Woodpeckers are like living percussionists, making everyone a fan of their sensational drumming abilities.
Getting to stay among these species is like experiencing a live orchestra with the touch of natural rhythm and balanced melody.
They are a common species in different parts of the world and regions of the United States, including Mexico, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Maine, Oklahoma, etc.
The natural symphony of the Woodpecker species adds extra stunning layers of ambiance in their habitat areas.
Moreover, their presence can indicate good forest growth and work as pest control. Hence, their existence is significant for visually and ecologically enhancing the environment.
So, all the woodpecker enthusiasts of Oklahoma gather up because this article is about to get you acquainted with 14 striking species that will help you in your bird-watching treasure hunt.
Contents
Oklahoma’s Woodpecker Diversity: An Insight into the 14 Species
Woodpeckers have made a permanent place in the hearts of bird enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike in every part of the world. Some of their species can be found in Oklahoma, as well.
Let’s scroll through to get to know them a little better.
Easily Detectable 12 Woodpecker In Oklahoma
There are a total of 14 playfully gorgeous woodpecker species found in Oklahoma. Among them, you can find 12 species hovering in their natural habitat without much difficulty.
This section is about these easily identifiable ones.
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Source: @andeejmiller
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Size: 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 inches)
- Locality: Northern America, Southern Canada, East-Central United States
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April through July
The Red-headed Woodpecker is known for defending its territory aggressively. Usually, the males establish their territory during the breeding season and attract their mates by creating drumming noise. After they become pairs and claim their dominion, this behavior is perceived by both parents. They do not put up with any birds coming onto their nests. Sometimes, the Red-headed Woodpecker even attacks birds like duck nests and destroys their eggs. Moreover, if they notice any other eggs or nestlings in their nests, then they don’t even hesitate to remove them.
Dietary Habits
Being an omnivorous species, the Red-headed Woodpecker has a wide array of diets, including insects, fruits, nuts, plants, and even small rodents. It has a habit of hiding and storing its food covered with wood or bark. They even cache grasshoppers in their hiding places alive. Moreover, it uses fence posts, wood cracks, and roof shingles to stock its food.
Pileated Woodpecker
Source: @zio_marcello
- Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
- Size: 40 to 49 cm (16 to 19 in)
- Locality: Eastern North America, Parts of Canada, and Pacific Coast
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late March and Early April
The Pileated Woodpecker is famed among bird enthusiasts and birds of different species for their ability to make large nest cavities in trees. They typically prefer large-sized trees for nesting. This species uses the largest remaining trees in relatively young forests before deforestation. It makes them a lightning hazard to other nesting birds. Once they create a nest, they hardly ever use it for a second time. They brood in their nest and leave them for good. These several abandoned nests then become home for other songbirds, owls, ducks, bats, pine martens, etc.
Dietary Habits
Predominantly insectivorous, the Pileated Woodpecker consumes primarily carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. This species consumes fruits, nuts, berries, etc. Moreover, the Pileated Woodpecker creates rectangular-shaped holes in trees and large ant colonies in search of these ants. Sometimes, the holes created by the Pileated Woodpeckers can break a small-sized tree in half. Their enthusiastic excavation for food attracts other birds as well. Occasionally, birds of the same species or House Wrens visit their cavities to feed themselves.
Downy Woodpecker
Source: @flwgt071
- Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens
- Size: 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in)
- Locality: United States and Canada
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April and June
The Downy Woodpecker is celebrated for its various vocal abilities. One of the most distinct sounds of this species is the “pik” call. The other callings include a rattle call, drumming sounds, etc. The rattle call is similar to the sound of a bouncing ball, while the drumming sound is similar to four taps. They produce drumming sounds while pecking into trees. Novice bird watchers might think that it’s part of their feeding habit. But in reality, it isn’t.
