Types of Woodpeckers in Utah (with Pictures)

Woodpeckers are fascinating birds that can be found throughout Utah. There are many different types of woodpeckers, and each has its own unique characteristics. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of woodpeckers that can be found in Utah, as well as their habits and behaviors. We will also provide some tips on how to identify different woodpecker species. So if you’re interested in learning more about these amazing birds, keep reading!

The data was gathered only from reputable sources, as well as Ornithologist confirmation.

Most Common Woodpeckers in Utah

Williamson’s Sapsucker

williamson's sapsucker

Williamson’s Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker that is black, white, and gray with a red throat. They are found in the western United States and Canada. The bird gets its name from William’s family who were the first to identify them.

Williamson’s Sapsucker drills small holes in trees to get to the sap. They also eat insects, berries, and fruits. The bird is mostly active during the day.

Williamson’s Sapsucker is about 16 cm long with a wingspan of 30 cm. They have a black head with a white stripe down the middle. The back is black and the belly is white. There is a red patch on the throat. The male and female look alike.

Williamson’s Sapsucker is not considered to be endangered. However, their numbers have been declining in recent years. This is likely due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Williamson's Sapsucker range map

Hairy Woodpeckers

hairy woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with black and white plumage. The back of the head and neck are black, while the face is white with a black stripe through the eye. The belly is also white.

Males have a red patch on the back of the head, while females have a smaller patch or none at all.

The Hairy Woodpecker can be found in forests across North America. In Utah, they are most commonly found in the northern and central parts of the state. They prefer to nest in trees, but will also nest in dead logs or stumps.

The Hairy Woodpecker is a fairly common bird, but its numbers have been declining in recent years. This is likely due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

They are medium-sized woodpeckers, with a length of about 16 cm. The upper parts are black and white, while the underparts are mostly yellow. The face has a white stripe above the eye and another stripe below it.

There is also a red patch on the male’s head. These birds breed in coniferous and mixed forests in North America. They make deep nesting cavities in trees, which they also use for roosting.

The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a year-round resident of Utah. It is most often seen in the northern and central parts of the state, but has been found in southern Utah as well.

This bird is not shy and will often come close to humans. It has a loud, high-pitched call that sounds like “wee-er, wee-er”. The yellow-bellied sapsucker gets its name from its habit of drilling holes in tree bark to get at the sap. It also eats insects, berries, and fruits. The yellow-bellied sapsucker is an important bird in the Utah ecosystem.

The best time to see a yellow-bellied sapsucker in Utah is during the spring and summer months. This is when they are most active and can be seen drilling holes in trees, eating sap, and chasing insects.

Related post: Types of Woodpeckers in California

Northern Flickers

Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker is a common bird in Utah. It has a black bill and back, with a tan head and breast. The wings are brown with black bars, and the tail is black with white spots.

The male has a red nape, while the female does not. Juveniles have brownish plumage. This bird can be found in wooded areas, parks, and backyards. It feeds on insects, berries, and black oil sunflower seeds. The Northern Flicker is a member of the woodpecker family.

It nests in tree cavities and lays between four and eight eggs. This bird is active during the day and can often be seen perching on branches or flying from tree to tree.

The Northern Flicker is a beautiful bird that is fun to watch. If you see one, be sure to take a moment to enjoy its company.

Northern Flicker range map

American Three-toed Woodpecker

American-Three-Toed Woodpecker

The American three-toed woodpecker is a small to medium-sized woodpecker that is found in North America. These birds are black with white stripes on their back and wings.

The male has a red patch on the back of its head, while the female does not. American three-toed woodpeckers are known to eat insects, berries, and tree sap. These birds nest in trees, and they typically lay four to six eggs per clutch.

American three-toed woodpeckers are found in forests across North America. In the United States, these birds are found in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. In Canada, these birds are found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

These birds typically inhabit coniferous forests, but they can also be found in deciduous forests.

American three-toed woodpeckers are active during the day. These birds are most often seen foraging for food on trees.

American three-toed woodpeckers typically nest in tree cavities. These birds will excavate their own nesting cavity, or they will use a pre-existing cavity.

