Woodpeckers In Kentucky: 9 Charmingly Woody Species

With an array of delightful features, woodpeckers have more than 200 species all over the world.

Among this vast number only 22 species are found in the United States and 9 of them used to inhabit Kentucky.

However, now, only 7 types of woodpeckers are observed in this area. These species thrive in their arboreal territory all year round.

You have to be aware of this species’ special features to tell them apart.

Henceforth, in this article, I have accumulated the list of existing and extinct woodpeckers in Kentucky with their brief info and characteristics for you to enjoy their enchanting beauty and be appreciative.

Get ready to have the time of your life by getting to know these stunning woodpeckers.

Contents

Woodpecker Checklist: Species Found In Kentucky

Woodpecker Checklist: Species Found In Kentucky

This part of the article possesses the list of woodpeckers in Kentucky that you can come across at any time. Going through this list will get you excited every time you spot one in front of you.

So buckle up and be sure to read till the end and transform into an expert bird watcher.

Downy Woodpecker

Source: @lsabrinaphotography

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 permanent all-year resident of Kentucky, the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest to find in North America. It is a small and active bird that has a distinctive flight style and is very fun to watch. They are quite common at feeders and sometimes found in hummingbird feeders as well. Apart from these feeders, these feeders go around trees looking for insects.

Recognition

At first glance, it looks similar to Hairy Woodpeckers. But the main difference is in the length of the bill and the black spots on the tails. Their whole body is full of black-and-white patterns. The upper part is mostly black while the back has a white stripe and the wings have white spots on their wings.

Habitat

Downy woodpeckers are commonly found in forested areas, woodlands with brushy weedy edges, and deciduous trees throughout the United States and Canada. They can be seen inhabiting orchards, backyards, and parks as well. However, they seem to avoid desert areas. It sometimes migrates to the south.

Pileated Woodpecker

Source: @kwk_wildlife_photography

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 the inspiration behind the 90s favorite cartoon character “Woody Woodpecker ”. It is known as the third largest among all the woodpecker species in the world. This species is detectable in Kentucky all year round but especially during summer. However, these self-assured birds are still hard to come across.

Recognition

The term “Pileated” in this species’ name came from the flaming red color on its crest. This striking colored triangular crest looks like a mohawk. It has a black body with a white line on both sides of its throat.

Habitat

If you want to find this particular species, then you might need to work for it as they are known to be a shy species. but it can be found in its distinctive rectangular-shaped tree cavities. They usually make these holes in dead trees with multiple entryways. These nested dead trees are mostly in matured or drowned forests.

Hairy Woodpecker

Source: @fulginitiphotography

Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus
Size: 25 cm (9.8 in)
Locality: North and Central America
Status: Least Concern
Breeding Season: Between February and June

Hairy Woodpecker, is a medium-sized species that is primarily endemic to North America. It seems similar to that of the Downy Woodpecker but almost twice in size. They both inhabit the same kinds of places making them harder to distinguish. Hairy Woodpecker mainly grazes on trees while looking for insects and scrapping at barks.

Recognition

Visually similar to the Downy Woodpecker, the adults of this species have black upperparts and wings. The color of their throat and belly can vary from white to dark brown. There are white stripes on the upper and lower part of the eye. Their tails are black with white outer parts.

Habitat

The Hairy Woodpecker is a permanent resident of Kentucky and is found all year round. While met with extreme circumstances, they are found to winter in the south. In general, they are found in mature deciduous forests, woodlands, trunks, and main branches of trees, parks, cemeteries, etc.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Source: @thecrsmt

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

At first glance, people might confuse this bird with Red-headed Woodpecker as they both have a prominent red-colored head. However, the contrast in their other features is what makes them appear as distant cousins. Its adaptability, highly active and agile nature is what makes them attractive to bird enthusiasts.

Recognition

Despite its name, the pale red color of the belly is not that noticeable. Rather than its belly, the vivid red in its head and neck are more prominent. It has a zebra-like black-and-white pattern on its back and a white belly. The wings have small white patches.

Habitat

Among all the woodpeckers in Kentucky, the Red-bellied Woodpecker is the most common one. This non-migratory species is easy to spot in winter in this region rather than in summer. It predominantly opts for large trees while nesting and sometimes nests in the same one year after year. However, they might use gardens when needed as well.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

Source: @atlantabirdman

Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Size: 19 to 25 cm (7.5 to 9.8 in)
Locality: Northern America, Southern Canada, East-Central United States
Status: Least Concern
Breeding Season: April to July

Being upgraded to least concerned from the near threatened status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s list, this species is thriving almost all over the United States. This omnivorous bird likes to keep food caches in hidden places that they feed on throughout the year.