Dietary Habits
Primarily, Downy Woodpeckers prefer consuming a diverse range of insects. They can be spotted reaching for them from the top of the trees or stems of seeds. The males and females divide the food-searching regions during winter while looking for food. The smaller branches possess more food products, and the males keep the females away from these spots. Males tend to search for food in relatively small branches than females. They prefer getting their insects where no one can reach them. Sometimes, they feed on seeds and berries as well.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Source: @edistoislandopenlandtrust
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus
- Size: 22.85 to 26.7 cm (9.00 to 10.51 in)
- Locality: Eastern United States, Canada
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Spring and Summer
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker is recognized for being noisy with a wide variation of callings. Their songs have been transcribed as churr-churr-churr, thrraa-thrraa-thrraa, or br-r-r-r-t. They create a subtle “grr, grr” sound while in courtship. Both sexes make drumming noises that sound similar to six taps. The males and females make these calls to attract their breeding mates and include it as their courtship display. This drumming sound is more frequent among males. The younglings, on the other hand, have a pree-pree-pree call. They tend to call for their parents and make this sound while coming across them.
Dietary Habits
Predominantly omnivorous, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker primarily prefers different varieties of arthropods found on tree trunks. Occasionally, they consume insects while in flight. Sometimes, the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers use their tongues and sticky spit to snatch their prey. Males tend to have longer tongues than females. They prefer foraging on fruits, nuts, seeds, etc. If the nuts are large enough, they jam them in the cracks of barks and break them with their beaks to eat them more comfortably.
Northern Flicker
Source: @kerrykey_
- Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
- Size: 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in)
- Locality: Alaska to Nicaragua
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to June
The Northern Flicker is popular among bird lovers for its sustained laugh-like sounds, which can be transcribed as a “ki ki ki ki” sound. Occasionally, they create a drumming noise, which is similar to a knocking sound. They tend to drum on trees and even metal objects to claim territory. Moreover, they use this as a form of communication as well as a territorial defense mechanism. If it’s for establishing their dominion, then they try to make noises as loud as possible. It is the reason why they choose to drum on metals.
Dietary Habits
Flickers are the only type of Woodpeckers that prefer foraging on the ground, despite being fully able to climb up trees. They hammer their way and excavate deep into the ground, similar to other woodpeckers drilling on trees. They bring out nutritious larvae from the underground ant colonies and feed them. Primarily, they prefer consuming various insects, especially ants. Moreover, they consume fruits, berries, seeds, nuts, etc. Often, this species has been spotted foraging on different types of invertebrates, including butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. On rare occasions, they feed on the insects living in cow dung.
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Source: @jay_shrike
- Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus borealis
- Size: 18 to 23 cm (7.1 to 9.1 in)
- Locality: Southeastern United States
- Status: Near Threatened
- Breeding Season: Between April and June
The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker creates cavities in the shape of heart rot and lives there peacefully. They create their nest cavities in a strategic manner that helps them get away from predators when necessary. Moreover, their nest cavities have additional spaces that expand both upward and downward, creating enough area for the species to hide safely.
Dietary Habits
Possessing a strong preference for large trees, the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker forages on pine trees, hardwoods, cornfields, etc. Primarily, they search for ants, beetles, cockroaches, caterpillars, wood-boring insects, spiders, etc. However, on various occasions, they have been spotted feeding on fruits, nuts, seeds, berries, etc.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Source: @nature_worldwide_birds
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius
- Size: 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.25 in)
- Locality: Canada, eastern Alaska, and the northeastern United States
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to July
The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is credited for employing different sounds to refer to different activities. The males usually make a “neaaah,” “owee-owee,” “wee-wee-wee-wee,” or “kwee-urk” sound as a courtship call. They create these different types of sounds within their own territory to attract mates for breeding. While meeting with different families, they make a “week week” or “wurp wurp” sound as a greeting. While in pairs, on the other hand, they create a “quirk quirk” call.
Dietary Habits
The majority of the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker’s diet includes arthropods, tree sap, fruits, nuts, and berries. Occasionally, this species feeds on bast, cambium, and buds. Depending on the seasons, the primary choice for food changes. Usually, they prefer foraging on their own. However, during winter, now and then, they mix with different insectivorous flocks.
