As the seasons change and the colors of the landscape shift, Maine becomes a sanctuary for a number of Woodpeckers.
When you’re out in the woods, you will be able to hear these Woodpeckers drumming away in the trees, each showcasing their own unique plumage and distinctive behaviors.
Some of them build their own house while others take shelter in pre-existing ones. However, all of them surely know how to claim their territories with their unmistakable drumming sounds!
That is why, today I’m here with a bunch of cool facts about all the Woodpecker species you can find and hear in Maine.
In this article, you will find out everything about their habits and where to find these incredible species.
So, get ready for a Woodpecker adventure in the beautiful state of Maine!
Contents
Woodpeckers In Maine: 10 Types of Master Carpenters
Maine is home to several Woodpecker species, and each of them showcases unique characteristics that have enabled them to flourish in this region. So, without any more delay, let’s jump into the main part of the article where all the exciting details are!
Downy Woodpecker
Source: @leduc.da
- Scientific Name: Dryobates pubescens
- Length: 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in)
- Weight: 20 to 33 g (0.71 to 1.16 oz)
- Wingspan: 25 to 31 cm (9.8 to 12.2 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Downy Woodpecker has a distinctive black-and-white plumage pattern. It has a white belly, a black back with white spots, and black wings with white bars. The males have a small red patch on the back of their heads, while the females do not.
Breeding Habit
Downy Woodpeckers typically breed from late April to July. They construct their nests in tree cavities and excavate their own holes in dead or weakened branches. They also use existing cavities or nest boxes. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the young after they hatch.
Distribution
This Woodpecker is widespread throughout North America, from Southern Alaska and Canada to Central America, along with the United States and Mexico. They are found in forests, woodlands, suburban areas, and parks. They are also known to visit bird feeders in residential areas, especially if there are suitable trees nearby.
Pileated Woodpecker
Source: @trinkcmo
- Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
- Length: 40 to 49 cm (16 to 19 in)
- Weight: 250 to 400 g (8.8 to 14.1 oz)
- Wingspan: 66 to 76 cm (26 to 30 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Pileated Woodpecker has a distinctive appearance with striking black and white plumage and a bright red crest on its head. The males and females look similar, but males may have a red stripe on their cheek, while females have a black stripe.
Breeding Habit
They breed from April to July which varies slightly depending on their location. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks after they hatch. They regurgitate food for the nestlings, and as the chicks grow, they are gradually weaned onto solid food brought by the parents.
Distribution
They are present in parts of North America, including the United States, Canada, and parts of Central America. They are mostly found in mature deciduous and mixed forests. They prefer areas with large trees, especially those with plenty of standing deadwood.
Hairy Woodpecker
Source: @davewayne105.7
- Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus
- Length: 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 in)
- Weight: 45 to 85 g (1.6 to 3.0 oz)
- Wingspan: 33 to 43 cm (13 to 17 in)
- Status: Least Concern
The toes of the Hairy Woodpecker have a zygodactyl arrangement, which means that two toes point forward, and the other two toes point backward. Their calls include a sharp, rapid “peek” or “chirr,” and they drum on trees to communicate and establish territories.
Breeding Habit
Hairy Woodpeckers normally breed from April to July, depending on their location and climate. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 6 white eggs, one egg per day. The parents feed and care for the fledglings until they become independent.
Distribution
Hairy Woodpeckers are widespread throughout North America, including Canada, the United States, and parts of Mexico. They can be found in deciduous and mixed forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban areas with suitable trees.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Source: @etallo_photography
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius
- Length: 18 to 22 cm (7 to 8.5 in)
- Weight: 42 to 70 g (1.5 to 2.5 oz)
- Wingspan: 33 to 41 cm (13 to 16 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has a unique and striking plumage. In males, the crown and throat are red, the forehead is black, and the back is a mix of black and white. They have a white wing patch and a yellowish belly. Females have a similar pattern, but their throat is pale and lacks red coloration.
Breeding Habit
They breed in boreal and Northern deciduous forests across North America. During the winter, they migrate to more southern regions of the United States, Mexico, and Central America. They are found in wooded habitats, such as coniferous and mixed forests, as well as woodlands and swamps.
