Did you know that Georgia is home to eight different woodpecker species? These fascinating birds, part of the Picidae family, can be found across the state’s diverse landscapes.
From the tiny Downy Woodpecker to the impressive Pileated Woodpecker, you’ll find a variety of sizes and colors among Georgia’s woodpeckers.
You can spot woodpeckers in Georgia year-round, as they don’t migrate and prefer to stay close to their nesting cavities.
These clever birds create holes in trees for shelter and raising their young.
Keep an eye out for their distinctive drumming sound as they peck at trees in search of insects or to mark their territory.
Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or just curious about local wildlife, learning about woodpeckers in Georgia can be a fun and rewarding experience.
You might even discover ways to attract these beautiful birds to your own backyard.
Ready to explore the world of Georgia’s woodpeckers? Let’s dive in and get to know these feathered friends better!
1. Red-Headed Woodpecker
Have you ever seen a bird with a bright red head? You might have spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker! These striking birds are easy to spot in Georgia.
Red-headed Woodpeckers have a completely red head, neck, and throat. Their body is mostly black and white. You’ll notice a big white patch on their wings when they fly.
These woodpeckers like open areas with scattered trees. You might see them in parks, golf courses, or farms. They’re different from other woodpeckers because they catch insects in mid-air!
Red-headed Woodpeckers eat more than just insects. They love acorns and beech nuts, too. In winter, you might spot them at your bird feeder eating sunflower seeds.
Sadly, these beautiful birds are becoming less common. You can help by leaving dead trees standing in your yard. Red-headed Woodpeckers use these for nesting.
Want to attract them to your yard? Try putting up a suet feeder. You can also plant oak or beech trees. These provide food and homes for the woodpeckers.
Remember, Red-headed Woodpeckers are protected by law. It’s illegal to harm them or disturb their nests. Enjoy watching these stunning birds from a distance!
2. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
You might be surprised to learn that Red-bellied Woodpeckers don’t actually have red bellies! Their name comes from a faint reddish tint on their lower belly that’s often hard to see.
These woodpeckers are medium-sized birds, measuring about 9.4 inches long.
They have striking black and white striped backs, with bright red caps and napes on their heads.
You’ll often hear Red-bellied Woodpeckers before you see them. They have a loud, rolling call that sounds like “churr-churr-churr.”
In Georgia, you can spot these birds year-round. They’re common visitors to backyard feeders, especially if you offer suet or peanuts.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers aren’t picky eaters. They enjoy:
- Insects
- Fruits
- Nuts
- Seeds
These birds are excellent climbers. You’ll see them spiraling up tree trunks and along branches, searching for food.
During breeding season, Red-bellied Woodpeckers excavate nesting holes in dead trees or large branches. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and caring for the young.
If you want to attract these colorful birds to your yard, try setting up a suet feeder.
You might also consider leaving dead trees standing if it’s safe to do so, as they provide perfect nesting spots.
3. Pileated Woodpecker
Have you ever seen a woodpecker as big as a crow? That’s the pileated woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in Georgia.
These impressive birds are hard to miss with their striking appearance.
Pileated woodpeckers have a distinctive red crest and black body. You’ll often hear them before you see them, thanks to their loud drumming and calls.
These birds are year-round residents in Georgia. You’re most likely to spot them in old forests with large trees. They love dead or dying trees, which provide homes and food.
Pileated woodpeckers are master excavators. They can create large, oblong holes in trees while searching for their favorite snack: carpenter ants.
These holes can be so big that other animals sometimes use them for shelter!
Want to attract pileated woodpeckers to your yard? Try putting up a suet feeder.
They also love fruits and nuts. Just make sure you have some big trees nearby for them to explore.
Remember, pileated woodpeckers can take 3-6 weeks to excavate a nesting cavity. If you see one hard at work, give it space and enjoy the show from a distance.
These magnificent birds play a crucial role in forest ecosystems. By creating holes and eating insects, they help maintain the health of trees and provide homes for other wildlife.
4. Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a tiny but mighty bird you’ll often spot in Georgia. It’s the smallest woodpecker in the state, measuring just 5.5 to 6.7 inches long.
You can easily recognize this little guy by its black and white feathers. The males have a small red patch on the back of their heads, adding a pop of color.
Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Georgia. You’re likely to see them in your backyard, parks, or forests.
