From the largest, stately Pileated Woodpecker to the smallest cute little Downy Woodpecker, all woodpeckers are birds that will amaze you in unique ways.
There are roughly 240 woodpecker species worldwide, and a wide variety in the United States! There is enough woodpecker diversity to excite any bird enthusiast.
In this article, we will provide you with all of the information that you will need to know about the incredible woodpeckers in Wisconsin, including its habitat, behaviors, and how to view them.
Habitat And Distribution
There are many types of woodpeckers in this area and they can be found in a variety of habitats. This makes the state a great place to observe these fascinating birds.
Woodpecker Habitats In Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, woodpeckers prefer habitat diversity, including:
- Deciduous forests.
- Mixed woodlands.
- Even urban-style parks with mature trees.
Woodpeckers have a preference for habitats that consist of a mixture of live and dead trees to supply food and nesting sites.
Dead trees and snags are particularly valuable habitat for two reasons. Decaying trees provide food resources for woodpeckers in the form of insects and/or as nesting sites.
Wisconsin Woodpecker Migration Patterns
With reference to migratory behavior, some woodpeckers are year-round residents in Wisconsin and others may migrate to areas based on seasonal availability of food and weather.
However, Common woodpeckers like Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Pileated Woodpecker, will stay here year-round. Other woodpecker species, such as Yellow-bellied Sapsucker may migrate further south during winter months.
Where To Find Woodpeckers In Wisconsin
The next time you’re walking in forested areas or parks that have trees greater than 15 meters in height, watch for woodpeckers and listen for their drumming.
You should also be aware of their nests, which are commonly found in dead or decaying trees and within excavated cavities.
Make sure that you also watch to where you are walking, you may scare up a Northern Flicker as it forages in the leaves on the ground.
Here are some examples of places that you might see woodpeckers roaming in Wisconsin:
- Wisconsin Point.
- The Chequamegon National Forest.
- The Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area.
- The Kettle Moraine State Forest.
- The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest.
- Wyalusing State Park.
- Schlitz Audubon Center.
- The University of Wisconsin Arboretum.
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.
- Sandhill Wildlife Area.
- Lake Superior/North Woods Birding and Nature Trail.
- Other regions with abundant mature woodland.
By visiting these habitats and observing their behaviors, you can gain insight into the lives of these remarkable birds.
Woodpecker Behavior And Characteristics
If you’ve taken a beautiful hike out in Wisconsin, you’ve possibly heard woodpeckers hammering. Their recognizable drumming sounds not only have to do with searching for food, but are a form of woodpecker communication; establishing territory, or courting a mate.
During the winter, woodpecker behavior is relatively unchanged other than they may rely on feeders or their stash more as insect populations decline.
Lower temperatures are not a reason to stop foraging behavior; drumming and communication is uninterrupted with woodpeckers in the winter. In challenging conditions, this behavior is key to their survival and reproduction.
Woodpecker Sounds And Communication
Woodpeckers communicate using a range of vocalizations, such as calls, as well as with drumming.
Woodpecker calls vary depending on the species. For instance, the drumming sound of a Pileated Woodpecker is a uniquely recognizable drumming sound that often resembles the sound of a pneumatic drill.
You might also hear the lighter, chattier notes of Red-bellied and American three-toed woodpeckers, for example.
During breeding, woodpecker mating displays include drumming and (often loud!) vocalizations to help communicate with potential mates and strengthen pair bonds.
They also communicate vocally throughout the year to maintain their territory and coordinate with their mate.
Diet Of Wisconsin Woodpeckers
Have you ever been curious, What do woodpeckers eat? Well, you’re in luck, we’ve gone ahead and compiled all that you need to know about woodpecker diets!
Woodpecker habits depend on the species and season, but generally woodpeckers love to eat the following:
- Insects and Larvae: This is the predominant part of their dietary. These birds utilize their strong beaks to penetrate tree bark and wood to discover these insects such as beetles, ants, termites, and wood-boring larvae.
- Sap: Many types of woodpeckers collect tree sap, for example, yellow-bellied sapsuckers. They will dig holes in the bark and wood with their beaks to access the sap.
- Fruits and Nuts: Woodpeckers will eat fruits, berries, nuts, and other plant materials, especially in times when insects are less abundant. For example, red-headed woodpeckers will store nuts and seeds in tree holes and crevices to consume these foods later.
- Seeds: Woodpeckers will frequently consume seeds in times when they cannot obtain insects which are their preference for food.
- Suet: Adding suet to your feeders will provide a great source of energizing food to attract woodpeckers!! Suet is a great high-energy food in the colder months.
Woodpeckers And Their Role In Ecosystems
Woodpeckers have a crucial ecological function, contributing to the health and stability of their ecosystems in important ways.
These birds influence and change ecosystems with beneficial effects for humans, other birds, and animals in Wisconsin and beyond. Some of these benefits are listed below:
- Insect Management: Foraging behavior keeps insect populations in check, as they feast on harmful insects that can injure trees and other plants.