Distribution
Their breeding occurs from April to July, subject to their location and the onset of spring. They excavate their nests in tree cavities, usually using dead or decaying trees. Both males and females participate in creating the nesting site. The female lays a clutch of 4 to 5 white eggs, which she incubates for about 12 to 13 days.
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Source: @davewayne105.7
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Length: 19 to 23.5 cm (7.5 to 9.25 in)
- Weight: 57 to 96 g (2.0 to 3.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 42 to 45 cm (16.5 to 17.5 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Red-headed Woodpecker secures food items by wedging them into crevices or bark furrows and sometimes even jamming them into the corners of wooden fences or utility poles. This caching behavior serves as a reserve food source during harsher times, such as during winter or periods of food scarcity.
Breeding Habit
The breeding season for Red-headed Woodpeckers typically occurs from late spring to early summer. They are known to use artificial nest boxes. Unlike many other Woodpecker species, they do not excavate their nest but rather modify existing cavities to suit their needs.
Distribution
This species is native to North America and can be found in various parts of the continent. Its range extends from Eastern and Central Canada through the Eastern and Central United States and Southwards to parts of Mexico.
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Source: @intobirds
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus
- Length: 23 to 27 cm (9 to 10.5 in)
- Weight: 57 to 91 g (2.0 to 3.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 33 to 43 cm (13 to 17 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are known for their distinctive call, a rolling “kwee-kwee-kwee” sound, which can be heard throughout their territories during the breeding season. They are acrobatic foragers and feed on a variety of food items, obtained by probing and excavating bark and crevices on trees.
Breeding Habit
The breeding season typically occurs from March to July, influenced by their location and climate. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 7 glossy white eggs and she incubates them for about 12 to 14 days as long as they don’t hatch.
Distribution
It is primarily found in the Eastern and Southeastern regions of the United States. Its range extends from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast and into parts of Mexico and Central America. It is a year-round resident in many of its Northern and Southern breeding areas.
Black-Backed Woodpecker
Source: @bz_bird_photo_nerd
- Scientific Name: Picoides arcticus
- Length: 21 to 25 cm (8.3 to 9.8 in)
- Weight: 54 to 91 g (1.9 to 3.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 36 to 41 cm (14.2 to 16.1 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Black-backed Woodpecker has exceptional adaptation to post-fire environments. Unlike many other bird species that avoid or leave burned areas, this Woodpecker is specially adapted to thrive in recently burned forests.
Breeding Habit
The breeding season for Black-backed Woodpeckers typically occurs from late spring to early summer. They excavate their nesting cavities in dead or partially dead trees, particularly those affected by forest fires or insect outbreaks. Unlike some other Woodpecker species, they do not construct new cavities in live trees.
Distribution
They are found in the boreal forests of North America. Their range includes parts of Alaska and Canada, from Alaska and Yukon Territory in the West to Newfoundland and Labrador in the East. In the United States, they are found in Northern regions, particularly in the Northern Rockies, Northern Great Lakes, and New England.
Northern Flicker
Source: @beebionica
- Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
- Length: 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in)
- Weight: 110 to 160 g (3.9 to 5.6 oz)
- Wingspan: 43 to 53 cm (17 to 21 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Unlike many other Woodpecker species that primarily forage on trees for insects, the Northern Flicker is known for its habit of foraging on the ground for food. They use their strong beaks to probe and extract ants and other insects from the ground and grassy areas. Their long, barbed tongues are also specially adapted to reach deep into ant nests and extract their prey.
Breeding Habit
Northern Flickers usually breed from April to August. They are one of the few Woodpecker species that frequently use man-made structures such as utility poles or nest boxes for nesting. They regurgitate food for the nestlings, which consist of insects, especially ants, as well as other invertebrates.
Distribution
It is a widespread Woodpecker species found in various parts of North America. The range of the Northern Flicker extends from Southern Canada across the United States and into parts of Mexico. It is present throughout most of the continental United States, with its range extending from coast to coast.
