Among the forest and forest species are the woodpeckers. Woodpeckers, wrynecks, and sapsuckers belong to the Picidae syndicate along with toucans, barbets, honeyguides, jacamars, and puffbirds. Woodpeckers are dependant on dead and decaying trees. They prey on many insect species that dead trees attract and rely on the softening trunks and branches to excavate their nests .
They are known for their hammer of trees and other objects with their bills – a characteristic behavior for which they are named. aside from nest excavation and drilling holes to forage for insects, woodpeckers use the drum noises to communicate. The echo can frequently be heard from miles away.
Spotting Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds. Their feather is often boldface, ranging in contrasting shades of black, white, red, brown university, olive, and chicken. many species are crested .
Woodpeckers are by and large easy to spot in-flight as they have a classifiable ripple flight pattern characterized by a swoop slide broken by a rapid disturbance .
Unique Features Of Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers have long bills that are midst, potent, and chiseled. Their tongues are long and muggy with a bristle tip to facilitate extracting insects from trees. A woodpeckers ’ tongue besides functions as a electric shock absorber. It has an exceptionally retentive hyoid bone ( tongue bone ) that wraps around the skull through an internal cavity, cushioning it from the blows of the drum. The skull of a woodpecker besides has especial adaptations to prevent mind damage .
Woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet whereby two toes point forward and two compass point back. This enables them to perch vertically on corner trunks while they go about their drill, drum, and foraging activities. early features that aid their life style include a blink membrane over the eyes that function as goggles, protecting them from debris, and bantam slit-like nostrils covered with bristly feathers for the same purpose .
Woodpeckers are widespread birds across the populace. They inhabit a wide range of arboraceous environments, such as forests, woodlands, wooded scrublands, woodlots, parks, farmlands, and residential areas .
Although football team species of woodpeckers have been sighted in Ohio, some are far rarer than others, such as the ivory-billed woodpecker, which may very likely be extinct, and the red-naped sapsucker that has only been encountered a few times. Let ’ s teach about the woodpeckers you may encounter in the express of Ohio .
Common Species Of Woodpeckers In Ohio
1. Downy Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Dryobates pubescens
- Lifespan – 2 years (average) 11 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 6.3 in (16 cm)
- Weight – 26.5 g (0.9 oz)
- Wingspan – 11 in (28 cm)
- Status – Least concern
The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker species in North America and besides the most abundant .
Its feather is pied black and white. It has a black pass with two white bars on either side. Its wings are black with white spots, and it has a white back and white underparts. The male has a red patch on the head. Juveniles have a crimson ceiling. Downy woodpeckers are agile short birds often seen scurrying about. They are identical alike in appearance to the hairy woodpecker .
The most common call of the downy woodpecker is a short, sharp, four-note pik. Its non-vocal cram is slightly slower than other woodpecker species. Downy woodpeckers inhabit deciduous forests, open woodlands, and bosky forest edges .
Insects make up most of their diet, but they besides eat plant foods such as seeds, grains, berries, and nuts. They forage trees both on the surface and by drilling below. typical worm prey of the downy woodpecker includes ant, caterpillars, and beetle larva. The downy woodpecker is a natural marauder o many agrarian pests such as corn borers, bark, and apple borers .
Populations of downy woodpeckers are stable. They are resilient against deforestation as they are able to thrive in young forests .
Where to look for the downy woodpecker: Look for them in deciduous trees in open woodlands, orchards, parks, fields, and suburban backyards. They are known to frequent dame feeders during winter and can frequently be seen among mixed-species flocks .
2. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Melanerpes carolinus
- Lifespan – 12 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 9.5 in (24 cm)
- Weight – 2.6 oz (73.5 g)
- Wingspan – 16.5 in (42 cm)
- Status – Least Concern
The red-bellied woodpecker is an attractive boo with hit coloration. It has black upperparts whiten bars and grey underparts with a faint, about unnoticeable red tint on the belly. A more big feature of speech is the bright crimson cap of the male. The female has a red nape and a red patch above the charge. The red-bellied woodpecker can sometimes be confused with the closely relate red-headed woodpecker, but the latter has a much deeper bolshevik head .
Red-bellied woodpeckers are highly song birds. In addition to the drum noises, they produce a range of vocalizations from a loudly trill to a insistent churr-churr-churr. Red-bellied Woodpeckers dwell woodlands and forests .
They chiefly feed on arthropods, including insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. But they besides eat plant foods such as seeds and nuts. Red-bellied woodpeckers are common in Ohio. They have a stable global population that has increased over a huge and expand image. The species does well around human-populated areas .
