Woodpeckers in North Dakota

North Dakota is not a woodpecker hotspot. It doesn’t come as a surprise as the state ranks as the least forested state in the US. Despite that, it hosts around eleven woodpecker species, including some rare types.  

The northern flicker, one of the commonest in the Peace Garden State, has its red- and yellow-shafted varieties living here. This is a state where you can even find hybrids of the two. Eastern ND forms the breeding range of the yellow-bellied sapsucker. It spends the summer here and heads south for the winter.

Woodpeckers in North Dakota (ND)

Different Types of Woodpeckers Found in North Dakota

NameIdentifying FeaturesWhere They Are Found in North Dakota
Downy WoodpeckerSmall size, black and white plumage, red spot on the back of the headThroughout the state
Hairy WoodpeckerLarger than Downy, similar plumageWooded areas, forests, and suburban neighborhoods
Northern FlickerBrown plumage with black spots, white rumpOpen areas, woodlands, and urban parks
Red-headed WoodpeckerEntirely red head and neckSparse populations in open woodlands and along rivers
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerYellow belly and white stripes on wingsForested areas, orchards, and wooded suburban neighborhoods
Pileated WoodpeckerLarge size, striking red crest, black and white plumageForested areas and wooded parks throughout the state
Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed patch on back of head, black and white barred plumageWoodlands, forests, and suburban areas
American Three-toed WoodpeckerBlack and white plumage, three-toed feetFound in remote coniferous forests
Black-backed WoodpeckerBlack back with white spots, white undersideDense coniferous forests in northern parts of the state
Lewis’s WoodpeckerDark greenish-black plumage, pink bellyOpen woodlands, burned areas, and river valleys
Acorn WoodpeckerBlack and white plumage, distinctive red cap and throatOak woodlands and forests in limited parts of the state

The red-headed woodpecker, a near-threatened species, has undergone a significant decline in their population in North Dakota despite it being their breeding ground. Nevertheless, their highest numbers have been recorded in the upper part of the Little Missouri River, the southern part of the Red River Valley, and the lower Missouri River Valley.

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