If you see an American three-toed woodpecker in the wild, you should be sure to report it to your local wildlife authorities.

American Three-Toed Woodpecker range map

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-Breasted Sapsucker

The red-breasted sapsucker is a small woodpecker, about the size of a robin. The adult male has a brilliant red breast, while the female’s is yellowish. Both sexes have a black back with white bars and a white rump. The head is black with white stripes above the eyes.

The bill is long and slightly curved. The red-breasted sapsucker can be found in woodlands, orchards, and parks across North America.

The red-breasted sapsucker is a cavity nester, meaning it excavates its own nesting hole in a tree. Both the male and female work together to drill the hole, which can be up to 18 inches deep. The female lays between three and seven eggs in the nest.

The red-breasted sapsuckers are year-round resident woodpeckers in Utah. In the winter, it may move to lower elevations in search of food. This woodpecker feeds on sap from trees, as well as insects and berries.

To get to the sap, the red-breasted sapsucker drills a series of small holes in the tree’s bark. These holes are called “sapwells.” The bird then licks up the sap as it flows from the wells.

Red-breasted Sapsucker range map

Red-naped Sapsucker

Red-naped Sapsucker

The red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) is a medium-sized woodpecker with a black back, white breast, and rusty sides. The male has a distinctive red nape, while the female has a gray nape. Both sexes have white wing bars and yellowish flanks. These sapsuckers are year-round resident woodpeckers in Utah, where they can be found in woodlands and orchards.

The red-naped sapsucker drills holes in trees to reach the sap within. It also eats insects, berries, and tree fruits. In winter, this sapsucker often joins flocks of other birds, such as finches and juncos.

The best way to identify a red-naped sapsucker is by its call, which is a sharp “pik” or “yip.” This sapsucker can also be heard drumming on trees with its bill. When feeding, you may see this bird hanging upside down from a tree branch.

The red-naped sapsucker is an important bird for Utah’s ecosystem. This sapsucker helps to control insect populations and disperses the seeds of trees and other plants. If you see a red-naped sapsucker, be sure to give it some space and enjoy this amazing bird from a distance.

Red-naped Sapsucker range map

Downy Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpeckers

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America. It has a black body with white stripes on its back and wings. The adult male has a red patch on the back of his head. The Downy Woodpecker can be found in woods and forests across North America. In Utah, it is most commonly found in the northern part of the state.

The Downy Woodpecker feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. It uses its long tongue to reach into crevices in tree bark to find food. The Downy Woodpecker also eats fruit and nuts. In winter, it often feeds on the sap of trees.

The Downy Woodpecker nests in tree cavities. Both the male and female help to excavate the nest cavity. The female lays four to six eggs in the nest. The young hatch after about two weeks. Both parents feed the young birds until they are old enough to leave the nest.

The Downy Woodpecker is a small, black and white woodpecker. The adult male has a red patch on the back of his head. It can be found in woods and forests across North America, and in Utah, it is most commonly found in the northern part of the state.

Lewis’s Woodpeckers

Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis’s Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found in the western United States. The bird is named after Meriwether Lewis, who was the first to describe the species.

The adult male has a black body with white stripes on the back and wings. The female has a brown body with white streaks on the wings. The bird is about 16 inches long with a wingspan of 24 inches.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker can be found in open woodlands, forests, and parks. The bird feeds on insects, fruits, and nuts.

The bird nests in tree cavities or holes that it excavates itself. The female lays four to six eggs in a nest. The bird is not considered to be endangered.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker is an interesting bird to watch. The bird is known for its acrobatic flight and its loud call. If you are lucky, you may see the bird catch insects in mid-air. The bird is also known to chase other birds away from its territory. The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a beautiful bird that is fun to watch.

Lewis's Woodpecker range map

Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

The Acorn Woodpecker is small to a medium-sized woodpecker that is found in woodlands across western North America. The bird has a black and white barred back, a black head with a red crest, and a white belly.

The male has a red stripe on its head, while the female does not. The bird is well-known for its habit of storing acorns in holes that it excavates in trees.