Golden-Fronted Woodpecker
Source: @avesdecddelcarmen
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes aurifrons
- Size: 22 to 26 cm (8.7 to 10 inches)
- Locality: The Southern United States, Mexico, and Parts of Central America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Early to Mid-March
Usually, the Golden-Fronted Woodpecker creates sounds that get repeated in a series. These sounds include a “kirrr” and a “tig tig” sound. The first sound is more like a loud and harsh note, whereas the second one is just a raspy noise. Sometimes, they create a rapid drumming noise as well, which is relatively slow.
Dietary Habits
The Golden-Fronted Woodpecker has a wide array of dietary preferences. Primarily, it prefers to feed on diverse kinds of arthropods, aerial insects, fruits, nuts, berries, corn, etc. Occasionally, they go around preying on other birds’ eggs. It mainly hovers around trees or open grassy grounds, searching for food. Sometimes, it takes peak underbrush as well.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Source: @dave_renwald
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes lewis
- Size: 25 to 28 cm (10 to 11 inches)
- Locality: The Western United States
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late April to July
The name “Lewis’s Woodpecker” sounds like it’s someone’s personal pet. Alexander Wilson, a poet, and ornithologist, named the bird. It got its name after Meriwether Lewis, the renowned explorer who first described this species. The bird is now globally recognized for being one of the largest American woodpecker species.
Dietary Habits
Lewis’s Woodpecker employs several techniques to catch its prey. Their feeding behavior is uncommon for woodpecker species. Sometimes, it uses its bill to bore into trees. Moreover, it even employs aerial hunting techniques. It feeds on insects, berries, nuts, etc. During the winter, it stores its nuts and shells in its nest cavities. From time to time, it visits the bird feeders that are flat and left open. However, during these visits, they act aggressively toward other birds.
Ladder-Backed Woodpecker
Source: @marcusbirding
- Scientific Name: Dryobates scalaris
- Size: 16.5 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 inches)
- Locality: The Southwestern United States, Most of Mexico, and Locally in Central America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late January to March
One of the most unusual aspects of the Ladder-Backed Woodpecker is its habitat. It prefers living in scattered spaces with cacti, which is why people used to call it a “Cactus Woodpecker.” If you want to get a glimpse of this species, then you have to work hard and have patience. As a shy bird, it loves to live in its own space quietly. Moreover, its small size and agility make it even harder to spot them. They prefer living among the thorny bushes and spines of plants, including cholla, mesquite, and prickly pear.
Dietary Habits
The Ladder-Backed Woodpecker has a similar diet preference to most other woodpecker species. It usually preys on insects and consumes them with their larvae. It uses its sharp, chisel-like bill to make holes in search of its prey. Sometimes, this species is spotted feeding on fruits produced by cacti.
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Source: @theflowerfiend
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus thyroideus
- Length: 21 to 24 cm (8.3 to 9.4 in)
- Locality: Western North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late May to Mid-July
One of the most fascinating facts about Williamson’s Sapsucker is its sexual dimorphism. The difference in appearance between both sexes is poles apart. The bird was first discovered in 1852, and both sexes were thought to be separate species. However, it wasn’t until 1873 that ornithologists realized the male and female Williamson’s Sapsucker belonged to the same species.
Dietary Habits
During the breeding season, Williamson’s Sapsucker prefers foraging on different types of insects, and in the non-breeding season, they feed on fruits and berries. Moreover, it consumes sap as well, especially preferring conifers.
Hairy Woodpecker
Source: @thebutcheredgardens
- Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus
- Length: 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Between Late March and Early June
Hairy Woodpecker, an adorably small yet strong species, is known for possessing different appearances in different regions. The species in the northern parts are relatively larger than the southern ones. Usually, they are black and white patterned. However, in the Pacific Northwest, the colors of their pattern turn brown and black.
