Did you know that the oldest Pileated Woodpecker lived to nearly 13 years old? There is a lot to learn about these cool birds!
There are approximately 390 species of Missouri birds including seven species of woodpeckers. In fact, woodpeckers are found all over the United States!
In this article, we’re going to go over everything and even explore some fascinating woodpeckers in Missouri.
So, continue reading our guide on woodpeckers found in Missouri, where we will cover their habitat, behavior, conservation, and how to attract woodpeckers!
Habitat and Distribution
Missouri has many types of woodpecker species and is teeming with habitat for these species to thrive. It is a fantastic state to observe woodpeckers!
Woodpecker Habitat In Missouri
The variety of habitats across the Missouri landscape supports many different species of woodpeckers.
Woodpeckers in Missouri exist in a variety of habitats, which include:
- Deciduous forests
- Mixed woodlands
- Riparian areas
- Orchards
- Urban parks with more mature trees
Best scenarios for woodpecker habitats are those that contain live trees and dead trees. Habitats that contain live and dead trees give woodpeckers unlimited food options and tree cavities for nesting, which can provide popular populations of them.
Woodpecker Migration Patterns In Missouri
In Missouri, woodpecker migration is quite specific to species.
Most woodpeckers in Missouri: Downy, Hairy, Pileated, and Red-bellied Woodpecker are permanent residents. They do not migrate from the state and reside in the state year-round.
There are woodpeckers that may migrate as noted with Northern Flickers and Red-Headed Woodpecker. Flickers will migrate to southern areas for winter if insects are not available.
A Red-Headed Woodpecker will migrate south but do return to Missouri in the spring for breeding.
The population movement of Red- Headed may include factors that include resources in southern areas and and migration based on weather conditions.
Where To Find Woodpeckers In Missouri
Missouri has a variety of habitats which is what makes it a great place to find woodpeckers.
Here are some locations to look for woodpeckers in Missouri..
- Ozark Mountains
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Wildcat Glades
- Roaring River State Park
- Big Oak Tree State Park
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
- Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
- Forest Park; St Louis
- Schell-Osage Conservation Area
- Busch Conservation Area
These areas will have the best opportunity for you to see these interesting birds.
Woodpecker Behavior And Characteristics
Woodpecker action and characteristics are really interesting! With their colorful plumage, strong bill and unique calls they really are fun birds to watch. Their habit of drumming is used to claim territory, look for food and attract mates.
Missouri Woodpecker Mating: Courtship Rituals, Nest Building, and Breeding Season
Alright, so woodpeckers when mating do a variety of interesting things or things that can be interesting depending on the species of woodpecker, but mating includes behaviors such as courtship rituals, proper nest site selection, nesting, and a proper breeding season.
Courtship Ritual: Males during breeding season often display elaborate courtship behavior to attract a mate. Courtship includes drumming on trees or man-made objects to create drumming sounds that often indicate territory and can be used to show off their fitness to females, some also have a type of flight display or just interesting postures to attract the mate.
Nesting: After the pair is established, they work together to prepare the nest. Woodpeckers will prefer dead or dying trees, they carve out cavities sometimes it takes weeks to prepare the cavity, they will then line the cavity with soft∗ materials from either plants or wood.
Breeding Season: The breeding season for woodpeckers in Missouri occurs in the spring to early summer; egg-laying will occur in the prepared nest cavity. Woodpeckers will share the duties of parents by taking turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks after hatching.
Woodpecker Sounds and Communication
Now, when you’re out birding, you may hear the distinct drumming woodpecker sounds in Missouri. These noises and their calls can serve many purposes, including:
- Finding food
- Communication with others
- Establishing territory
- Attracting a mate
When woodpeckers vocalize or drum, they’re communicating. In Missouri, the calls from woodpeckers vary by species as well. The drumming from a Pileated Woodpecker sounds like a pneumatic drill, while the Downy Woodpecker’s sounds are a quieter chatter.
Diet Of Missouri Woodpeckers
Wondering what do woodpeckers eat? Here’s a thoroughly breakdown of their feeding habits!
Although the winter is the colder part of a woodpecker’s yearly cycle, these birds do not cease feeding. You will, however, likely see them at your feeders during the winter when insect populations fall.
The woodpecker diet will differ by species and season, but in general, they will eat:
- Insects & Larvae: The main food source for most woodpeckers. They will drill into wood and bark to find beetles, ants, termites, and woodboring larvae using their extra powerful beak.
