Vermont is home to a diverse range of woodpecker species. Woodpeckers are medium-sized birds that use their strong beaks and long tongues to bore into trees in search of insects and larvae. Their unique anatomy allows them to hammer on tree trunks without sustaining brain damage. Vermont’s mix of forests, particularly deciduous trees like maples, provides excellent habitat for woodpeckers.
Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in Vermont, measuring only 6-7 inches in length. Despite its small size, the downy woodpecker can be found across the entire state and is one of Vermont’s most common woodpecker species. Downy woodpeckers have black and white plumage, with a broad white stripe down the back. Males have a small red patch on the back of their head. They are adept at clinging to smaller branches and twigs, allowing them to forage in parts of trees other woodpeckers can’t access. Downy woodpeckers drill into trees in search of the larvae of wood-boring beetles, ants, caterpillars, spiders, and other insects. They are attracted to suet feeders and will visit bird feeders, especially in winter.
Hairy Woodpecker
Very similar in appearance to the downy woodpecker is the hairy woodpecker. As its name suggests, this species is larger with a wingspan of 13-16 inches. It lacks the red patch on the back of the head, instead having an entirely black head. The hairy woodpecker prefers mature forests with large trees and fallen logs. Its larger size allows it to drill into tougher bark in search of beetle larvae. Hairy woodpeckers make a distinctive rattling call as they fly between trees. They are common year-round residents across Vermont.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The red-bellied woodpecker is named for the subtle red tint on its otherwise pale gray-brown belly. About 9 inches in length, this woodpecker’s back is barred with black and white. The male red-bellied has a red cap going from its bill to the back of its head, while females just have red at the base of the bill. Despite its name, the red-belly is hard to see in the field compared to the vibrant red head markings. Red-bellied woodpeckers inhabit mature forests with large dead trees, as well as residential neighborhoods with big trees. They use their powerful beaks to excavate nest cavities in snags or live trees. Acorns and other tree nuts and fruits make up much of their diet. Look for them at suet feeders.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a uniquely adapted woodpecker that drills sap wells into the bark of live trees. They use their brush-tipped tongues to lap up the flowing tree sap, as well as eat the insects attracted to it. Sapsuckers are migratory, breeding in Vermont’s forests before heading south for winter. They are named for the male’s bright yellow underside. In addition to tree sap, these woodpeckers also eat fruits and insects gleaned from trees. The unique rectangular sap wells they drill are an important food source for other animals when the sapsuckers migrate south.
Pileated Woodpecker
The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Vermont, nearly the size of a crow at 15-19 inches in length with a wingspan over 2 feet. These crow-sized woodpeckers mostly eat carpenter ants from dead and decaying trees. Their loud, noisy excavation sounds like an axe chopping wood, as they tear huge rectangular holes in search of ant colonies. Males have a bright red crest on the head while females have a black crest. Pileated woodpeckers need extensive forests with lots of dead and dying trees. Though elusive, listen for their loud calls and look for large rectangular excavated holes to find these impressive woodpeckers.
Northern Flicker
The northern flicker is a less conventional woodpecker that frequents more open habitats like parks, suburban areas, and forest edges. They eat mostly ants and beetles off the ground. Flickers are brown overall with black spots, bars, and crescent-shaped markings. Males have a bold black “mustache” stripe. In flight, flickers reveal bright yellow undersides to their wings and tail. Look for them on the ground probing for insects with their curved bill. They will also visit feeders. Flickers breed in Vermont and some remain year-round while others migrate south for winter.
Range and Habitat
Vermont’s mix of forested mountains, valleys, and rural countryside provides suitable habitat for a diversity of woodpecker species. The state has over 4.6 million acres of forest, comprising about 75% of the state’s total land area. deciduous forests dominated by maple, birch, beech, oak, and other hardwoods offer an abundant supply of insect prey for woodpeckers.
Some species, like the downy, hairy, red-bellied, and pileated woodpeckers, inhabit mature deciduous and mixed forests. Dead and dying trees, known as snags, are especially valuable as they harbor carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. Forested parks, suburban woodlots, and backyards with some big trees can also attract these species.
Others, like the northern flicker, are more flexible and utilize open woodlands and forest edges. The yellow-bellied sapsucker prefers mixed deciduous-coniferous forests where they can find their preferred sap sources. Generally, larger forest tracts with dead trees will have the highest diversity of woodpecker species.
