Eight species have occurred in Indiana, only one of which is a rare vagrant. The other seven species are pretty common and easy to see!
Downy Woodpeckers and Red-bellied Woodpeckers visit feeders throughout the state, Northern Flickers give loud calls from parks, and beautiful Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are common winter birds.
How many woodpeckers have you seen in Indiana? Were you able to identify all of them?
Our list of the common woodpeckers of Indiana will help!
Most Common Woodpeckers In Indiana
Based on recent eBird data, we made a list of common woodpeckers in Indiana and arranged them from most common to least common.
To help you identify them, we included information about their key field marks and behavior!
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
Length: 9.25 inches
Wingspan: 16 inches
Red-bellied Woodpeckers are bold birds with a long, dark, chisel-like beak, and backs with zebra-like barring. They also have black and white bars on their long, closed wings, and a bold white rump with some black speckling.
Despite their name, it’s really hard to see the red on this bird’s underparts! Male Red-bellied Woodpeckers have bright red on their crown and nape. Females only have red on their nape and young birds only show a bit of orange on the back of their head.
We see pairs of this common woodpecker species in all sorts of woodlands. As long as big trees are present, they can even live in urban areas, and often come to feeders.
Key identifications:
- In most of their range, Red-bellied Woodpeckers are the only woodpecker species that has zebra-like, black and white barring on their back and wings.
- Red-bellied Woodpeckers have a pale face and red on their nape.
- This species has plain buff-gray underparts.
Downy Woodpecker
Scientific name: Dryobates pubescens
Length: 6.75 inches
Wingspan: 12 inches
Downy Woodpeckers are small, cute woodpeckers with black and white plumage. They have bold, black and white markings on their heads, black and white wings, and white underparts.
They also have a white back, black rump, and black and white tail. This woodpecker is slightly bigger than a sparrow, and has white, tufted feathers above its short beak.
Male Downy Woodpeckers have a small red patch on the back part of their head. Females look like males but lack this red patch, and young birds have red on the top of their heads.
This small bird is common in all sorts of wooded habitats. This beautiful little woodpecker is also a regular visitor to backyards and can live in urban areas with lots of trees.
Key identifications:
- Downy Woodpeckers are smaller than all other woodpeckers in North America. They are nearly as small as a House Sparrow.
- This species has a short and stubby beak (for a woodpecker).
- Downy Woodpeckers have small dark markings on their white outer tail feathers.
Northern Flicker
Scientific name: Colaptes auratus
Length: 12.5 inches
Wingspan: 20 inches
Northern Flickers are big, unique, gray and tan woodpeckers with bold white rumps. They have buff underparts with black spotting and a bold black patch on their chest, and fine black barring on their back and wings.
This species has some differences depending on where they live. Birds east of the Rocky Mountains have a small red spot on their nape, and a black moustache mark (males). Eastern birds also have bright yellow underwings.
West of the Rockies, Northern Flickers have grayer heads, and males have a red moustache. They also have reddish on their underwings.
Northern Flickers love parks, golf courses, and other semi-open habitats. In such places, we often see them in bounding flight, or perched on the ground as they forage for ants.
Key identifications:
- In most of their range, Northern Flickers are the only woodpecker with gray and brown plumage.
- This species has a gray crown and fine black barring on its tan-colored back.
- Northern Flickers also have a black chest patch and black spotting on their underparts.
Pileated Woodpecker
Scientific name: Dryocopus pileatus
Length: 16.5 inches
Wingspan: 29 inches
Pileated Woodpeckers are really big woodpeckers. These unmistakable woodpeckers are mostly black with a thick white line on each side of their neck, and a white throat.
They also have a red crest and a long, grayish beak. Males have a small red moustache while females have a black line that extends from their beak to their neck.
Pileated Woodpeckers also have a small white patch on the upper part of each wing. It’s easier to see this mark and the white underwings when the big woodpecker takes flight.
This fantastic woodpecker lives in forests and woodlands with lots of big, mature trees. For that reason, we don’t usually see them in urban areas.
Key identifications:
- In most places, Pileated Woodpeckers are the only big black and white woodpecker with a red crest.