Where to look for the red-bellied Woodpecker in Ohio: Find them near forests and residential areas with large trees. They are regular visitors to backyard feeders .
3. Hairy Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Leuconotopicus villosus
- Lifespan – 15 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 8.6 in (22 cm)
- Weight – 2.4 oz (67 g)
- Wingspan – 14.5 in (37 cm)
- Status – Least concern
The hairy woodpecker is easily mistaken with the downy woodpecker, even though the hairy woodpecker is larger with a longer charge, it can be difficult to distinguish. A good tip is to look at the out tail fledge which is spotted in the downy woodpecker and plain white in the hairy woodpecker .
The feather and size of hairy woodpeckers vary across subspecies. Birds in the northern regions are typically larger. The color of the underparts ranges from white to dirty-brown and eastern subspecies have thicker facial stripes and are spottier than those in the far west. Hairy woodpeckers in Ohio are white below, with extensive white spots on the wings and outstanding facial stripes. The coarse call of the hairy woodpecker is a abrupt, low-pitched peek. They besides produce a fantastic neigh .
Hairy woodpeckers by and large eat insects. They are authoritative predators of ill-famed pests such as bark beetles, corn borers, and crop-destroying moths, significantly curbing infestations. Hairy woodpeckers besides eat ants, bees, wasp, spiders, and other arthropods. A small part of their diet is made up of plant foods such as seeds and berries .
Hairy woodpeckers inhabit senesce deciduous forests, forest edges, plantations, and unfold woodlands. It is a far-flung and thrive species. however, forest fragmentation may pose a threat in the future. They besides face contest with european starlings for nesting sites .
Where to look for the hairy woodpecker in Ohio: They occur throughout the state of matter but are more common in the westerly farm areas. Look for them in woodlots, parks, cemeteries, recently burned forests, and decaying stands as these attract multitudes of bark beetles drawing in hairy woodpeckers by the droves. They besides occur in suburban areas and occasionally visit backyard feeders .
4. Pileated Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Dryocopus pileatus
- Lifespan – 12 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 44,5 cm (17,5 in)
- Weight – 11 oz (300 g)
- Wingspan – 28 in (70.5 cm)
The pileated woodpecker is a big and classifiable species. It is one of the largest species of woodpeckers in North America. Its feather is largely black with flannel stripes extending from the face down either side of the throat and a night red crest. Males have a loss band running down the throat .
Pileated woodpeckers inhabit big tracts of senesce forests, particularly hardwoods, deciduous and assorted woodlands, woodlots, and parks with ample big trees. Pileated woodpeckers are important predators of carpenter ants. They besides prey on other ants, termites, wood-boring beetle larva, flies, caterpillars, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Plant foods they eat include seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries .
Did you know? Woodpeckers, such as the pileated woodpecker enjoy berries that are poisonous to other animals such as those of poison ivy .
The pileated woodpecker is a far-flung and thrive species owing to its ability to survive in a wide range of wooded habitats, including around human habitations. They do, however, face competition for nesting sites with early species such as european starlings, bluebirds, and early woodpeckers .
Where to look for the pileated woodpecker in Ohio: They are more common in the easterly and southerly forests but besides occur in large tracts of woodlands in the west. Look for them in reforested areas and young forests, specially those with a average amount of big, dead trees. They can besides be seen in woody suburban areas .
Seasonal Species Of Woodpeckers To Look Out For In Ohio
5. Northern Flicker
- Scientific name – Colaptes auratus
- Lifespan – 9 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 12.5 in (32 cm)
- Weight – 4.4 oz (126.5 g)
- Wingspan – 19 in (48 cm)
The northerly flicker, besides known as the common flicker is a medium-sized bird. It falls under the Colaptes genus in the woodpecker family .
The feather varies across subspecies. overall, it is brown above with black bars and beige below with black spots and a classifiable bootleg crescent form on the upper breast. It has a white rump visible in flight. The underwings and undertail are fortunate yellow ( in western birds, they are red ). Males have red stripes extending outwards from the basal of the placard resembling a mustache. The northerly flicker produces a cackle-like qi ki ki ki, call.
They inhabit woodlands and forest edges. They besides occur around wetlands, swamps, marshes, and receptive fields with large, scattered trees. Unusual of woodpeckers, the northern flicker often nests in holes excavated by early birds .
Northern flickers chiefly feed on insects, peculiarly beetles, ants, and ant larva they forage on the ground or drill for underground. They besides eat plant materials such as seeds, fruit, and berries, including the berries of poison ivy and poison oak. Although they are widespread, populations of northern flickers are on the decline chiefly due to habitat passing .