- Wildlife Diversity: Woodpeckers excavate nest cavities in trees that benefit a suite of other wildlife species.
- Soil Sustainability: Drilling into trees to forage makes a contribution to the decomposition process, which ultimately provides nutrients to the soil.
Overall, the benefits of these birds extend beyond their immediate feeding habits, supporting a diverse range of species and contributing to ecosystem stability.
Woodpecker Conservation and Protection
The conservation and protection of woodpeckers is important for healthy ecosystems in Wisconsin. The primary threats to woodpeckers are:
- Habitat destruction.
- Climate change.
- Loss of habitat.
- Mortality from vehicles.
Conservation work in Wisconsin around woodpeckers is primarily focused on preserving natural habitats as these are critical to the state’s collections of woodpecker species.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is an endangered species of woodpecker in the state of Wisconsin, and is a beautiful bird that is listed as a Special Concern species in Wisconsin.
Woodpecker conservation on a broad level in Wisconsin includes:
- Promoting biodiversity of Wisconsin.
- Habitat protection and restoration.
- Public education.
- Social mitigation of environmental threats.
These are many of the needed tasks to ensure that these magnificent woodpeckers continue to thrive within their natural environments.
How To Attract Woodpeckers To Your Yard
It can be tremendously satisfying to attract woodpeckers to your yard and, in doing so, enrich yourself by enjoying the company of these captivating birds while also supporting your local wildlife.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Provide Feeders
If you want to encourage woodpeckers to visit your yard, add a couple of specialized feeders equipped to hold suet, a high-energy food source woodpeckers rely upon. Suet feeders work exceptionally well for attracting woodpeckers.
Native Plants
Add plants that woodpeckers love to your garden like native shrubs and trees that provide seeds and berries.
Provide natural food sources and appropriate habitats to bring these beautiful birds in.
Go Natural
Oaks and birch are great trees for Wisconsin. Woodpecker-friendly backyards also include dead trees or dying trees, since these trees act as both foraging and nesting sites. Don’t clean up too quickly!
By combining these ideas for creating your woodpecker-friendly backyards, you can create a welcoming space that supports woodpeckers and adds ecological value to your backyard.
Woodpecker Watching Tips
Here are some tips to help increase your chances of woodpecker sightings in Wisconsin.
- Location: For the best spots to see woodpeckers visit wooded areas, forests, and parks. All of these are great locations to see woodpeckers since they are often found in these locations.
- Timing: The best times to observe woodpeckers are early mornings and late afternoons. It is common for woodpeckers to be much more active during these times.
- Sounds: Sound can also help you locate woodpeckers. Typically, if they are in the proximity you can listen to their drumming sounds. Woodpecker’s will often drum to communicate and forage for food.
- Signs: Look for holes in trees or wood chips on the floor below trees. You are very likely witnessing evidence of a woodpecker!
- Flight: All woodpeckers have a very undulating flight style. Therefore, they are pretty easy to spot in the skies.
- Viewing: Please make sure to bring binoculars so you can see the distinct colors and patterns woodpeckers have.
- Take Your Time: Patience is really key with any birdwatching. Woodpeckers are sometimes difficult to see and your quiet vigilance is often needed; and they are often worth the time!
- Guides & Apps: If you are into woodpecker species identification, most likely there are local field guides or birding apps that document wisconsin woodpecker species. Field guides will better help you identify woodpecker species and have a better understanding of their habits and calls.
Wisconsin Woodpecker Species
Here’s our top Woodpecker Species List :
Pileated Woodpeckers
| Name | Dryocopus pileatus |
| Height | 15.8-19.3 inches (40-49 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 26-29.5 inches (66-75 centimeters) |
The Pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Wisconsin. With an impressive wingspan of 26–29.5 inches (66–75 centimeters), you will not miss a Pileated woodpecker flying by!
These birds have an almost prehistoric appearance, primarily black with white stripes on the face and white patches on their underwings, all capped off with a bright red crest that sweeps back on their head.
They are exceptionally loud with both their calls and pronounced drumming sounds.
You can definitely identify if a pileated has been in the area if you see some large rectangular-shaped holes in the trees.
Their preferred meal is carpenter ants, but they also eat…
- Wood-boring insects
- Ants
- Berries
- Fruit
- Suet
They are also known to come to feeders as well, so if you are wanting to see these birds your best bet would be to put a suet feeder out in your backyard!
Downy Woodpeckers
| Name | Picoides pubescens |
| Height | 5.5-6.7 inches (14-17 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 9.8-11.8 inches (25-30 centimeters) |
The Downy Woodpecker is a small species of woodpecker native to Wisconsin.
These small birds are black and white; they have a distinct white stripe down their back and their wings are black with white spots. The male Downy Woodpecker has a small red patch on the back of its head.
Even though the Downy Woodpecker is small, it has a strong beak and is able to drill into trees to extract insects and also enjoys eating fruit and seeds. The Downy Woodpecker will often come to backyard feeders for suet.
