Oneida's Seven Woodpecker - Species Come In Many Sizes; Some Migrate, Some Do Not!

Oneida’s Seven Woodpecker

 Species Come In Many Sizes; Some Migrate,
               Some Do Not!
   Woodpeckers help to control insect infestations and provide
 homes for a large portion of the Reservation’s wildlife. They are
adapted to beat their heads against objects without suffering brain
damage, and their tongues are adapted to extend far into cavities
 to extract insects such as ants and bark beetles. Woodpeckers
     also peck to make noise for communication and territorial
    defense. Have you ever been awakened by a woodpecker
    pecking on the metal flashing of your chimney at 4:30 am?
 Woodpecker holes can become nest cavities for themselves and
for other species. Many cavity nesting birds rely on woodpeckers
 for their homes. Squirrels also rely on woodpeckers for nesting
                        and escape holes.

Oneida’s migratory woodpeckers are represented by only
one species whose summer breeding range does not
overlap with its southern US and Mexican wintering range.
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is truly migratory. It is the
species that makes rings of shallow holes around trees in
the spring, causing sap to leak out. The sap traps insects
and provides nectar for humming birds and other species.
The range of the ruby-throated hummingbird does not
extend beyond the range of the yellow-bellied sapsucker.
Two other species migrate only short distances and may
remain here throughout the year if food resources are
adequate.

Image Attribution:By Dominic Sherony http://www.flickr.com/photos/9765210@N03/2587732178 CC BY SA 2.0

                Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (sphyrapicus varius)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
          (sphyrapicus varius)
• Breeds across North America from central Canada south
  to Wisconsin
• Winters in the southeastern US and eastern Mexico
• Considered a Keystone species because it provides food
  for other species
• At 8.5 inches in length, it is one of our smaller
  woodpeckers
• Inhabits deciduous forests and semi-open areas
• Has a habit of using metal roofs and chimneys as
  sounding boards
• Our only woodpecker to have a vertical white stripe on its
  side
• The only small woodpecker with a yellowish underside

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Northern Flicker
              (Colaptes auratus)
• Breeds throughout North America; northern Canada to
  Mexico
• Only the northern breeding population migrates
  southward
• At 12.5 inches it is one of our larger woodpeckers
• One of only a few woodpeckers that often forages on the
  ground
• Inhabits semi-open areas of deciduous trees
• Is the most brown of our woodpeckers and has a black
  spotted breast
• Its white rump is conspicuous in flight
• It can be easily identified by its oft repeated wick-er or
  flick-er call in spring

Credit: Dave Menke/USFWS

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

Red-headed Woodpecker
    (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
• Breeds across most of eastern US to southern Canada
• Northern breeding populations may migrate short
  distances
• At 9.5 inches it is one of our medium-sized woodpeckers
• A bird of the forest with an open understory (Duck Creek,
  Dog Walk)
• It is in decline (threatened) as river bottom forests are
  being lost
• Distinctive all red head and neck, white breast, and black
  wings
• Woodpecker most adept at catching insects on the wing
• Will store food for winter (grasshoppers, nuts, corn, and
  fruit)

Oneida has four non-migratory woodpeckers. These
resident species can be lured to bird feeders and
suet, particularly in winter. They range in size from
the, house sparrow sized downy woodpecker to the
crow-sized pileated woodpecker; the trademark for
“Woody the Woodpecker Cartoons!” They are cavity
providers for many nesting and winter roosting birds
and mammals. Woodpeckers typically nest early,
before most migratory species arrive here.

Credit: Donna Dewhurst/USFWS

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

Downy Woodpecker
             (Picoides pubescens)
•   Breeds throughout virtually all of the US and Canada
•   Is a year-round resident
•   At 5.75 inches it is our smallest woodpecker
•   It looks almost identical to its larger cousin the hairy
    woodpecker
•   Inhabits mostly deciduous trees and weedy forest edges
•   In winter it may form feeding flocks with chickadees and
    nuthatches
•   It feeds on tiny branches, seed pods, suet bags, and
    goldenrod galls
•   A very small black and white woodpecker with white
    spots on the wings

Hairy Woodpecker (Pecoides villosus)

Hairy Woodpecker
              (Pecoides villosus)
• Breeds throughout all but the most northerly areas of
  North America
• At 9.5 inches it is nearly twice as large as its look-alike,
  downy woodpecker
• It is black and white with a few white flecks on the wings
• It has a heavy bill nearly as long as the remainder of its
  head
• It inhabits both dense and open forests
• It feeds along the main branches of trees
• Hairy woodpeckers are relatively easy to lure to feeders
• Like the downy woodpecker, only males have red on the
  back of their heads

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Pileated Woodpecker
            (Dryocopus pileatus)
• Breeds in the eastern US and much of Canada, plus
  along the US west coast
• At 16.5 inches it is by far our largest woodpecker
• It is striking with white forewings, a dark body, and dark
  rear-wings
• Both the males and females have red topknots
• It prefers dense mature forests for feeding and nesting
• Winter food is primarily carpenter ants; summer food is
  from downed logs
• Its presence is known by the triangular-shaped cavities
  and loud vocalizations
• It can demolish trees; provide homes for owls, squirrels,
  ducks, etc.

Credit: Frank Miles/USFWS

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker
          (Melanerpes carolinus)
• Breeds throughout the eastern US to western Minnesota,
  not Canada
• Expanding its range northward, it was not here 40 years
  ago
• At 9.25 inches long it is considered small to medium sized
• Inhabits open woodlands, suburbs, and parks
• Vocal year-round, its presence is made obvious by its calls
• The red belly is not obvious but both sexes have red heads
  and barred backs
• It is often pecking at the bark along tree branches rather
  than drilling for food
• It can be lured to feeders with suet or peanuts, very
  animated to watch

Woodpeckers are Mother Nature’s forest insect control. They
are also habitat providers for many species of birds and
mammals. The seven breeding species that occur on the
Reservation are relatively common, an indication that a variety of
habitat types exist here. Their species diversity and large
populations indicate that nest cavities and roosting sites are
being provided for many other species including: bluebirds,
kestrels, saw-whet owls, screech owls, wood ducks,
mergansers, chickadees, house wrens, bats, squirrels, and
several flycatcher species. All things in nature are related; the
loss of one species will result in the disruption or loss in others.
Woodpeckers are crucial to sustaining an ecosystem. For more
information, contact Bill Koonz at Oneida Environmental, Health
& Safety Division; bkoonz@oneidanation.org, 920-869- 4569
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide
www.whatbird.com