Types of Woodpeckers in Illinois: Identification Guide
Illinois is home to seven woodpeckers: the downy, hairy, red-bellied, red-headed, and pileated woodpeckers, the northern flicker, and the wintering yellow-bellied sapsucker. From tiny downies to crow-sized pileateds, Illinois offers rewarding woodpecker watching. This guide covers the types of woodpeckers in Illinois, how to identify them, and where to see them.
| Woodpecker | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Downy Woodpecker | Small, short bill, white back |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Like downy, longer bill |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Barred back, red crown |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Fully red head |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Crow-sized, red crest |
| Northern Flicker | Brown, spotted, ground feeder |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Winter, sap wells |
How Many Types of Woodpeckers Live in Illinois?
Illinois hosts seven woodpecker species across its woodlands, parks, and river corridors. The downy and hairy woodpeckers are the familiar small black-and-white species, the downy tiny with a short bill and the hairy larger with a longer bill. The red-bellied woodpecker, with its barred back and red crown, is a common backyard bird, and the striking red-headed woodpecker, with its entirely red head, has notable populations in Illinois though it has declined regionally. The large, crow-sized pileated woodpecker with its flaming crest inhabits mature forests, and the northern flicker, a brown ground-feeding woodpecker, is widespread and often seen feeding on ants. In winter, the yellow-bellied sapsucker arrives to drill neat rows of sap wells in trees. Together these woodpeckers can be found year-round in the state, with the sapsucker mainly a cooler-season visitor. Understanding Illinois woodpeckers begins with these species, part of the wider group covered in our guide to types of woodpeckers.
Common Illinois Woodpeckers and How to Identify Them
Several woodpeckers are especially worth knowing in Illinois. The downy woodpecker is small with a short bill and white back, while the hairy woodpecker looks similar but is larger with a longer bill. The red-bellied woodpecker shows a black-and-white barred back and a red crown and nape, and is a frequent feeder visitor. The red-headed woodpecker is unmistakable, with an entirely red head, a black back, and large white wing patches. The pileated woodpecker is huge and black with a flaming red crest, leaving rectangular holes in dead wood. The northern flicker is a brown, spotted woodpecker often seen on the ground, showing a white rump in flight, and the wintering yellow-bellied sapsucker drills orderly rows of sap wells and has a pale yellowish belly. Each woodpecker is a rewarding find, as explored in our guide to the red-bellied woodpecker.
Where to See Woodpeckers in Illinois
Woodpeckers can be found across Illinois in a range of habitats. Backyards, parks, and woodlands throughout the state host downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers as well as northern flickers, all of which readily visit feeders and wooded neighborhoods. Mature forests, bottomland woods along rivers, and wooded parks are excellent for pileated woodpeckers, whose loud calls and large size make them memorable, and for red-headed woodpeckers in more open woodland, savanna, and areas with dead snags. Open country with scattered trees, forest edges, and parklands suit the red-headed woodpecker and the flicker, which often feeds on ants on the ground. In winter, yellow-bellied sapsuckers appear in woodlands and yards, leaving their telltale rows of sap wells in tree bark. Because different woodpeckers favor different habitats, Illinois offers rewarding woodpecker watching year-round, as detailed in our guide to types of owls in Illinois.
The Red-headed Woodpecker’s Habits
The red-headed woodpecker is one of Illinois’s most striking birds, and its habits are fascinating. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, red-headed woodpeckers are accomplished flycatchers that catch much of their food in mid-air, and they are among the most omnivorous woodpeckers, eating insects, seeds, nuts, berries, and even the occasional eggs or nestlings of other birds. They are also notable food-storers, caching insects and seeds in crevices, under bark, and in holes, and they may cover the stored food with pieces of wood or bark, an unusual behavior. Red-headed woodpeckers favor open woodlands, savannas, parks with large trees, and areas with standing dead timber, which they need for nesting and for storing food. Their populations have declined in many areas, partly through the loss of dead trees and open woodland habitat. Preserving snags helps this beautiful bird, as explored in our guide to the red-bellied woodpecker.