The Acorn Woodpeckers are year-round resident woodpeckers in Utah. The bird can be found in deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as in riparian areas.

The Acorn Woodpecker feeds on insects, as well as acorns and other nuts. The bird will often store acorns in holes that it excavates in trees.

The Acorn Woodpecker is a relatively small woodpecker, with a body length of around nine inches. The bird has a black and white barred back, blackhead, red crest, and white belly.

The male has a red stripe on its head, while the female does not. The Acorn Woodpecker is well-known for its habit of storing acorns in holes that it excavates in dead trees.

If you see an Acorn Woodpecker in Utah, chances are good that the bird is feeding on insects or acorns.

Acorn Woodpecker range map

Red-headed Woodpecker

red-headed woodpeckers

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a striking bird with a bright red head, black body, and white wings. They are about the size of a Robin and can be found in wooded areas across North America. In Utah, they are most often seen in the northern part of the state.

Red-headed woodpeckers are very active birds. They are often seen climbing trees or flying from branch to branch in search of food. Their diet consists mainly of insects, but they will also eat berries and nuts.

These birds nest in holes that they drill in trees. Both the male and female help to excavate the nest. The female lays between three and seven eggs, which are incubated for about two weeks.

The young birds leave the nest after about four weeks, but they remain with their parents until fall. Red-headed woodpeckers are interesting birds to watch and can provide hours of enjoyment for birdwatchers of all levels of experience.

Red-headed woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This act makes it illegal to kill, capture, or possess these birds. If you see a red-headed woodpecker, be sure to enjoy it from a distance and do not disturb its natural habitat.

Red-headed Woodpecker range map

How to attract woodpeckers to your yard in Utah?

One of the best ways to attract woodpeckers to your yard is by providing them with a food source. Woodpeckers are mainly insectivores, so offering them a variety of insects will give them the nutrients they need. You can do this by hanging bird feeders in your yard or by planting a garden that attracts insects.

Another way to attract woodpeckers is by providing them with a place to nest. Woodpeckers typically nest in dead trees, so if you have any dead or dying trees on your property, you may want to leave them be. If you don’t have any trees, you can purchase a bird house designed specifically for woodpeckers.

Finally, you can attract woodpeckers to your yard by making it a safe haven for them. Woodpeckers are often hunted by other animals, so keeping your yard free of predators will help keep them safe. You can also make sure there are no harmful chemicals or pesticides in your yard that could harm the birds.

How often Woodpeckers are seen in Utah during the summer and winter?

Woodpeckers are more likely to be seen in Utah during the summer than in the winter. However, they can still be spotted during the winter months if you know where to look. Keep your eyes peeled for these feathered friends year-round!

Are woodpeckers protected in Utah?

As it turns out, woodpeckers are not currently protected in Utah. However, there is a bill pending in the state legislature that would provide protections for these birds. The bill has been approved by the Senate and is currently being considered by the House of Representatives. If it passes, woodpeckers will receive much needed protections from hunting and other forms of persecution.

This is good news for woodpeckers, as they are currently facing a decline in populations due to a variety of factors. Hunting is one of the biggest threats to these birds, as they are often seen as pests by farmers and other landowners. By providing them with protections, we can help ensure that their populations will rebound.

What does it mean when woodpeckers pecking at your house?

There are a few things that it could mean. One possibility is that the woodpecker is looking for food. Another possibility is that the woodpecker is trying to make a nest. If you have seen the woodpecker pecking at your house for a while, it might be best to contact a wildlife expert to find out what is going on.

There are a few things that it could mean. One possibility is that the woodpecker is looking for food. Another possibility is that the woodpecker is trying to make a nest.

What do Utah woodpeckers look like?

The woodpecker is a medium to large-sized bird, with the largest species reaching up to 19 inches in length. The plumage of these birds is usually black and white, although some species may have red on their heads or wings. Male and female woodpeckers generally look alike, although males often have brighter plumage.

What kind of woodpeckers live in Utah?

There are several different types of woodpeckers that call Utah home, including the downy woodpecker, the hairy woodpecker, and the northern flicker. Each of these species has its own unique characteristics that make it well-suited to life in the Beehive State.