- Sap: Who doesn’t love tree sap? Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are well known for sucking on tree sap, they drill small holes in trees with their beaks to get to the sugary goodness.
- Fruits and Nuts: Woodpecker eating activity is often focused on looking for fruits, berries, or nuts, especially when insects are not so plentiful. For example, Red-headed Woodpeckers will store nuts and seeds under the bark of trees to eat later.
- Seeds: Woodpeckers will use seeds for extra food source in seasons when insects are difficult to acquire.
- Suet: Suet is a preferred food source for woodpeckers, it is high energy food that you can give to them with an easy feeder. Woodpeckers will appreciate it even more, in the winter time.
Woodpeckers in the Ecosystem
Missouri woodpeckers are important pieces to the environmental puzzle. Some examples of the benefits woodpeckers provide are:
Woodpeckers are an excellent pest control animal. They eat a variety of insects including beetles, ants, termites, and larvae and help control insect populations.
When woodpeckers eat insects, they are not only protecting the insect populations other animals rely on, but they also help to save trees by reducing the insect damage.
Were you aware they are providing little homes for other species? Woodpecker nesting cavities provide critical nesting and denning sites for all kinds of other species, including owls, bats, and small mammals.
Woodpeckers contribute a lot to biodiversity and forest health. They forage for insects to eat (like other birds) and make cavities to nest in, they help nutrient cycling and tree decomposition, and thus contribute to healthier habitats.
Woodpecker Conservation
Missouri woodpeckers are having a hard time because of a few things;
- Habitat Loss.
- Cutting Trees.
- Climate Change.
- Urban Development.
- Vehicle Mortalities.
The Ivory-billed woodpecker is a culturally significant bird to Missouri. In Missouri the unregulated practices logged them to extirpation or locally extinct: extirpation means it does not exist in that location, extinction means it no longer exists at all. Extinction means forever gone.
The Ivory-billed has had claimed sightings in Florida and Arkansas, but it is considered critically imperiled here in the United States.
The Red-cockaded woodpecker also has had extirpation in Missouri, from logging, fire suppression, and humans moving into their habitat.
The Red-headed woodpecker is on the “Near Threatened” list. The woodpeckers as a whole need conservation so these birds can not only exist, but thrive.
Woodpecker Conservation in Missouri deals with;
- Habitat protection.
- Keeping dead and dying trees that can be potential woodpecker habitat.
- Reducing pesticide use.
- Providing research assistance.
- Educating the general public.
How To Attract Woodpeckers To Your Yard In Missouri
So, attracting these cool birds to your home isn’t complicated. We will discuss building woodpecker friendly habitat and planting native trees, bird feeders, and suet. We can help support woodpecker populations, biodiversity, and ecosystems where you live!
Provide Feeders
There are specialized feeders that have spaces for seeds or suet to attract these birds. Suet is an ideal high-energy food source that is especially helpful during the cold winter months.
Some species, like the Downy Woodpecker, have even been seen visiting hummingbird feeders!
Native Plants
If you want to add woodpecker-friendly plants to your yard, you can’t go wrong with native trees and shrubs that bear seeds and berries.
One of the most effective ways to entice these amazing birds, is to provide them with food!
Stop Tidying Your Yard!
Dead trees and decaying wood are important for woodpecker habitat. They serve as foraging and nesting locations.
If you are able and it is safe to do so, please leave any large logs lying on the ground. A wide variety of beetles and insects will make their home and provide food for the woodpeckers.
Don’t be too hasty to clean up!
Woodpecker Watching Tips
So, you wanna spot some woodpeckers in Missouri, huh? Here are some tips to help you get there.
- Location: Get to wooded or forested areas.
- Timing: Woodpeckers are often most active in the early mornings and late afternoons. Plan for these times when birding.
- Sounds: Woodpeckers drum on trees, which should help you locate them.
- Signs: Look for holes in trees or wood chips on the ground, as these are good signs of woodpecker activity!
- Flight: Look for a characteristic wave-like or undulating flight pattern. The woodpeckers’ flight pattern is easy to see from a distance!
- Viewing: Bring binoculars to help you get close enough to identify the species, and don’t forget your camera to take photos of their great colors and patterns.
- Take Your Time: Unlike your children, you must be patient with birds! Woodpeckers sometimes play hard to get and require some quiet observation. They’ll be worth the wait!
- G uides & Apps: Use any local field guides or birding apps for identifying species in Missouri. They help you to identify different woodpeckers and understand their habits and calls. I never go birding without my handy would-be assistant, my Merlin Bird ID App!