Dietary Habits
Predominantly insectivorous, the Hairy Woodpecker consumes fruits, nuts, seeds, berries, and occasionally tree sap. It prefers to hover around trees, searching for its prey. Sometimes, this species looks for insects while digging around under barks. Moreover, they tend to follow around the Pileated Woodpecker while looking for these insects. After the Pileated Woodpecker has dug deep into the tree barks, the Hairy Woodpecker makes its entrance, searching for leftover insects in the holes.
Woodpecker In Oklahoma: 2 Accidental Species
Only 2 Woodpecker species are spotted occasionally. In this part of the article, we will get to know about the accidental sightings.
Acorn Woodpecker
Source: @52_weeks_of_birding
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes formicivorus
- Size: Least Concern
- Locality: Southern Washington State, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Western Texas.
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late May through Early September
Acorn Woodpecker is famous among bird watchers for its fascinating and complicated social system. Each family may consist of several males and females who breed within the family. The breeding males can be up to seven in number, while the females are three. The young woodpeckers help the elders take care of their chicks for many years while the parents protect the territory.
Dietary Habits
As per the name, the main diet of the Acorn Woodpecker is acorn. They make large groups to store these acorns. Each member of the group participates in the storing process. Typically, this species creates holes in the dead tissues of granaries or storage trees and keeps their acorns in them. During autumn, each of the granaries gets thousands of cavities, and the cavities get filled up with acorns. Sometimes, they choose stronger structures manufactured by men, such as fence posts, buildings, etc. to store their acorns by drilling holes. Occasionally, they consume insects, sap, fruits, etc.
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
Source: @rushingoutdoors
- Scientific Name: Campephilus principalis
- Size: 48 to 53 cm (19 to 21 in)
- Locality: Southern United States and Cuba.
- Status: Critically Endangered
- Breeding Season: Between January and May
A stunning large species, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, is known for its phenomenally striking red head. Unfortunately, this species is close to being extinct. The main reason for its extinction is heavy logging activities. Even when it was assumed to be common, this bird was considered a relatively rare species. However, as there were no further efforts made to protect them, the species has now been declared critically endangered by the IUCN.
Dietary Habits
The primary diet preference of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is large beetle larvae, especially from Cerambycidae and Scolytidae families. They use their sharp and strong bill to forage on wood-boring beetle larvae. Their large bill is strong enough to reveal the larvae tunnel from deep within the tightly bound barks of dead trees. Moreover, this species consumed vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Furthermore, they may feed on southern magnolia, pecans, wild grapes, persimmons, hackberries, acorns, hickory nuts, etc.
FAQ
This segment is all about answering the frequently asked questions. Let’s get to know them better.
Q: What is the largest woodpecker in Oklahoma?
Ans: According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the largest Woodpecker in Oklahoma is the Pileated Woodpecker. It is about 40 to 49 cm (16 to 19 in). The rest are less than 40 cm. Sometimes, there are sightings of Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers, which are 48 to 53 cm (19 to 21 in). But it is quite rare.
Q: Are woodpecker populations in Oklahoma stable?
Ans: Yes, woodpecker species are considered stable in Oklahoma. The government took various measures, including conservation efforts such as maintaining trees and wooded areas preferred by the woodpeckers.
Q: Do Oklahoma woodpeckers migrate?
Ans: Most of the Woodpecker species in Oklahoma are similar to the Downy woodpeckers. They do not prefer migrating, but their wintering and breeding ranges can vary.
Thoughts
Woodpeckers in Oklahoma create a unique interconnectedness with nature, helping it to improve its health. Their melodious drumming sounds are like the heartbeat of nature.
All the birds that are endemic to the United States, including Woodpeckers in Oklahoma, are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under this federal law, all the nests and nestlings are to be protected.
As a consequence, no harm should be done to these species. However, some of the Woodpecker species are still declining in number due to various factors, including unintended harm by humans.
If they were to face these threats due to only natural causes, then it would have been somewhat understandable. But some of them are not, which makes the whole matter truly regrettable.
On this account, every one of us should be careful about how we treat our feathered friends.
Audio Credits: xeno-canto
