Woodpeckers are some of the most interesting birds in Georgia. They are expert climbers and can be found scaling trees searching for food. Woodpeckers are also known for their striking plumage, pecking noises, and pointed beaks.
While Georgia hosts a number of unique birds, there are eight species of woodpeckers in Georgia. Each with its own distinct appearance and sound. Below you’ll find a description of each woodpecker in Georgia and photographs and information on where you may spot them.
- Red-Bellied Woodpecker
- Red-Headed Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is frequently mistaken for the colorful Red-Headed Woodpecker due to its red cap, but it is considerably smaller and lighter in color.
Color Pattern
The Red-bellied woodpecker is light in color, with a prominent black and white striped back. It has a bright red nape and cap, which are both eye-catching. This woodpecker may be identified by looking for white spots near the wingtips as it flies.
Size and Shape
A sleek, round-headed woodpecker roughly the same size as a Hairy Woodpecker but has smoother lines. According to All About Birds, they are between a Robin and a Crow in size.
- Male & Female
- Length: 9.4 in
- Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
- Wingspan: 13.0-16.5 in
- Life Expectancy: 12 Years
Behavior
You can find Red-Bellied Woodpeckers along branches and the bottom of trunks of medium to large trees picking at the bark instead of drilling into it. These birds, like other woodpeckers, have a distinctive wavy flight style.
Males are responsible for picking the nesting site and will begin to dig out the cavity. They then attempt to attract a female by calling and softly tapping on or in the wood around the cavity site. She will then tap along with him and assist in putting the final touches on the nest cavity if she accepts his proposal.
Where to spot Red-bellied Woodpeckers in Georgia?
You can commonly find Red-bellied Woodpeckers in the woodlands of Georgia. They love old oak and hickory; you will also find them enjoying young hardwoods and pines. You will also find them venturing from forests to your backyard feeders.
An easy way to spot these woodpeckers is by learning its loud, shrill call, which tends to be most active in the spring and summer.
How to attract Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Red-Bellied Woodpeckers are known for being entertaining and will usually visit year-round. If you’re looking to attract Red-Bellied woodpeckers to your backyard in Georgia, there are a few things you can do.
Living close to wooded areas gives you a big advantage in getting these woodpeckers to your yard. Suet baskets are a great option one tends to be a favorite among woodpeckers, a peanut suet.
Hopper feeders are also popular with woodpeckers; you can fill them with peanuts and occasionally sunflower seeds.
You may even find them visiting hummingbird feeders to enjoy the nectar inside. They eat berries and fruit, so by planting such trees/shrubs, you will have a good chance of attracting Red-bellied Woodpeckers to your backyard. Blueberry, huckleberry, elderberry, black raspberry, and blackberry are all native berries in Georgia.
Quick Reminder: Red-bellied Woodpeckers can be bullies at feeders and will drive away almost all bird species except Blue Jays.
Red-headed Woodpecker
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a bright red head that is easily recognized. This magnificent Woodpecker has a snow-white body, half white and black wings, and an entirely crimson head.
Color Pattern
Adults have bright-red heads, white underparts, and black backs with big white patches on their wings when perched, giving the lower back a completely white appearance.
The head of an immature is gray-brown, and the white wing patches are bordered with rows of black dots.
Size and Shape
Red-headed Woodpeckers are medium-sized with a large rounded head, short tails, and spiky beaks. They are about the size of a Hairy Woodpecker between a Robin and Crow.
- Male & Female
- Length: 7.5-9.1 in
- Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
- Wingspan: 16.5 in
- Life Expectancy: 9-12 Years
Behavior
The Red-headed Woodpecker, like other woodpeckers, captures food by hammering on trees. They are also known for hunting insects on the ground and catching them in flight. Fruit and seeds are among some of their favorite foods as well.
They are excellent fliers with a level-type flight. You will find these woodpeckers climbing up tree trunks and limbs and often staying in one spot for long periods of time.