Where to look for the northern flick in Ohio: Northern flickers are around during the summer. Find them in open woodlands, forest edges, and suburban areas .
6. Red-Headed Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Lifespan – 3 years (average) 9 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 8.6 in (22 cm)
- Weight – 2.7 oz (76 g)
- Wingspan – 16.7 in (42.5 cm)
- Status – Least concern
This hit red-headed woodpecker is close related to the red-bellied woodpecker. It is a medium-sized shuttlecock with a boldly contrasting feather of black, flannel, and loss. Its bet on and wings are black with white secondary feathers, and it is snow-white below. It has a blue red head and neck for which it is named. Males and females are alike, and juveniles have a grey head rather of crimson .
Red-headed woodpeckers breed in deciduous woodlands, farmlands, orchards, wooded grasslands, and forest edges. They besides make consumption of destroy habitats such as burned areas and deforest clearings. During winter, they inhabit deciduous, coniferous, and desegregate forests .
Red-headed woodpeckers consume a large count of plant foods which make up the majority of their diet. These woodpeckers are adept at catching insects in flight. They besides forage on the grind and in trees for seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects. occasionally, they may besides take rodents and the eggs of other birds .
Did you know? Red-headed woodpeckers are known to store food for later consumption. They cache nuts and seeds and evening shove insects in cracks and crevices. They cover their stashes with pieces of bark .
population numbers of red-headed woodpeckers have declined drastically due to habitat loss, inadequate nest sites, and low food supply. They were listed as “ near-threatened ” but have been re-classified as “ least concern ” following habitat management initiatives that helped stabilize the overall population .
Where to look for the red-headed woodpecker: They are more numerous in the summer as northerly populations migrate south for the winter. They are besides more prevailing in western Ohio and can be found in scattered woodlots, exposed areas with desirable trees, agrarian areas, and forest plantations. Listen for their call, which is a high, strident tchur. They besides frequent garden bird feeders .
7. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
- Scientific name – Sphyrapicus varius
- Lifespan – 7 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Weight – 1.7 oz (50.3 g)
- Wingspan – 14.6 in (37 cm)
- Status – Least concern
The chicken sapsucker is a medium-sized shuttlecock belong to the Sphyrapicus genus of the woodpecker family. It is named for the yellow tinge on the abdomen. It has black upperparts with white spots and a faint yellow touch. White stripes extend down the sides of the font. Both sexes have a red brow which is brighter in males. Males besides have a crimson throat which is ashen in females. The common call is a scruffy, rhinal neaah .
Did you know? The chicken sapsucker frequently uses human-made objects to make their cram noises. Metal objects, in particular, are used as they create brassy reverberations .
During the engender temper, they occur in deciduous and shuffle forests. In winter, they are besides found at forest edges, open woodlands, and early semi-open habitats .
Tree sap is the elementary food source of sapsuckers, as the name suggests. They drill holes to create fool wells in tree trunks and branches. They besides eat fruit vitamin a well as insects, spiders, and early invertebrates. chicken sapsuckers numbers have increased in the last few decades .
Where to look for the yellow-bellied sapsucker in Ohio: They are around during the precipitate as they migrate from their reproduction grounds north of Ohio to the south for winter. Look for them around pasturelands, forest clearings, forest edges, and suburban areas with big trees. A tell-tale sign of the zodiac of their presence is the bang-up horizontal rows of holes they drill in trees .
The Following Species Have Only Been Observed On Rare Occasions In Ohio
8. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Dryobates borealis
- Lifespan – 16 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 8.5 in (21.5 cm)
- Weight – 1.6 oz (47 g)
- Wingspan – 14.2 in (36 cm)
- Status – Near threatened (IUCN) / Endangered (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services)
The red-cockaded woodpecker is an queer bird of the dwindling long-leaf pine forests. It is a medium-sized motley black and white boo. Its upperparts are coal-black with white bars. It has a classifiable black cap and nape and big white cheek patches. The name stems from minor crimson lines on either side of its head. This have is called a “ cockade, ” however, it is about obscure .
historically, their habitat has been old primary coil forests, particularly the lightning-dependent long-leaf pine forests. Due to excessive log, most of their natural habitat has been destroyed. They are still found in some mature pine forests and sometimes occur in young forests and stands. Red-cockaded woodpeckers chiefly eat insects such as ants, termites, and other invertebrates a well as establish foods including seeds, fruits, and berries. They often forage in mixed-species flocks .
The red-cockaded woodpecker is endemic to the southeast United States, where they were once common. They have been observed in Ohio, although there have not been many records of them in the express. Red-cockaded woodpeckers are listed as “ endangered ” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and “ near-threatened ” by the IUCN .