Recognition

While speaking of Red-headed Woodpecker’s appearance, the name of the Red-bellied Woodpecker must be mentioned. These two species often get confused because of their similar prominent red-colored head and neck. However, the Red-headed Woodpecker has a more vivid scarlet red color than the other one. Moreover, only this species has a solid deep black back and tail.

Habitat

Although the Red-headed Woodpecker is less frequent at bird feeders, it is a year-round resident of Kentucky. This species can be seen nesting in farms, tree cavities, open woodlots, decaying trees, pine savannas, etc, and using the same nesting site more than once. Sometimes, they are seen visiting bird feeders for suet.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Source: @foto.eric.le.bel

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

Being a distinctive sap-feeder with a unique appearance is what earned the name of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. This species has no known subspecies to date. This single species can provide important service to forest ecosystems by acting in the role of a “keystone” species as it forms sap wells to draw other birds and insects.

Recognition

This species is comparatively smaller in size. It is about the size of a Robin. Predominantly it has a black body with red foreheads and light underbodies. Its chest is black and yellow. The upper part of the body has faint white patches as well. The adult females have a white throat whereas the males have a red one.

Habitat

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker mostly forages alone in various forested areas. During the breeding season, it is found in deciduous and mixed forests. On the contrary, in the non-breeding season, they are seen in pastures, suburban areas, open woodlands, semi-open areas, etc. It occasionally forms small groups and sporadically winters in the eastern United States, West Indies, and Central America.

Northern Flicker

Source: @kenandersonphotography

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 known in more than hundreds of names that are mostly based on its variation in callings. It had 10 species among which 9 are now existent. This charismatic woodpecker species has a diverse foraging style. It is known to feed on different kinds of fruits and insects while in flight.

Recognition

This medium-sized species has a distinct blend of colors. It is brown with a black-barred back and wings. They can create an excellent camouflage because of their body color making them harder to spot. The upper part of the chest has a black crescent shape. The males have red spots while the females have beige ones in the nape.

Habitat

The Northern Flicker is commonly seen inhabiting trees, woodlands, yards, and park areas. It is sometimes found in backyards but not that often. This species is one of the migratory ones. However, only the species in the northern part seem migratory as they winter in the southern part whereas the southern ones are mostly permanent residents.

Woodpeckers That Once Inhabited Kentucky

Most of the woodpeckers in Kentucky are protected by the law. But some of them are extinct or close to extinction due to habitat fragmentation, hunting, etc. Nonetheless, their features are too unique for you to not know them at all.

So I am here to get you acquainted with woodpeckers in Kentucky that once existed.

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Source: @sean.hollow

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

Being a small-sized and extinct bird, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are now harder to spot. It is a non-migratory, extremely territorial species that has a cooperative breeding system where the group of offspring from previous years helps raise the next generation. It has a unique food habit as well.

Recognition

Unlike its name, the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are primarily recognized for their black cap as their most striking feature. Some of the adult males do have red streaks but are not prominent enough to be included in its name. Their backs have black and white horizontal stripes. Their underparts are grey while the upper part has black spots all over it.

Habitat

This iconic species especially relies on open pine forests, fire-dependent pine savannas, longleaf pine ecosystems, and pines in southern parts for habitat. Some of these pine trees get old and softened because of red heart fungal infection. It uses the softened parts for their nesting as it makes it easier to create tree cavities.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Source: @feather_hunters_cr

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

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, first described as “the largest white-bill woodpecker” is still one of the largest woodpeckers in its range. This diurnal species often use the same habitat for sleeping. For food, it mostly prefers to consume beetle larvae and sometimes vegetables and fruits. They pair for life and travel around in pairs and nests together.

Recognition

Being closely related to the Imperial Woodpecker in size, it has plumage in a metallic black or purple hue. In females, the crest is solid deep black whereas for males the crest has both black and red. The folded wings of both sexes have a white patch on the sides and the bills are ivory for adults.

Habitat

The habitat range has not been updated since the last time and has been reduced due to deforestation and hunting. However, from previous studies, it has been found that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker mainly lived in dense swampland, open-old-growth forests. Some people have claimed to have seen them around Kentucky about 20 years ago. But due to extirpation, no one can provide proper evidence to suggest these claims.

Final Thoughts

Did you enjoy going through the journey of 9 species of woodpeckers in Kentucky? Because it pleased my heart.

This species has captivated the hearts of scientists and people all over the world, even the ones who are not avid bird watchers.

Its callings, colors, how it creates its habitats, and every little detail have the ability to make anyone fascinated.

Moreover, woodpeckers in Kentucky and all over the world, play the role of a good friend just by existing.

From their habit of feeding on insects to influencing forest succession, this particular species provides a helping hand in balancing our ecosystem.

They even create habitats for other species that nest in tree cavities.

Hence, everyone has to come forth in helping all the species of woodpeckers survive and make sure that not one more species has to face extinction.

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Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia

Woodpeckers In Kentucky: 9 Charmingly Woody Species