One of the distinctive sounds you will experience in the Maine woods is the percussive solo of a woodpecker drumming on a tree.
Maine’s woodlands are home to a diverse collection of these skilled percussive artists, each with its unique traits, behaviors, and distinctive plumage.
From the diminutive Downy Woodpecker to the majestic Pileated Woodpecker, these avian wonders captivate observers with their rhythmic beats, vibrant colors, and remarkable adaptations.
Maine Woodpeckers
A variety of woodpecker species have migrated to the Pine Tree State over recent years, giving bird lovers many opportunities to spot them in the wild.
Here are ten different varieties of woodpecker you might spot on your next hike into Maine’s forests:
1. Downy Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides pubescens
- Length: 5.5-6.7 inches
- Weight: 0.7-1.0 ounces
- Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Small size, black and white plumage, white undersides with black spots, a short bill, and a red patch on males’ nape.
The Downy Woodpecker is a small but common woodpecker species found in Maine. They have a varied diet consisting of insects, seeds, berries, and tree sap.
They prefer deciduous forests and woodlands, where they can forage on tree trunks and branches. You are likely to see them throughout the year, as they are non-migratory. Look for them on your next trip to Baxter State Park, or one of the other state parks scattered around Maine.
These woodpeckers are known for their drumming behavior, where they use rapid pecking to communicate and establish territories. Males have a distinctive red patch on the back of their heads, while females lack this feature.
2. Hairy Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides villosus
- Length: 7.1-10.2 inches
- Weight: 1.4-3.4 ounces
- Wingspan: 913.0-16.1 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Similar to the Downy Woodpecker but larger, with a longer bill and larger white patches on its back.
The Hairy Woodpecker is similar in appearance to the Downy Woodpecker but larger in size. Their diet primarily consists of insects, especially wood-boring beetles, which they extract from tree bark.
They inhabit mature forests and wooded areas with plenty of tall trees. Hairy Woodpeckers can be seen year-round in Maine, as they are resident birds.
Their drumming is slower and more deliberate compared to the Downy Woodpecker. Look for their white undersides and the larger white patches on their wings to distinguish them from the Downy Woodpecker.
3. Northern Flicker
- Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
- Length: 11.0-12.2 inches
- Weight: 3.9-5.6 ounces
- Wingspan: 916.5-20.1 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Brown plumage with black bars and spots, a black crescent on its chest, a white rump, and conspicuous yellow underwings and tail feathers.
The Northern Flicker, also known as the Yellowhammer, is a unique woodpecker species found in Maine. They have a diverse diet, including ants, beetles, fruits, and seeds. Unlike other woodpeckers, they also forage on the ground for ants and other insects.
Northern Flickers prefer open woodlands, forest edges, and urban areas with mature trees. These woodpeckers are migratory, so you are likely to see them in Maine during spring and summer.
Look for their striking plumage, with brown feathers, black bars, and conspicuous yellow underwings and tail feathers. They are known for their distinct “wick-a-wick-a-wick” call and their habit of drumming on metal objects like gutters and pipes.
4. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius
- Length: 7.1-8.7 inches
- Weight: 1.5-1.9 ounces
- Wingspan: 913.4-15.8 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Black and white plumage, yellowish belly, red crown on males, and distinctive rows of holes (sap wells) on trees to feed on sap.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a fascinating woodpecker species known for its unique feeding behavior. They create rows of small, evenly spaced holes called sap wells on tree trunks to consume tree sap and the insects it attracts. They also eat insects, fruits, and berries.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers prefer mixed forests and forest edges near water sources. They are migratory, arriving in Maine during spring and departing in late fall.
Males have a red crown, while females have a pale yellow crown. Look for their distinct mewing call and watch for their characteristic flight pattern, alternating between flapping and short glides.
5. Pileated Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
- Length: 16.5-19.3 inches
- Weight: 8.8-14.3 ounces
- Wingspan: 926.0-29.5 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Large size, black plumage, white stripes on the face, a prominent red crest, and a loud, resonant drumming call.
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species in Maine. They have a diverse diet consisting of insects, fruits, nuts, and occasionally small vertebrates.
