Types of Woodpeckers in Alabama: A Complete Guide
Alabama is home to several types of woodpeckers, including the red-bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, and the rare red-cockaded woodpecker. These tree-clinging birds are common in Alabama’s forests, woodlots, and backyards, and many readily visit feeders. This guide covers how many woodpeckers live in Alabama, the common species, how to tell them apart, where to see them, and how to attract them.
| Woodpecker | Key Features in Alabama |
|---|---|
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Very common, barred back, red crown |
| Downy Woodpecker | Small, common at feeders |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Larger downy look-alike |
| Northern Flicker | Brown, spotted, ground-feeding |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Large, red crest, crow-sized |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Full red head, bold pattern |
| Red-cockaded Woodpecker | Rare, pine forests, endangered |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Winter, drills sap wells |
How Many Types of Woodpeckers Live in Alabama?
Alabama hosts several species of woodpeckers, most as year-round residents, ranging from small feeder visitors to large, crow-sized birds and a rare endangered specialty. The most familiar and abundant is the red-bellied woodpecker, an extremely common bird of Alabama’s woods and yards, along with the small downy woodpecker and its larger look-alike, the hairy woodpecker. The northern flicker is a distinctive brown, spotted woodpecker often seen feeding on the ground, and the impressive pileated woodpecker, nearly the size of a crow with a flaming red crest, inhabits mature forests. Alabama is also home to the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species tied to old pine forests, along with the red-headed woodpecker and the winter-visiting yellow-bellied sapsucker. Woodpeckers are specialized for clinging to and climbing tree trunks, using strong bills to drill for insects, excavate nest holes, and drum, aided by stiff tail feathers for support. Alabama’s forests, pinelands, and woodlots support this variety. Understanding the woodpeckers of Alabama begins with these species, part of the wider group covered in our guide to types of woodpeckers.
Common Woodpeckers in Alabama
Several woodpeckers are especially common in Alabama. The red-bellied woodpecker is the most abundant, a medium woodpecker with a black-and-white barred back and a red crown and nape, very common at feeders and in yards, as covered in our guide to the red-bellied woodpecker. The downy woodpecker is the smallest and readily visits feeders, a black-and-white bird with a small bill, as covered in our guide to the downy woodpecker, while the hairy woodpecker looks almost identical but is larger with a longer bill. The northern flicker is a brown, spotted woodpecker that often forages on the ground for ants, and it is the Alabama state bird, known locally as the yellowhammer. The pileated woodpecker is the largest, a spectacular crow-sized bird with a red crest that excavates large rectangular holes. The red-headed woodpecker has an entirely red head with a bold black-and-white body, and the red-cockaded woodpecker is a rare, endangered species of mature pine forests. The yellow-bellied sapsucker visits in winter. Each has its own look and habits, as explored in our guide to backyard birds of Alabama.
How to Tell Alabama Woodpeckers Apart
Telling Alabama’s woodpeckers apart is easier when you use size, pattern, and behavior. Start with size, since the downy woodpecker is small, the red-bellied and hairy woodpeckers are medium, and the pileated woodpecker is very large. The downy and hairy woodpeckers look nearly identical, so focus on the bill, which is short and stubby on the downy and long on the hairy. Look at head and back patterns, such as the red-bellied woodpecker’s barred back and red crown, the red-headed woodpecker’s entirely red head, the pileated woodpecker’s red crest, and the northern flicker’s brown, spotted plumage. Behavior helps too, since the northern flicker often feeds on the ground, the sapsucker drills orderly rows of sap wells, and the pileated woodpecker makes large rectangular excavations. The rare red-cockaded woodpecker is restricted to mature pine forests. Male woodpeckers usually show more red than females. By combining size, pattern, and behavior, you can identify Alabama’s woodpeckers, as explored in our guide to types of owls in Alabama.
Where to See Woodpeckers in Alabama
Woodpeckers can be found throughout Alabama in a variety of wooded habitats. The red-bellied and downy woodpeckers are common in forests, woodlots, parks, and backyards across the state, and both readily visit feeders, especially those offering suet and sunflower seed. The northern flicker inhabits open woodlands, edges, and areas with open ground where it can forage for ants, and it is often seen on the ground. The pileated woodpecker requires mature forests and wooded swamps with large trees, and it occurs in wooded areas across much of the state. The red-headed woodpecker favors open pine woods, oak areas, and parklands, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is restricted to old-growth and mature pine forests, particularly longleaf pine, where it is a specialty sought by birders at certain preserves. The yellow-bellied sapsucker visits in winter. Alabama’s forests, pinelands, and woodlots provide excellent woodpecker habitat. Because many woodpeckers visit feeders, backyards are a great place to see them, as detailed in our guide to attracting birds.