Interesting Fact: The Red-headed Woodpecker is the only one of the four North American woodpeckers that store food and is known to cover the food with wood or bark.
The Red-headed Woodpecker’s raspy call is somewhat shriller and scratchier than the Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Both males and females perform an aggressive bobbing, which entails pointing their head forward and dropping their wings while angling their tails in the air. They become very territorial during the breeding season, which frequently leads to aggression.
Where to spot Red-headed Woodpeckers in Georgia?
Red-headed Woodpeckers can be found in open woodlands/forests, near dead timber swamps, and pine savannahs.
Take your time, listening for tapping or drumming, and keep an eye out for flashes of black and white contrast woodpeckers as they fly between perches. In bright light, the redhead might be difficult to notice. But a for sure “Weah” scream will expose the Red-headed Woodpecker.
How to attract Red-headed Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Red-headed Woodpeckers may visit your backyard feeders in winter. They especially love suet, but they will also eat seeds, corn, acorns, beechnuts, pecans, and different fruits.
As with any woodpecker leaving dying or dead trees in your backyard will encourage nesting while giving them a natural food source of insects.
Red-headed Woodpeckers can be aggressive, and they will join in fights with other birds, including the European Starling and the Pileated Woodpecker.
If you’re looking for a beautiful woodpecker with uniqueness and bold colors, the Red-headed Woodpecker is your go-to.
Downy Woodpecker
The energetic Downy Woodpecker is common at backyard feeders and commonly spotted in parks and woodlots. They prefer to be in flocks with chickadees and nuthatches, being somewhat bigger than the birds they accompany.
This black-and-white woodpecker, a frequently acrobatic forager, enjoys perching on little twigs and balancing on slender plant galls. The Downy Woodpecker is a lookalike of their imposing larger brother, the Hairy Woodpecker.
Color Pattern
Downy Woodpeckers have a checkered black-and-white appearance. The head is boldly striped, and the back has a broad white stripe down the center, with black on the wings layered with white dots. Males have a tiny red patch on the back of their heads.
Size and Shape
The Downy Woodpecker is a miniature version of the typical woodpecker’s physique. They have a straight, chisel-like beak, a blocky head, broad shoulders, and a straight-backed posture as they lean onto their tail feathers. The bill of the Downy Woodpecker appears small in size compared to that of other woodpeckers.
The Downy Woodpecker is tiny, between a Sparrow and a Robin in size.
- Male & Female
- Length: 5.5-6.7 in
- Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz
- Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in
- Life Expectancy: 1-12 years
Behavior
Downy Woodpeckers are tiny acrobats that hitch around tree branches and trunks or plunge into tall weeds to eat galls, moving more easily than larger woodpeckers.
Their flight method is distinct among most woodpeckers, with a smooth fall and rise. Downy Woodpeckers make a lot of noise with their shrill whinny call and constant drumming on trees.
Where to spot Downy Woodpeckers in Georgia?
The Downy Woodpecker is a familiar sight at backyard feeders, residential areas, and woodlots, where it joins flocks of chickadees and nuthatches.
If you are looking to spot a Downy Woodpecker, listen for a high-pitched whinny call.
Look for Downy Woodpeckers in open woodlands, among edges of trees and bushes. You can even find them in orchards, city parks, your backyard, and vacant lots.
How to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Out of the eight species of woodpeckers in Georgia, the Downy Woodpecker is most likely to visit your backyard feeder.
Suet feeders are the easiest way to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your yard. Suet blocks are one of their favorites. They also enjoy black oil, sunflower seeds, millet, peanuts, and even peanut butter with chunks of peanuts, among other things.
To mix it up a bit, they are even known for drinking from oriole or hummingbird feeders to enjoy some sweet nectar.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
In the woods, you may notice rows of shallow holes in tree bark. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, an interesting woodpecker that sucks up leaking sap and any trapped insects with its specialized brush-tipped tongue, is responsible for this.