- This species has a small white patch near the tip of each upperwing. They also have white wing linings.
- Pileated Woodpeckers have a lot of white on their face and a completely black back.
Hairy Woodpecker
Scientific name: Dryobates villosus
Length: 9.25 inches
Wingspan: 15 inches
Hairy Woodpeckers are medium-sized, black and white woodpeckers with a fairly long and sharp beak. They have a bold black and white pattern on their head, white back, black rump, and black and white wings.
Hairy Woodpeckers also have white underparts and a pale front. Males have a small red patch on the back of their head, females lack this patch, and juveniles have a red patch on top of their head.
Hairy Woodpeckers usually prefer forests, but you can spot them in parks and suburban areas as well. Although Indiana is part of their natural range, they are not as common as in other states.
Key identifications:
- Hairy Woodpeckers have noticeably longer beaks than Downy Woodpeckers, and are also larger birds.
- The Hairy Woodpecker has a big white patch on its back.
- This species has plain white underparts and clean white outer tail feathers.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Scientific name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Length: 9.25 inches
Wingspan: 17 inches
Red-headed Woodpeckers are beautiful, medium-sized woodpeckers with a completely deep red head. Adults of both sexes look alike and have a sharp gray bill, and bright white underparts.
Their upperparts are glossy black with a snow-white rump, and big white patches on their wings. Juvenile Red-headed Woodpeckers have a similar plumage pattern but have a gray-brown head, and some dark markings on their wings and underparts.
This striking bird prefers semi-open habitats with mature oaks, snags, and other big trees.
Key identifications:
- Red-headed Woodpeckers are the only woodpecker species in eastern North America with an entirely red head.
- This species has a unique wing pattern with big white patches on the base of each wing.
- The Red-headed Woodpecker has a black tail and an extensive white rump.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Scientific name: Sphyrapicus varius
Length: 8.5 inches
Wingspan: 16 inches
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are pretty, medium-sized woodpeckers with white shoulders. They have a black and white face, black chest, and uneven black and white barring on their backs.
This woodpecker species has pale yellow on its underparts, small black markings on its sides, and a red patch on its head.
Males also have a red throat bordered with black while females have a white throat. Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers look like adults but are more dingy gray-brown, and lack red on their heads.
This migratory species likes to peck rows of small holes in deciduous trees. It drinks the sap that comes out, as well as insects attracted to the sap.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers breed in northern and montane forests, but spend their winters in Indiana. You can see them in various habitats.
Key identifications:
- Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are the only woodpeckers in most of their range with white shoulders.
- This species has a black chest and uneven barring on its sides.
- The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has lots of uneven, mottled black and white barring on its back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many woodpeckers are there in Indiana?
There are 7 woodpeckers in Indiana and one additional species that has occurred as a rare vagrant.
What is the most common woodpecker in Indiana?
The most common woodpecker in Indiana is the Downy Woodpecker.
Are woodpeckers protected in Indiana?
Yes, woodpeckers are protected in Indiana under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Do woodpeckers migrate from Indiana?
Most woodpeckers stay in Indiana year-round. The only migrating woodpeckers are Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, they spend their summers further north.
What is the biggest woodpecker in Indiana?
The biggest woodpecker in Indiana is the Pileated Woodpecker. This large bird is almost as big as a crow!
What is the small black and white woodpecker in Indiana?
The small black and white woodpecker in Indiana is the Downy Woodpecker.
Are Red-headed Woodpeckers in Indiana?
Yes, Red-headed Woodpeckers are in Indiana. In many places, this species is a fairly common bird.
Conclusion
Indiana has an excellent habitat for woodpeckers. Good numbers of all seven regular woodpecker species occur in the state’s woodland habitats. None are threatened, and all are pretty easy to see. Two or three species are also common at feeders!
The Red-headed Woodpecker and the Pileated Woodpecker aren’t quite as common but are still readily seen in the places where they normally occur.
Such habitats are open areas with scattered trees for the Red-headed Woodpecker, and mature forests for the Pileated Woodpecker.
As long as Indiana continues to harbor woodlands and lots of big trees, woodpeckers should continue doing well in the state.
More in Indiana: Most common birds | Hawks | Owls | State bird