Woodpeckers in Arizona

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.

Woodpeckers in Arizona

Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in Arizona

FAQs

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