Nebraska, with its vast outdoors spanning trails, woods, open spaces, state parks, lakes, and rivers, is home to as many as twelve woodpecker species. Of them, eight species are common and recognized in state checklists, while the remaining are labeled rare or accidental, namely the acorn woodpecker, Williamson’s sapsucker, red-naped sapsucker, and American three-toed woodpecker.
The northern flicker, downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers are permanent, year-round state residents. The yellow-bellied sapsucker is an exception, as it is a migratory species. The best time to see it is during the spring and fall migration. On the other hand, the Lewis’s and red-headed woodpeckers are more common in the state during their breeding season (April through July). The northwestern part of Nebraska hosts the red-naped sapsucker only during the said breeding season.