You can spot one by listening for their high-pitched mewing call or their repetitive drumming.
Color Pattern
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are black and white with boldly patterned facial features. Both males and females have a red forehead. Males have a crimson throat while females have a white throat. A long white line runs down the folded wing.
Black-and-white stripes run from the face toward a black chest shield and a whitish or yellowish underbelly. Juveniles have a brownish tint and a spotted crown.
Size and Shape
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are small woodpeckers with straight beaks. At rest, the long wings extend halfway to the tip of the stiff, pointed tail. Sapsuckers frequently raise their crown feathers up in a sort of peak at the back of the head.
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is larger than the Downy Woodpecker but smaller than the Hairy Woodpecker. They are about the size of a Robin.
- Male & Female
- Length- 7.1-8.7 in
- Weight- 1.5-1.9 oz
- Wingspan- 13.4-15.8 in
- Life Expectancy- 7 years
Behavior
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers will perch upright on trees and limbs with their tails like other woodpeckers. They regularly feed on tiny holes they drill into tree bark that is neatly organized into rows.
In a stuttering rhythm, sapsuckers drum on trees and metal structures.
Where to spot Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Georgia?
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are usually found in young deciduous forests. If you come across a neat, organized row of holes drilled into trees, you’ve arrived in their territory. They will most likely be tending to their sap wells or perched at the top of tree branches searching for insects.
How to attract Yellow-bellied Sapsucker to your backyard?
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers aren’t frequent visitors to bird feeders and it’s quite rare for one to visit your backyard. However, they have been found at a few feeders such as the suet feeder, doughnut feeder, and hummingbird feeders.
To attract Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers into your backyard try putting out a suet feeder or hummingbird feeder while maybe adding some sap trees to your yard.
These sapsuckers are known to drill holes into more than 1,000 species of trees and plants. However, they have a great liking for birches and maple trees.
If you live in the sapsucker’s range and have young birch or maple trees on your property, you might get to witness one drilling holes to reach the sap.
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium powerful lookalike of their cousin the Downy Woodpecker. Loves to forage along the trunks and branches of large trees. Its bill is much longer than the Downy Woodpecker.
The Hairy Woodpecker has a somewhat military bearing, with an upright, straight-backed posture and a cleanly stripped head. You can find them near suet or sunflower feeders and listen for them whinnying in wooded areas, parks, and forests.
Color Pattern
Hairy Woodpeckers are a striking combination of black and white. The black wings have white checks; the head has two white stripes ( in males, a flash of red toward the back of the head). Down the center of the black back is a large white patch.
Size and Shape
A typical medium-sized woodpecker with a square head, a long, straight, chisel-like beak, and stiff, long tail feathers which to lean on while perching on trees. The bill is almost as long as the head.
The Hairy Woodpecker is about three times larger than the Downy Woodpecker, about the size of a Robin.
- Male & Female
- Length-7.1-10.2 in
- Weight-1.4-3.4 oz
- Wingspan-13.0-16.1 in
- Life Expectancy- 11-15 years
Behavior
Hairy Woodpeckers hike up tree trunks and main branches, much like other woodpeckers. They feed along fallen logs and even on the ground from time to time. They have a slow-undulating flight style typical of other woodpeckers.
Where to spot Hairy Woodpeckers in Georgia?
Hairy Woodpeckers can be found in mature forests, woodlots, suburbs, parks, and the edges of forests. They also can be found in open woodlands of oak and pine.
You might find a Hairy Woodpecker on the trunks or main branches of trees if you scan them for a boldly colored black and white bird.
Listen for their shrill squeal or furious peek call. If you remain standing quietly while Hairy Woodpeckers forage, you can frequently hear them tapping with energy.
How to attract Hairy Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Hairy Woodpeckers will visit suet, peanut, and black oil sunflower feeders, especially in the winter, when food is limited. If you are trying to attract a Hairy Woodpecker or any woodpecker a suet feeder with peanut suet is usually your best choice.