- Bird Safety: Never force birds or their nests and chicks.
- Observation Etiquette: Always respect other birders and any other wildlife.
Missouri Woodpecker Species
Here’s all the details on the seven types of woodpeckers found across Missouri:
Pileated Woodpeckers
| Name | Dryocopus pileatus |
| Height | 15.8-19.3 inches (40-49 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 26-29.5 inches (66-75 centimeters) |
You can’t miss the Pileated Woodpecker size since it is the largest woodpecker species in the area. It’s impressive wingspan is between 26 to 29.5 inches (66 – 75 centimeters).
It has a unique look that is almost prehistoric, black feathers with white stripes on its face, and large white patches on the underwings.
The vibrant crest is bright-red and sweeping back on the head, giving it a dramatic look. You’ll most definitely see a Pileated Woodpecker fly by!
Many people say the Pileated Woodpecker sound is loud! Their loud calls and pronounced drumming sounds match their size!
Pileated Woodpeckers are often marked easily by their large rectangular holes made on trees as they forage, so remember to take notice of these.
Their primary diet consists of carpenter ants but also includes wood-boring insects, some other ants, berries, fruit and suet. To have these magnificent creatures visit your backyard, you could set a suet feeder out for them.
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 the littlest bird in the area. These little guys are black and white in coloring, they have a very distinct white stripe on their backs and white blotches on their black wings. The males also have a red splotch on the back of their heads.
They really like eating insects, fruit, seeds, and suet, you are sure to see them as regular visitors at any backyard feeder.
Hairy Woodpeckers
| Name | Picoides villosus |
| Height | 7.1-10.2 inches (18-26 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13-16.1 inches (33-41 centimeters) |
Hairy Woodpeckers are frequently mistaken for their little cousin the Downy Woodpecker because they look so similar. The best way to tell the two species apart is with the length of their bills:
- Downy: Short chisel-like bill
- Hairy: Bill is as long as its head.
Almost identical to the Downy, Hairy Woodpeckers look black and white with two distinct white stripes on the face. The males have red on the nape of their neck.
Hairy Woodpeckers, too, will visit your feeders and enjoy eating fruit and seeds alongside insects.
Red-Headed Woodpeckers (species of concern)
| Name | Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
| Height | 7.5-9.1 inches (19-23 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 16.5 inches (42 centimeters) |
You can’t miss a Red-Headed Woodpecker! They are sometimes called a checker-board, as they have black/white wings, a white body, and a solid red head.
Red-headed woodpeckers are unique hunters and catch their insects mid-air! Look for them in literary flights of daring while hunting.
Like all woodpeckers, they are omnivores. They eat insects, nuts, seeds, and fruit!
They also steal seeds and nuts in tree crevices and go back to them when food runs out!
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
| Name | Melanerpes carolinus |
| Height | 9.4 inches (24 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13-16.5 inches (33-42 centimeters) |
Red-bellied woodpeckers’ tongues are extremely long! They can stick their tongues out about 2 inches from the end of their beak!
These stunning birds have black and white barred wings, bright red head and neck, and a light body.
Red-bellied woodpeckers eat insects, suet, seeds, fruit, and nuts.
Unfortunate, about half of red-bellied woodpeckers’ nests get taken over by starlings.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
| Name | Sphyrapicus varius |
| Height | 7.1-8.7 inches (18-22 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 13.4-15.8 inches (34-40 centimeters) |
While we call them ‘yellow-bellied’ unique to them, it’s not yellow that stands out about them! Sometimes they have white or pale yellow bellies!
They are black and white birds typically, patterned in black and whiute stripes on their face. They also have a bright red forehead, and males have a red throat.
Interestingly, hummingbirds, other birds and other animals will take advantage of the holes (sapwells) that the Yellow-bellied sapsuckers make to feed off of the tree sap! Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are an important player in any ecosystem!
Northern Flickers
| Name | Colaptes auratus |
| Height | 11-12.2 inches (28-31 centimeters) |
| Wingspan | 16.5-20.1 inches (42-51 centimeters) |
When you learn a Northern Flicker’s call, you’re sure to hear them a mile away! They use their drumming sound for communication, courtship, and territory, so these birds are loud!
But they are also pretty! They have a distinct black crescent on their chest, black-scalloped barring and a general pale color. The underside of their wings flashes yellow or red, depending on type.
- Yellow-shafted flickers are seen more in the East.
- Red-shafted flickers are seen more in the West.
Unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers are often found on the ground looking for ants and beetles. So look out for them when walking through leaves!