Attracting Woodpeckers in Illinois
Attracting woodpeckers to your Illinois yard is rewarding, since several species readily visit feeders. Suet is the top attractant, and offering suet in a cage feeder will draw downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers, especially in the cooler months, and in winter it may attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Woodpeckers also take black oil sunflower seeds and peanuts, so a varied menu helps, and red-bellied woodpeckers are particularly fond of them. Providing a source of water for drinking and bathing attracts woodpeckers along with other birds. Because woodpeckers are cavity nesters, keeping dead trees or large limbs standing where it is safe to do so gives them places to excavate nest holes and search for insects, and some will use nest boxes. Planting or preserving native trees, including oaks and other nut- and berry-producing species, supports woodpeckers naturally. By offering suet, seeds, water, and nesting habitat, you can enjoy a variety of woodpeckers in your Illinois yard, as explored in our guide to types of owls in Illinois.
Woodpeckers Through the Seasons in Illinois
Illinois woodpeckers offer rewards across the year, and knowing their patterns helps. Most of the state’s woodpeckers, including the downy, hairy, red-bellied, red-headed, and pileated woodpeckers and the northern flicker, are year-round residents, so they can be enjoyed in every season in yards, woodlands, and forests. Spring and summer bring nesting, when woodpeckers excavate cavities and their drumming and calls are especially frequent, and red-headed woodpeckers become active in open woodlands and savannas. Fall and winter bring the yellow-bellied sapsucker through and into the state, and these months are a good time to spot its neat rows of sap wells and to see resident woodpeckers clearly when the leaves are down. Winter feeding concentrates woodpeckers at suet feeders, and flickers may form loose groups. By watching through the seasons, Illinois birders can enjoy resident woodpeckers year-round plus the sapsucker in the cooler months, making these birds a lasting pleasure across the state’s woods and yards.
Appreciating Illinois Woodpeckers
Illinois woodpeckers are a rewarding group to appreciate, both for their variety and for the character they bring to the state’s woods and yards. From the familiar downy and red-bellied woodpeckers to the striking red-headed woodpecker and the huge pileated, the state offers woodpecker watching for everyone. Learning to recognize the different species, watching them forage and drum, and attracting them to suet feeders all deepen the pleasure of birding in Illinois. Because most woodpeckers are active, vocal, and often visit yards, they are among the most enjoyable birds to observe up close. Taking the time to appreciate Illinois woodpeckers connects you to the rich variety of the state’s forests, bottomlands, and backyards.
Woodpeckers and the Illinois Landscape
Woodpeckers play an important role in the Illinois landscape, and understanding it adds to their appeal. As they excavate nest holes, woodpeckers create cavities that many other animals depend on, since a hole made and later abandoned by a woodpecker may become a nest site for bluebirds, chickadees, small owls, and other creatures. Woodpeckers also help control wood-boring insects and other pests that affect trees. This ecological importance is one reason to welcome woodpeckers and to preserve dead trees and snags where it is safe to do so. From the backyard downy woodpecker to the striking red-headed woodpecker of the savannas, these birds contribute to the health and diversity of Illinois’s woods and yards, making them valuable as well as fascinating to watch.
Related reading: types of woodpeckers in south carolina.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of woodpeckers are in Illinois?
Illinois hosts seven woodpeckers: the downy, hairy, red-bellied, red-headed, and pileated woodpeckers, the northern flicker, and the wintering yellow-bellied sapsucker.
What is the most common woodpecker in Illinois?
The downy and red-bellied woodpeckers are among the most common woodpeckers in Illinois, both frequent visitors to backyards, parks, and woodlands across the state.
What is the woodpecker with a fully red head in Illinois?
The red-headed woodpecker has an entirely red head, a black back, and large white wing patches. It has notable populations in Illinois but has declined in many areas.
What is the largest woodpecker in Illinois?
The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Illinois, a crow-sized black bird with a flaming red crest, found in mature forests and bottomland woods.
What woodpecker drills rows of holes in Illinois?
The yellow-bellied sapsucker, a winter visitor, drills orderly rows of small sap wells in trees to feed on sap and the insects the sap attracts.
What woodpeckers visit feeders in Illinois?
Downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers and northern flickers commonly visit Illinois yards, especially for suet and black oil sunflower seed.
Where can you see woodpeckers in Illinois?
Look in yards and woodlands for downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, mature forests for pileated, open woodlands for red-headed, and winter yards for sapsuckers.