These woodpeckers prefer mature forests with plenty of large, dead or dying trees, where they excavate cavities for nesting and foraging. Pileated Woodpeckers are resident birds in Maine and can be observed year-round.
Listen for their loud, resonant drumming, which is often described as a series of deep, slow knocks. They have a distinctive black body with a red crest, and their large size makes them easily recognizable. Seeing them in flight reveals their white underwings.
6. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus
- Length: 9.4-9.8 inches
- Weight: 2.0-3.2 ounces
- Wingspan: 913.0-16.5 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Red cap on males, grayish face and underparts, black-and-white barred back, and a faint red wash on the belly.
Despite its name, the Red-bellied Woodpecker has a mostly grayish belly, while the back and wings are black with white barring. They have a varied diet, including insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
These woodpeckers inhabit mixed woodlands, forest edges, and residential areas with mature trees. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are non-migratory and can be observed year-round in Maine.
They have a distinctive rolling call and a habit of caching food in tree crevices. They may also “bill” or tap on objects, creating a sound similar to a flicker.
7. Black-backed Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides arcticus
- Length: 8.7-9.8 inches
- Weight: 1.8-3.1 ounces
- Wingspan: 916.5-17.7 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Black plumage with a white patch on its back, yellow crown on males, and a preference for burned or dead trees.
The Black-backed Woodpecker is a unique species found in Maine, often associated with burned or dead trees. They have a specialized diet of wood-boring beetles and their larvae, which they excavate from recently burned or decaying wood.
These woodpeckers prefer coniferous forests and burned areas where they can access their food source. They are typically seen in Maine throughout the year, but their population can fluctuate depending on forest fires and habitat availability.
Look for their black plumage with a prominent white patch on their back, and listen for their shrill calls. Black-backed Woodpeckers are known for their ability to extract food from trees with precision.
8. American Three-toed Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides dorsalis
- Length: 8.3-9.4 inches
- Weight: 1.4-2.3 ounces
- Wingspan: 914.6-15.7 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Black and white plumage, white stripes on the face, males have a yellow crown, and only three toes instead of four.
The American Three-toed Woodpecker is a distinctive woodpecker species found in Maine. They have a diet primarily consisting of insects, especially wood-boring beetles.
These woodpeckers inhabit coniferous forests, particularly areas affected by spruce bark beetles or other insect outbreaks. They have a limited presence in Maine and are typically observed during the breeding season.
The American Three-toed Woodpecker has black and white plumage, similar to other woodpeckers, but they only have three toes instead of four. Listen for their soft, high-pitched calls while searching for insects beneath tree bark.
9. Red-headed Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Length: 7.9-9.1 inches
- Weight: 2.0-3.2 ounces
- Wingspan: 916.5-17.9 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Red head, black back and wings, white underparts, and a unique flight pattern with flapping and gliding.
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a striking species with a completely red head and neck, contrasting with black and white plumage on the rest of its body. Their diet consists of insects, fruits, nuts, and occasionally small vertebrates.
Red-headed Woodpeckers inhabit open woodlands, forest edges, and areas with scattered trees. While they are not as common in Maine, they can be spotted during the summer months.
These woodpeckers are known for their acrobatic flight and their habit of storing food in tree cavities and crevices. They have a variety of calls, including a loud, rolling “kweer” and a soft, rattling sound.
10. Northern Hairy Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides villosus leucopterus
- Length: 9.8-11.4 inches
- Weight: 1.5-3.2 ounces
- Wingspan: 915.8-16.5 inches
- Distinguishing Features: Similar to the Hairy Woodpecker but larger, with a longer bill, a larger white patch on its back, and distinctive hairy feathers around the bill.
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The Northern Hairy Woodpecker is a subspecies of the Hairy Woodpecker and shares many characteristics. They have black and white plumage, but males have a distinctive red patch on the back of their heads.
They primarily feed on insects, including wood-boring beetles, and can be found in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and residential areas. Northern Hairy Woodpeckers are non-migratory and can be observed year-round in Maine.
They have a rapid, drumming behavior and use their long, barbed tongue to extract insects from tree crevices. These woodpeckers are known for their territorial behavior and may engage in aggressive encounters with other birds.
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