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Source: @audubonsociety
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus thyroideus
- Length: 21 to 24 cm (8.3 to 9.4 in)
- Weight: 48 to 71 g (1.7 to 2.5 oz)
- Wingspan: 43 to 53 cm (16.9 to 20.9 in)
- Status: Least Concern
Williamson’s Sapsuckers are unique among Woodpeckers in their specialized feeding behavior. They create sap wells in the bark of trees by drilling holes in a regular pattern. They then return to these sap wells to feed on the tree sap and the insects that are attracted to it.
Breeding Habit
This species typically breeds from April to August, depending on their location and local climate. They construct their nests by excavating cavities in dead or partially dead trees, with a particular affinity for aspens and conifers. The female lays a clutch of 4 to 6 white eggs.
Distribution
This Woodpecker is found primarily in the Western parts of North America. Its range includes parts of the Western United States and Southwestern Canada. Specifically, it can be found in regions such as the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and other mountain ranges in the western states.
American Three-Toed Woodpecker
Source: @handlerknowsbirds
- Scientific Name: Picoides dorsalis
- Length: 21 to 25 cm (8.3 to 9.8 in)
- Weight: 60 to 85 g (2.1 to 3.0 oz)
- Wingspan: 40 to 43 cm (15.7 to 16.9 in)
- Status: Least Concern
American Three-toed Woodpecker is known for its foraging behavior, where it specializes in feeding on wood-boring beetle larvae hidden under the bark of trees. It can forage both horizontally and vertically, using its unique toe arrangement and powerful bill to probe and extract insects from the wood.
Breeding Habit
The breeding season typically occurs from April to July, depending on their local climate. They construct their nests by excavating cavities in dead or dying trees that are affected by insect infestations or other forms of decay. Unlike many other Woodpecker species, they have only three toes on each foot, which aids in their gripping ability while foraging on tree trunks.
Distribution
They are mostly seen in the Northern regions of North America. Their range extends from Alaska and Northern Canada, including parts of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Labrador, southwards into the Western United States, particularly in the Rocky Mountains and some areas of the Pacific Northwest.
Red-Naped Sapsucker
Source: @hey_birdybirdy
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus nuchalis
- Length: 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in)
- Weight: 40 to 58 g (1.4 to 2.0 oz)
- Wingspan: 38 to 41 cm (15 to 16 in)
- Status: Least Concern
The Red-naped Sapsucker gets its name from the red patch on the back of its neck. Like other Sapsuckers, it creates sap wells in tree bark to feed on the sap and the insects attracted to it. These sap wells also serve as a food source for other birds and mammals.
Breeding Habit
This species generally breeds between April and August and build their nests by excavating cavities in coniferous or deciduous trees. The female lays a clutch of 4 to 6 white eggs, usually one egg per day. She incubates the eggs for about 12 to 13 days until they hatch.
Distribution
It is found in Western North America, and its range extends from Southern Alaska and Western Canada through the Western United States and into parts of Mexico. It is commonly found in various habitats, for example, coniferous forests, mixed woodlands, and mountainous regions.
FAQ
Now, it’s time to check the answers to some popular questions that I often see others asking around. Let’s see if you have the same questions in mind as well!
Q: Are Woodpeckers in Maine year-round residents?
Ans: Some Woodpecker species, like the Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker, are year-round residents in Maine. Others, such as the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern Flicker, are migratory and can be seen during specific seasons.
Q: Do Woodpeckers damage trees?
Ans: While Woodpeckers may create holes in trees while foraging for insects or excavating nesting cavities, their impact is generally minimal and often beneficial for the overall health of the forest ecosystem.
Thoughts
Woodpeckers are a fascinating and vital part of Maine’s diverse avian community. Their unique adaptations, vibrant plumage, and distinctive behaviors make them stand out in the state’s rich natural landscapes.
From the rhythmic drumming that echoes through the forests to their impressive tree-climbing and foraging skills, Woodpeckers bring a sense of wonder and excitement to birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.
As keystone species, Woodpeckers play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance in Maine’s forests.
Their cavity excavation and insect-feeding habits contribute to the health and well-being of the ecosystem, ensuring the survival of countless other species that rely on their services.
So, the next time you find yourself in Maine, take a moment to appreciate the vibrant world of Woodpeckers and the invaluable role they play in this picturesque state.
Audio Credits: xeno-canto