How to Attract Woodpeckers in Alabama
Attracting woodpeckers to your Alabama yard is very achievable with the right food and habitat. Suet is one of the best foods for woodpeckers, and offering suet in a suet feeder will draw red-bellied, downy, and sometimes other woodpeckers, especially in the cooler months. Woodpeckers also eat black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, and, for the red-bellied woodpecker, even fruit, so providing these foods can help. Leaving dead trees or snags standing, where it is safe to do so, benefits woodpeckers greatly, since these provide insects to eat and sites to excavate nest and roost holes. Planting native trees and shrubs that supply insects, nuts, and berries supports woodpeckers naturally, and a source of clean water is welcome. Putting up nest boxes of appropriate sizes can attract cavity-nesting woodpeckers. By offering suet and other foods, keeping snags, planting natives, and providing water, you can enjoy Alabama’s woodpeckers up close, as reflected in our guide to the best bird seed.
The Northern Flicker, Alabama’s Yellowhammer
Among Alabama’s woodpeckers, the northern flicker deserves special attention as the state bird and the source of Alabama’s nickname. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the northern flicker is a distinctive brown woodpecker that often forages on the ground for ants, unlike most woodpeckers. In Alabama, the flicker is known as the yellowhammer, and it gives the state its nickname, the Yellowhammer State, a name with deep historical roots. This handsome, brown, spotted woodpecker shows a flash of yellow in its wings and tail in flight, a black crescent on its chest, and a white rump patch that is obvious as it flies away. Flickers are unusual among woodpeckers for feeding largely on the ground, where they use their long tongues to lap up ants and beetles. They also drum on resonant surfaces and excavate nest holes in dead trees. The northern flicker’s ground-feeding habits, striking colors, and status as the state bird make it a special Alabama woodpecker, as explored in our guide to types of woodpeckers.
Signs of Woodpeckers in Alabama
Even when you do not see a woodpecker, you can often detect their presence by the signs they leave, which is part of the fun of watching for them in Alabama. Listen for drumming, the rapid tapping that woodpeckers make on resonant surfaces to communicate and claim territory, which is different from the slower tapping of feeding. Look for holes in trees, from the small, round holes of feeding and nesting to the large, distinctive rectangular excavations of the pileated woodpecker, and for the neat horizontal rows of small holes drilled by the yellow-bellied sapsucker to feed on sap. Piles of wood chips at the base of a tree can indicate a pileated woodpecker at work. Their loud calls and the sight of a bird bounding in undulating flight between trees are also clues. Learning these signs helps you find and appreciate Alabama’s woodpeckers, even the more elusive ones like the red-cockaded woodpecker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common woodpecker in Alabama?
The red-bellied woodpecker is the most common and abundant woodpecker in Alabama, a medium bird with a barred back and red crown that readily visits backyard feeders.
What is the Alabama state bird?
The northern flicker is the Alabama state bird, known locally as the yellowhammer, which gives Alabama its nickname the Yellowhammer State. It often feeds on the ground.
How many types of woodpeckers are in Alabama?
Alabama hosts several woodpecker species, including the red-bellied, downy, hairy, red-headed, red-cockaded, and pileated woodpeckers, the northern flicker, and the yellow-bellied sapsucker.
What is the largest woodpecker in Alabama?
The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Alabama, a spectacular crow-sized bird with a flaming red crest that excavates large rectangular holes in dead trees.
What is the rare woodpecker in Alabama?
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a rare, endangered woodpecker in Alabama, restricted to mature pine forests, especially longleaf pine, where it excavates holes in living pines.
How do you attract woodpeckers in Alabama?
Offer suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and even fruit for red-bellied woodpeckers. Leaving dead trees standing and planting native trees also attracts them.
Where can you see woodpeckers in Alabama?
Woodpeckers live in forests, pinelands, woodlots, parks, and backyards across Alabama. Many visit feeders, while the red-cockaded woodpecker favors mature pine forests.
