Ten species of woodpeckers are commonly found in Louisiana. While they can be seen in suitable habitats across the state, the brightly-colored red-headed woodpecker is more common in southern Louisiana.
The pileated woodpecker and northern flicker are the larger woodpeckers living here. In contrast, the yellow-bellied sapsucker and red-cockaded woodpecker fall in the small-size group. The downy is the smallest, with a length of 6.1 inches.
Rare, found in the pine forests of northern Louisiana
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
A black ladder-like pattern on the back
Common in the southwestern parts of the state
Williamson’s Sapsucker
The male has white wing patches, a red throat, and a crown
Rare, occasional sightings in the state
Red-naped Sapsucker
Red nape and throat patch, white bars on wings
Rare, found in forested areas of northern Louisiana
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Extinct, formerly large and ivory-colored (historic)
Extinct, historically in hardwood forests
Talking about rare woodpeckers, the red-cockaded woodpecker is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. On the other hand, the last confirmed sighting of the ivory-billed woodpecker was in north Louisiana in the 1940s. It has been considered extinct since then, but recent sightings have led to its exclusion from the extinct species list by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2023.