These birds are great climbers. You’ll often find them clinging to tree trunks or branches, searching for insects to eat.
Their small size is an advantage. It allows them to reach bugs in places larger woodpeckers can’t access.
Here are some fun facts about Downy Woodpeckers:
- They have stiff tail feathers that act like a prop when climbing
- Their tongues can extend up to 1.5 inches beyond their beaks
- They drum on trees not just for food, but also to communicate
Want to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your yard? Try putting out suet feeders or creating a bird-friendly garden with native plants.
5. Hairy Woodpecker
The hairy woodpecker is a common sight in Georgia’s forests and woodlands.
You might spot these striking birds in your backyard, too, especially if you have mature trees around.
These woodpeckers are medium-sized, about 7 to 10 inches long. You’ll notice their black and white coloring, with males sporting a small red patch on the back of their heads.
Hairy woodpeckers look a lot like their smaller cousins, the downy woodpeckers.
The easiest way to tell them apart? Check the bill! Hairy woodpeckers have longer, stronger bills that are almost as long as their heads.
You’ll often hear these birds before you see them. Listen for their sharp, loud “peek” call or their rapid drumming on trees.
What do hairy woodpeckers eat? They love insects! You’ll see them pecking at tree bark to find tasty bugs. They also enjoy:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Berries
- Tree sap
Want to attract hairy woodpeckers to your yard? Try putting out suet feeders or peanut butter. They love these high-energy snacks!
Hairy woodpeckers stay in Georgia year-round. They’re not migratory, so you can enjoy watching them in all seasons.
6. Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a unique woodpecker found in Georgia. You might spot this colorful bird foraging on the ground, which is unusual for woodpeckers.
Northern Flickers have some interesting features:
- Size: 11 to 12.2 inches long
- Weight: 3.9 to 5.6 ounces
- Wingspan: 16.5 to 20.1 inches
You’ll notice their brown bodies with black spots and a bright red patch on the back of their heads.
The underside of their wings and tail feathers can be yellow or red, depending on the subspecies.
Unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers often perch on horizontal branches instead of vertical ones.
They don’t use their tails for support as much as other woodpecker species do.
These birds have a diverse diet. You might see them hunting for ants and beetles on the ground or pecking at trees for insects. They also enjoy fruits and seeds when available.
Northern Flickers are year-round residents in Georgia. You can attract them to your yard by providing suet feeders or maintaining areas of open ground where they can forage for insects.
Their call is a loud, clear “wicka-wicka-wicka” sound. If you hear this in your backyard, look around – you might spot a Northern Flicker nearby!
7. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Have you ever seen neat rows of small holes in tree bark? You might have spotted the handiwork of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
These unique woodpeckers are known for drilling sap wells in trees.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have striking black and white plumage. Males sport a red cap and throat, while females have a red cap and white throat.
Both sexes have a yellowish belly, which gives them their name.
You’ll find these birds in Georgia during the winter months. They’re migratory woodpeckers, heading north to breed in summer.
These sapsuckers are smaller than many other woodpeckers. They measure about 7.5 to 8.25 inches long and weigh 1.2 to 2.2 ounces.
Want to attract Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers to your yard? Try offering suet feeders. They also love fruit, so consider planting berry-producing shrubs.
Listen for their distinctive call – a nasally, cat-like mew. You might also hear their drumming on trees or metal objects like gutters.
Remember, these birds play a vital role in forest ecosystems. Their sap wells provide food for other wildlife, including hummingbirds and insects.
8. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
The red-cockaded woodpecker is a unique bird you might spot in Georgia. Despite its name, it’s not very red at all.
These woodpeckers are mostly black and white, with a small red patch that’s hard to see.
You’ll find these birds in pine forests. Unlike other woodpeckers, they don’t like dead trees. They prefer to make their homes in living pine trees.
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are rare and endangered. If you want to see one, you’ll need to be patient and look carefully. They live in family groups and work together to find food.
These birds are small, about 7 to 9 inches long. Their wingspan can reach up to 16 inches. They eat insects like beetles and spiders, but also enjoy some berries and nuts.
In Georgia, you can only find red-cockaded woodpeckers in pine forests. They stay there all year round.
These birds are social and noisy. You might hear them before you see them!
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are special because they make their nests in living trees.
This takes a long time, sometimes years. They work hard to create a safe home for their families.
