunks. Flickers are a reliable sign of the arrival of spring as robins.

Red-Bellied

Wisconsin is the northern edge of the Red-Bellied Woodpecker’s range. The Red-Bellied woodpecker is similar in size to the Hairy woodpecker. The Red-Bellied woodpecker has a bright reddish orange nape and tan face and belly. The back and wings are black with white spots throughout. The red wash on the belly is often concealed by the tan belly feathers. The Red-Bellied woodpecker often nests the the same tree each year, but digs out a new nest cavity below the old one, Unlike many other woodpecker species the Red-Bellied may lay up to three clutches of two to six eggs per year. The incubation period is about twelve day and the total nesting time per clutch is about 24 days. The Red-Bellied woodpecker generally picks insects off the branches rather than drilling holes for the bugs. This bird will also eat acorns, and berries, and will actually store food for later use.

Red-Headed

The unique Red-Headed Woodpecker is a very distinctive seasonal Wisconsin bird. They are 10 inches tall-about the size of a blue jay. Its solid red head and black and white body plumage is distinctive from all other woodpeckers. Red-Heads make their nest cavities in snags or the dead portions of live trees. The female lays three to ten eggs which incubate for about 13 days. Red-Heads will hatch one or two broods per year. They are very social, and can often be seen in larger family groups. The Red-Head is a fly-catching bird that tracks down flying insects which it may eat or it may store, live, for later snacks. The Red-Head can wedge grasshoppers into cracks in trees so tightly that the grasshopper cannot escape before the Red-Head returns for a bite to eat. Red-Heads are omnivores, so in addition to insects, they eat nuts, berries, seeds, corn, hatchling birds and even mice. They will store all food sources as they do with insects. Red-Heads will live in woodlands, forest edges, and grasslands. They are aggressive birds that will defend their territory against all winged critters in and out of mating season.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

The Yellow-Bellied sapsucker is a seasonal visitor to Wisconsin. It breeds in the northern two-thirds of the state and migrates through the southern third. The Yellow-Bellied is the size of a robin or smaller. They have a patch of red feathers on their head and the males have a patch of red on their throats. Their bodies are a mix of black and white with a distinctive white stripe in the wings. The Yellow-Bellied also nests in tree cavities which the male digs out. The female lays one clutch of 4-6 eggs per season. The eggs hatch out in about 12 days, and the baby birds are in the nest from 15 to 20 days. As their name implies, these birds feed on sap as a primary food source. They like trees with a high sugar content in the sap like paper birch, yellow birch, sugar maple, red maple, and hickory. Yellow-Bellies drill holes in the bark of the tree so the sap flows out. The holes usually line up both horizontally and vertically forming a symmetrical grid. As noted above, they have a brush-like tongue that helps them in eating the sap and any insects stuck in the sap. Yellow-Bellies also dig insects out of the bark of trees and catch them on the wing. These birds favor young forests and edges in the spring and summer during breeding season. They especially hang out in areas that have been recently logged. In the winter, they like mixed forests and hardwoods.

Pileated

Pileated woodpeckers are the largest woodpecker-they are nearly the size of a crow, and have the “woody woodpecker” crown. They have a red stripe on the wings, and some white in the neck and shoulders. The majority of the body is solid black. Pileateds also have a very distinct and loud call a raucous “cuk cuk cuk” with rising and falling tones. Their slower and louder drumming sound is very distinctive. Pileateds also dig large squareish nests in snags where they hatch one brood of four eggs The eggs are incubated for 15 to 18 days and the birds can remain in the nest for about 15 days after hatching. Pileated woodpeckers are one of the most impressive birds in the woods. Pileateds like the deep woods and northern forests, but have been learning to adapt to an urban environment in recent decades. Of all the woodpeckers, these birds are the most difficult to see in the deep woods.

. When hiking, woodpeckers provide hours of entertainment Woodpeckers are very adaptable birds. They can survive in nearly any type of habitat. They are very interesting birds to observe and fairly easy to find. And if you crest a ridge and see a woodpecker hurtling down the trail at you, DUCK!!