Woodpeckers in Wyoming

With 7 million acres of national forests and more than 2.5 million acres of national parks, Wyoming, the least populated US state, is a woodpecker paradise. The diversity of the hammering birds here is fairly robust, with nine regularly occurring species. The best place to see these birds is Yellowstone National Park during the summer breeding season. Note that only the red-headed woodpecker doesn’t breed in the state.

Wyoming acts as the meeting point of the yellow-shafted (East Coast variant) and red-shafted (West Coast variant) northern flickers as both the subspecies occur here.

Woodpeckers in Wyoming (WY)

Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Wyoming

NameIdentifying FeaturesWhere They Are Found in Wyoming
Northern FlickerBrown body with black bars, white rumpOpen woodlands, edges, and suburban areas
Downy WoodpeckerSmall size, white back with black spotsThroughout forests, woodlands, and urban areas
Hairy WoodpeckerLarger size, all-black back, white undersideWooded areas, forests, and parks
Red-headed WoodpeckerRed head, black and white bodyOpen woodlands, savannas, and agricultural areas
American Three-toed WoodpeckerBlack back with white stripes, three toesMixed coniferous-deciduous forests, especially in western WY
Black-backed WoodpeckerBlack back, white spots on wingsConiferous forests, particularly during bark beetle outbreaks
Red-naped SapsuckerRed nape, black and white head patternMixed forests, particularly in mountainous regions
Lewis’s WoodpeckerPink belly, gray collar, red face and breastOpen woodlands, particularly in river valleys and foothills
Williamson’s SapsuckerBlack back, white belly, red throat patchMixed coniferous-deciduous forests, especially in NW WY
Pileated WoodpeckerLarge size, red crest, black body with white stripesLarge tracts of mature forests and woodlands
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerYellowish belly, black and white striped headWoodlands with deciduous trees, particularly maples
Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed cap on head, black and white barred backSparse sightings, primarily in eastern and southeastern WY
White-headed WoodpeckerWhite head, black backConiferous forests at higher elevations, particularly in NW WY
Acorn WoodpeckerBlack back with white patches, red capOak woodlands and forests, primarily in southwestern WY

Out of the state’s fourteen woodpecker species, five are accidental. They are the last five on the above list. The most commonly occurring species, like the downy, hairy, and northern flicker, can be seen in backyard feeders, while the others can be seen in the forests and parks.

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