Hairy Woodpeckers
| Name | Picoides villosus |
| Height | 7.1-10.2 inches (18-26 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13-16.1 inches (33-41 centimeters) |
With regard to size, Hairy Woodpeckers share similarities with the smaller Downy woodpecker. The distinguishing characteristic between these two woodpeckers to look for is the bill, which is much larger in the Hairy Woodpecker.
- Downy Woodpecker: Short chisel-like bill.
- Hairy Woodpecker: Bill length is equal to the length of the head.
Hairy Woodpeckers eat many different things including insects, seeds, and fruit. They generally forage on larger trees.
They are black and white, with two white stripes on their face. They also have a red patch on the nape of their neck when they are males.
Like the Black-backed woodpecker and other woodpecker species, Hairy woodpeckers are also attracted to burnt or dying trees.
Red-Headed Woodpeckers (species of concern)
| Name | Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
| Height | 7.5-9.1 inches (19-23 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 16.5 inches (42 centimeters) |
These birds are an amazing sight! They feature a white body, half-white and half-black wings, and a flashy crimson-red head. Any birder would consider it a good day to see this woodpecker.
Red-headed woodpeckers are distinctly different from other woodpeckers in their habit of acrobatically feeding. They have been observed to hunt and capture insects in flight!
However, they are a “Special Concern” species in Wisconsin, so be sure to not disturb any habitat.
They take a variety of food including:
- Insects
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Fruit
They also store food (seeds and nuts) in tree crevices and save them for later!
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
| Name | Melanerpes carolinus |
| Height | 9.4 inches (24 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13-16.5 inches (33-42 centimeters) |
This species has a very distinctive look. The underside is pale, but the wings are beautiful, black-and-white barred, and they have a bright red cap and nape.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers enjoy insects, suet, seeds, fruit, and nuts. They will come to your feeder, so make sure to put out some snacks for them!
They can stick their tongue out 2 inches from their beaks!
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
| Name | Sphyrapicus varius |
| Height | 7.1-8.7 inches (18-22 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13.4-15.8 inches (34-40 centimeters) |
At the smaller end of the scale is the yellow-bellied sapsucker, which is fundamentally black and white.
They have a very strong black and white strip across their face, and this type of woodpecker has males and females with bright red foreheads, with the males featuring a red throat, a white or pale yellow belly, which gives them their name. They are migratory woodpeckers in Wisconsin.
They’re known for creating shallow holes to access tree sap. They also do create deeper holes for insects or beetles. They prefer to visit young birch and maple trees.
Hummingbirds will utilize the holes (sapwells) that yellow-bellied sapsuckers create to feed off the sap from the tree! Other birds and animals will feed off these holes too. These sapsuckers are very beneficial for the ecosystems in which they live!
Northern Flicker
| Name | Colaptes auratus |
| Height | 11-12.2 inches (28-31 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 16.5-20.1 inches (42-51 centimeters) |
Northern Flickers are large birds, but not as large as Pileated woodpeckers.
These birds are a light brown with stunning black-scalloped barring making them very attractive birds. They do have a black crescent on the chest area.
There are two types of Northern Flickers which can be determined by the color underneath the wings, either “Yellow-shafted” or “Red-shafted.”
- Yellow-shafted Flickers are more prevalent in the East.
- Red-shafted Flickers are more often seen in the West.
These are one of the noisiest woodpeckers in Wisconsin! They particularly like to drum on man-made materials like metal! They use these for communication and mating, as well as territory.
They can also be found on the ground looking for ants and beetles.
Black-Backed Woodpeckers (rare)
| Name | Picoides arcticus |
| Height | 9.1 inches (23 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 15.8-16.5 inches (40-42 centimeters) |
This rare woodpecker is characterized by the absence of a fourth toe; there are only 3 woodpecker species that do not have this fourth toe:
- Black-backed Woodpecker.
- American Three-toed Woodpecker.
- Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker.
The woodpecker is especially attracted to post-burn areas, as they can blend in among the burnt trees.
The Black-backed Woodpecker is dark in coloration with a black back and upper parts, has a white stripe (the “white mustache”) on its face, and slight black-and-white barring on its sides, while the males sport a prominent yellow patch on their foreheads.
Its beak is extremely powerful, often used to excavate wood-boring larvae and beetles.
This species can be found in Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin.
American Three-Toed Woodpeckers (rare)
| Name | Picoides dorsalis |
| Height | 8.3-9.1 inches (21-23 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 14.6-15.3 inches (37-39 centimeters) |
This unusual little woodpecker is smaller than the black-backed woodpecker.
It lacks a fourth toe so is appropriately named. With only three toes, it is thought to lean back further to get with heavier blows!
Coloration is black and white with a white stripe down their back. In the males, they have yellow foreheads.
Rather than boring deeply into the wood they generally flake off the bark instead.
American Three-Toed Woodpeckers subsist mostly on insects such as bark beetles and wood boring beetle larvae.