If your trees can be left standing safely, a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers may try to construct a nest in the vicinity of deadwood or dying parts.
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a large, brown woodpecker with a pleasant demeanor and beautiful black-scalloped plumage.
Keep in mind that on a walk, you may surprise one from the ground. It’s not where you’d think to find a woodpecker, but flickers consume mostly ants and beetles by digging for them with their unusual slightly curved bill.
When they soar, you’ll notice a flash of color in the wings: yellow if you’re in the East, red if you’re in the West. A brilliant white halo appears on their rump as well.
Color Pattern
Northern Flickers have a brownish appearance with a white patch on their rump that is visible in flight and when perched. Males of the East have a red nape, black whisker, yellow shaft on the flight, and tail feathers. Males of the West have a red whisker, upper brownish-gray body, and red underneath wings.
Females can have a yellow or red shaft, a peachy brown-colored face, a gray crown and nape, and a red spot on the nape. If you look closely you will see a brown plumage with a bold pattern of black spots on male and female.
Size and Shape
Flickers are large woodpeckers with a slim, rounded head, somewhat downcurved beak, and long, flared tail that tapers to a point. Flickers are between a Robin and Crow.
- Male & Female
- Length-11.0-12.2 in
- Weight-3.9-5.6 oz
- Wingspan-16.5-20.1
- Life Expectancy- 6-9 years
Behavior
Northern Flickers spend a lot of time on the ground or perched upright in trees. They don’t normally lean against their tails like other woodpeckers in trees or on other surfaces. They fly in an up then down path using large flaps with glides.
Where to spot Northern Flicker Woodpeckers in Georgia?
Look for Northern Flickers in open woodlands or forests’ edges, but scan the ground. In-flight, look for the obvious white rump patch. Listen for their loud, ringing call and piercing yelp as well.
Look for flickers in open habitats near trees, such as woodlands, edges, yards, and parks.
How to attract Northern Flicker Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Northern Flickers aren’t known for frequent visits to bird feeders, but you can find them in backyards and around birdbaths. If your backyard has a mix of trees and open space or is near woods, you may encounter Northern Flickers as you walk around the edges.
Consider constructing a nest box to attract a breeding pair of Northern Flickers. Make sure you install it early enough before the nesting season begins.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a threatened woodpecker that can be found in the Southeastern United States. They typically reside in longleaf pine forests and are the only woodpecker in North America that lives exclusively in pine trees.
The males have a small red stripe on the side of their head, and the females have a white patch.
Color Pattern
They are mostly black and white, with a large bright-white cheek patch and a bold black malar stripe that extends down the jaw. Males have a tiny, barely noticeable red streak (“cockade”) at the top of the cheek. The back is marked by strong horizontal black-and-white stripes.
Size and Shape
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a tiny woodpecker with a short beak about the size of a robin.
- Male & Female
- Length-7.9-9.1 in
- Weight-1.5-1.8 oz
- Wingspan-14.2 in
- Life Expectancy- 12 years
Behavior
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers live in family groups and work together to raise their young. They forage in small groups frequently and can be vocal. In living pine trees, they excavate nest and roost cavities by drilling holes in the bark to maintain a flow of sticky pitch around the nest cavity.
Where to spot Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Georgia?
Because much of this species’ original range has been destroyed by logging, your best chance of detecting it is in national wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal reserves that can preserve and manage large areas of habitat.
In places where public access is allowed you’ll be able to spot Red-cockaded Woodpeckers near their nests or in foraging locations. Look for open stands of old pines with little growth in the understory. You won’t find these woodpeckers in dense vegetation.
Sap flowing down the trunk near the cavities makes nest and roost trees easy to spot; however, remember that the birds usually have numerous such sites in their domain.
How to attract Red-cockaded Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Since this species is endangered you probably won’t be attracting many Red-cockaded Woodpeckers to your backyard.
