Arizona, with its deserts, extensive forests, and woodlands, is home to as many as twelve species of woodpeckers. This is quite a significant number, considering North America has only 22 species.
The red-naped sapsucker and the ladder-backed woodpecker inhabit Southern Arizona. The latter is also known as the cactus woodpecker because it prefers to live in thorn forests and deserts where cacti grow. Northern Arizona is home to the hairy woodpecker, which resembles the downy woodpecker, the smallest species (6.1 inches) in the state and North America.
One notable species found in Arizona is the Gila woodpecker, which is quite common in Southern Arizona but almost nonexistent in any other state. This is because it can survive in desert habitats without trees, as it makes its nest in saguaro cacti. The same can be said for the gilded flicker, which is common in most parts of Arizona but occurs only in a few other states.
The Arizona woodpecker is only found in a small range in the southern corner of Arizona and in New Mexico. The best time to see them is during their breeding season, from March to May.
Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Arizona
Woodpecker Name
Identifying Feature
Where They Are Found in Arizona
Acorn Woodpecker
Red cap and white face
Oak woodlands and foothill forests
Downy Woodpecker
Small size, white belly
Various wooded habitats, including gardens
Hairy Woodpecker
Similar to Downy but larger
Forested areas and wooded parks
Northern Flicker
Spotted belly
Open woodlands, fields, and urban areas
Red-naped Sapsucker
Red cap, nape, and throat
Coniferous and mixed woodlands
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Ladder-like markings
Desert scrub and arid habitats
Gila Woodpecker
Brown face with black-and-white barring on the wings
Sonoran and Mojave deserts
Gilded Flicker
Yellow underwings
Sonoran and Mojave deserts
Williamson’s Sapsucker
Yellow belly and white wing patch
Coniferous forests in mountains
Arizona Woodpecker
Grayish-brown with white spots
Oak and pine woodlands
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Pink belly and greenish back
Ponderosa pine forests and open woodlands
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black with white barring and three toes
Coniferous forests in higher elevations
The American three-toed woodpecker is relatively rare in the state, found only in a thin strip in Central Arizona during the winter. The Lewis’s woodpecker is another uncommon species with unpredictable populations in the state. This is because they tend to travel around looking for food after their breeding season.
FAQs
Q. Are woodpeckers protected in Arizona?
Ans. Yes, woodpeckers, being migratory, nongame birds, are protected by both the state and federal wildlife departments in Arizona and should not be harmed. However, since many people find the damage caused by them to the structures of their homes quite expensive to repair and unpleasant to look at, they can keep the birds away by adopting preventive measures.