When and Where to See Woodpeckers
The time of day and season affects your chances of observing different woodpecker species in Vermont:
- Mornings are often the most active time as woodpeckers forage after roosting overnight.
- During colder months, woodpeckers need to forage more intensely to survive, making winter a prime viewing time.
- Resident species like downy, hairy, red-bellied, and pileated woodpeckers can be seen year-round.
- Summer allows you to see nesting activities and potentially spot juvenile birds.
- Migrants like yellow-bellied sapsuckers are best seen during spring and fall migration periods.
Prime spots for finding woodpeckers include:
- Large tracts of mature forest with clearings, dead trees, and a mix of tree species.
- Parks, suburban backyards, golf courses, and other semi-wooded areas, especially those with tall trees.
- Riparian areas like stream corridors and wetlands surrounded by forest.
- Regenerating forest areas with young deciduous trees.
Equipping your backyard feeders with suet, nuts, and fruits will help draw in some species.
Identifying Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers share some standard traits that aid in identification:
- Sturdy body, upright posture, and short legs with two toes pointing forward and two back.
- Long tongue that wraps around the skull and is used to spear insects.
- Stiff tail feathers that help prop them upright on trees.
- Sharp, chisel-like bill for boring into wood.
- Zygodactyl feet with sharp claws for grasping onto bark and branches.
Plumage patterns, size, habitat, and behavior offer clues to each species:
Species | Size | Field Marks | Habitat | Behavior |
---|---|---|---|---|
Downy Woodpecker | 6-7 inches | Black and white bars on back; males have small red spot on nape. | Woodlots, suburbs, parks with trees | Hitches up and down trees looking for insects; frequent backyard feeders |
Hairy Woodpecker | 9-10 inches | Looks similar to downy but larger with longer bill; no red on head | Mature forests with dead trees | Slow steady drumming on tree branches and trunks |
Red-bellied Woodpecker | 9 inches | Pale red belly; red cap on males | Mature forests and woodlots | Call sounds like “kwirr”; excavates nest holes in dead trees |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 8.5 inches | Red forehead and yellow belly; black and white back | Birch or mixed forests | Drills neatly spaced sap wells; feeds on sap flows |
Pileated Woodpecker | 15-19 inches | Mostly black with bold white stripes on face; large red crest on head | Mature deciduous or mixed forests | Loud, fast excavating in dead trees; distinctive rectangular holes |
Northern Flicker | 12-14 inches | Brown and black speckled; red or black crescent bib; yellow undersides | Open woods, parks, suburban areas | Forages on ground probing with curved bill; “wicka-wicka” call |
Beyond physical features, paying attention to feeding behaviors, habitat preferences, movement patterns, and vocalizations will help distinguish between species.
Conservation Status
Most woodpecker species that occur in Vermont are thriving, thanks to proactive conservation measures. The primary threat facing woodpeckers is habitat loss as mature forests are logged. Development also eliminates vital standing dead trees.
Sustainable forestry initiatives incentivize landowners to adopt bird-friendly practices like leaving dead trees and buffers around wetlands and streams. These provide critical woodpecker habitat features while allowing sustainable timber harvest.
Public lands like state forests and parks also protect large tracts of mature forests. Promoting natural forest succession and regeneration provides a continual supply of habitat into the future.
Red-headed woodpeckers are declining regionally. They need open woodlands with very large dead trees for nesting. Continued mature forest protection will benefit this and other sensitive woodpecker species.
With appropriate habitat conservation, woodpeckers have a promising future in Vermont. Backyard bird enthusiasts can also help by putting up nest boxes and planting native trees like oak and beech.
Conclusion
Vermont offers prime habitat for a diversity of woodpecker species. From tiny downy woodpeckers mobbing backyard feeders to huge pileated woodpeckers drumming loudly in deep forests, woodpeckers occupy an important niche in the state. Their unique adaptations allow them to access food resources other birds can’t. In turn, abandoned cavities provide crucial nesting sites for other wildlife. Protecting mature forests and dead standing trees remains key to the future of Vermont’s woodpeckers. Careful woodland management and public land acquisition will ensure these iconic birds remain part of the landscape for generations to come.