However, if you reside near a bunch of old pine trees, ones that are infected with red heart fungus, then you may have a chance of spotting a Red-cockaded Woodpecker near your yard.
Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of North America’s biggest, most stunning tree birds. It’s nearly the size of a crow and has bright white stripes on its neck and a blazing-red crest.
Look for Pileated Woodpeckers hammering at dead trees and fallen logs in search of carpenter ants, leaving distinctive rectangular holes. The nesting cavities that these birds create offer important refuge to a variety of species, including other birds.
Color Pattern
Pileated Woodpeckers are mostly black with white stripes on their face and neck with a bold red crest. Males have a small red stripe on their cheek where females don’t.
During flight, this woodpecker reveals white underneath its wings and small white crescents on its upper side.
Size and Shape
The Pileated Woodpecker is a huge woodpecker with a long neck and a triangular crest. The bill is long and chisel-shaped, about as long as the head. In-flight, the wings are broad and resemble those of a crow.
About the same size as an American Crow.
- Male & Female
- Length-15.8-19.3 in
- Weight-8.8-12.3 oz
- Wingspan-26.0-29.5 in
- Life Expectancy-12 years
Behavior
Pileated Woodpeckers use their beaks to drill unusual rectangular-shaped holes in decaying wood in order to reach carpenter ants and other insects. They have a loud, whinnying call.
The heavy pounding of drumming, on dead trees in a deep, slow, rolling manner, and the loud chopping sound of foraging are relatively loud. Their flight undulates in the same manner as other woodpeckers’, aiding to distinguish them from a crow’s straight path.
Where to spot Pileated Woodpeckers in Georgia?
The Pileated Woodpecker is a species of forest bird that requires huge, standing dead trees and fallen wood for nesting. Forests are typically old, especially in the Western United States. In the East, they may be found in young forests as well as partially wooded areas and backyards.
Look for Pileated Woodpeckers in areas of mature forest with a lot of dead trees and fallen logs the excavation of rotten wood is an unmistakable sign of this species.
Also listen for the deep, loud tapping and shrill whinny calls of this bird. Pileated Woodpeckers may be found at any height in trees and are often found along the logs and base of the tree foraging for food.
How to attract Pileated Woodpeckers to your backyard?
Pileated Woodpeckers are attracted to backyard bird feeders in particular peanut suet.
Consider leaving dead or dying trees and snags on your property alone if you have them, since they may attract Pileated Woodpeckers (as well as other woodpeckers).
Put up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. Make sure you install it before the breeding season begins and keep it clean.
Check out this post: How To Attract Pileated Woodpeckers: 8 Guaranteed Ways
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Attract Woodpeckers to Your Backyard?
If you’re looking to attract woodpeckers to your backyard, there are a few things you can do.
- Provide food source, (suet feeders or doughnut feeders)
- A water source, (birdbath)
- Provide nesting spots, (nesting box)
- Leave fallen or dead trees
When to See Woodpeckers in Georgia?
Woodpeckers can be seen throughout the year in Georgia, but they are most commonly seen during the spring and summer. During these times, woodpeckers can be found foraging for food and making nest cavities in trees.
What Woodpeckers can be seen in Georgia?
There are eight different woodpecker species that can be seen in Georgia.
- Red-Bellied Woodpecker
- Red-Headed Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
Are Woodpeckers Protected In Georgia?
The woodpecker is a migratory, non-game bird that is protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Act.
So, yes Georgia’s woodpeckers are protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Without a license or permit, you are not permitted to kill or capture these birds.
Is It Illegal To Shoot A Woodpecker In Georgia?
It is illegal to kill and shoot woodpeckers in Georgia since the woodpecker is a migratory species. They are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Act.
What’s the largest woodpecker in Georgia?
The largest woodpecker in Georgia is the Pileated Woodpecker. This woodpecker is approximately 15-19 inches and can weigh up to 12 ounces. It has a large, long beak that it uses to drill rectangular holes into wood in order to access insects.
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