The chances of spotting a red-cockaded woodpecker are slender, but they are most likely to occur in the candid understory of mature pine forests. Most nest sites, however, are within protect areas in the southeast states .
9. Red-Naped Sapsucker
- Scientific name – Sphyrapicus nuchalis
- Lifespan – 4 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Weight – 1.7 oz (49 g)
- Wingspan – 16.5 in (42 cm)
- Status – Least concern
The red-naped sapsucker was once believed to be a subspecies of the chicken sapsucker but was former found to be a divide species. It is a medium-sized woodpecker with a black head, red brow, white stripes, and a outstanding red spot on the nape for which it is named. It has a black back and wings with white bars and a scandalmongering front and upper berth belly. Males have a bolshevik throat bandage. In females, this is white above and red downstairs .
During the education season, they inhabit deciduous, evergreen forests and forest edges, parks, and even gardens. During winter, they occur in a wide range of habitats, including mix forests. The primary coil food reservoir of the red-naped sapsucker is tree blackjack. They besides eat insects and fruit .
Red-naped sapsuckers occur in the western parts of North America. They breed in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin region and migrate south of their breed stove for the winter. They are common throughout their range, and populations are stable. however, sightings of this species are rare in Ohio, and they have lone been observed a few times in the state .
10. Black-Backed Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Picoides arcticus
- Lifespan – 8 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 9.1 in (23 cm)
- Weight – 2.6 oz (74.5 g)
- Wingspan – 16 in (41 cm)
- Status – Least concern
Another rare sighting in Ohio is the Black-backed woodpecker. As the name suggests, it has a black rear, forefront, and wings. They are white below with bootleg bars on the flanks. The male bears a outstanding scandalmongering cap. A unique feature of the black-backed woodpecker is its three-toed feet .
Black-backed woodpeckers inhabit coniferous forests in the north and west of the nation. They thrive in recently burned forests and other habitats with abundant dead trees and beetle outbreaks. They are specialist feeders of wood-boring beetles .
They have besides only been spotted a few times in the country of Ohio. The best find of spotting them would be in a recently burned forest with bombastic trees .
11. Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
- Scientific name – Campephilus principalis
- Lifespan – 15 years (maximum recorded)
- Size – 19.1 in (48,5 cm)
- Weight – 18 oz (510 g)
- Wingspan – 30.7 in (78 cm)
- Status – Critically endangered
The Ivory-billed woodpecker is the largest species in North America. however, it is widely believed to be extinct .
It is an attractive crested woodpecker with a glossy black or night purple feather. It has big white lines extending from the cheeks down the back. The wings are edged white. It is named for its bombastic white bill. historically, they were found in basal upland forests and dense swamplands, and they thrived in disturbed areas .
Their range was believed to include the Ohio River Valley, and remains were found in the southcentral submit of Ohio in the 1900s. The last potential confrontation of the ivory-billed woodpecker was captured in footage from Arkansas in 2005. but it was never confirmed. Authorities powerfully believe that the species is extinct. They are still, however, listed as critically endangered. Factors that led to the decline of the ivory-billed woodpecker include excessive hunt and the destruction of ripen forest habitats by deforestation .
Conclusion
Woodpeckers are matter to birds that many enjoy observing and welcome in backyard feeders. They are fascinating birds known for their drum of tree trunks and assorted other objects. Woodpeckers are of great economic importance as they control destructive plague species that cause agrarian damages worth millions of dollars each year. They are besides of vital ecological importance as the nests they excavate are used by many other species.
They are, however, are sometimes viewed unfavorably by humans as they may cause wrong to buildings and infrastructure by drilling holes. They are besides unwelcomed among fruit farmers even though their beneficial pest-control functions may outweigh the damage done by crop-raiding. Most woodpecker species are static as they are broadly adaptable, with many species adapting good to human-altered environments such as woodlots, plantations, farmlands, and even residential areas .
however, woodpeckers are dependent on forests and woodlands and are frankincense heavily impacted by deforestation. They besides rely on the presence of abruptly trees for nesting. In some areas, there is a high degree of competition for dead and decaying trees for nesting sites. Some species can besides be negatively affected by fire suppression practices and fire shock manipulate measures. The main conservation terror to woodpeckers, however, is habitat loss chiefly due to logging and deforestation .
It is acquit that woodpeckers are valuable species, both economically and ecologically. They besides add a touch of wonder to our lives. To attract woodpeckers to your garden, make indisputable that your backyard feeders are stocked with enough of fresh fruit, nuts, and suet, particularly during the winter. And you are sure to be visited by some of these delightful birds .
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
