Woodpeckers are extraordinary creatures with exceptional skills. These colorful birds live in the woods pecking trees with their sharp beak. Sometimes woodpeckers adventure right at your backyard bird feeder, as they have a sweet taste for hummingbird nectar.
North America has over 800 bird species, and 400 are present in Illinois. The state has a vast range of habitats and is home to 7 species of woodpeckers. Dead trees provide a good incentive for woodpeckers to stick around.
Fun Facts
The largest woodpecker in Illinois is the Pileated Woodpecker. It is also the largest woodpecker in North America, measuring between 16 to 19 inches (40-48 cm). The markings left by this woodpecker are rectangular.
The smallest woodpecker in Illinois is the Downy Woodpecker, and they are barely 5 to 7 inches (12.7-17.7 cm). They also hold the record for the smallest North American woodpeckers weighing only 0.7 to 1 oz.
Coincidentally, the smallest woodpecker is also the most common one to spot in Illinois. The Downy Woodpecker is often spotted in backyards as they don’t seem to be bothered by humans.
The common migrant woodpecker is the Red-headed Woodpecker and can be found in Illinois during summer and winter. The rarest bird to spot in this state is the Pileated Woodpecker, as they mostly frequent preservations and woods.
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7 Amazing Woodpeckers in IL
1. Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
This medium-sized woodpecker measures about 7.5 to 9 inches (19- 24.1 cm) in length. The wingspan can reach 16.5 inches (41.9 cm). They barely weigh anything as they average from 2 to 3 oz (56- 91 g).
The Red-headed Woodpecker is a distinctive-looking woodpecker, having its entire head red, while its back and wings are jet black with small patches of white. They are quite easy to identify because of their distinctive colorings.
When they are small, they have brown heads, and their overall body is brown, but with age, they change colors to red, black and white. Both sexes have the same appearance.
Sound
They make a “kwrk” sound.
Habitat
The best places to spot these woodpeckers would be open lands. They live in woodlots, farms, trees like timbers in swamps, and pine savannas. Sometimes they venture into backyards for the birdfeeders.
Woodpeckers seek out dead trees both for nesting and for feeding. These birds prefer dead or dying pine or cedar to oak trees because their wood is softer and less dense than live trees.
Winter Behavior / Migration
The Red-headed woodpecker spends the summer and winter months in Illinois. They migrate during spring, starting from February. From August, the woodpeckers start their fall migration, and they usually go to waterways.
From May to July, both sexes work together to build their nests in dead trees. The nest is around 80 feet (24 meters) above the ground.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
This species usually lives between 10 to 12 years. The Red-headed woodpecker has monogamous reproduction. Although, scientists noticed polygamous reproduction as well.
The breeding season starts during summer, and the female lays eggs from April to July. The females usually produce between 3 to 10 eggs, and both sexes incubate them for two weeks. The females incubate the eggs during the day, and at night it’s the males’ turn.
The chicks are born blind and the parents take care of them until they are mature enough to leave the nest. The parents will force the chick to leave the nest.
Diet
This woodpecker likes to catch her food by hammering at the wood. They also like to be on the ground to hunt for food. While mid-air, The red-headed Woodpecker likes to chase flies as they are strong acrobatic fliers.
Their diet mainly consists of ants, caterpillars, spiders and insects. They also eat a lot of fruits, seeds, nuts and berries. Sometimes they eat eggs and small mice. However, they only eat a small number of mammals throughout their life.
These birds like to eat a lot of plant material and keep extra in their tree crevices. The Red-headed Woodpecker is one of the four woodpeckers in North America that stores food. Another behavior that sets these birds apart is that the species hides the stored food with wood or bark.
Predators & Threats
One of their major threats is the loss of their habitat. In Illinois, The Red-headed woodpecker’s numbers slowly decreased from 1966 until 2014. Their natural predators include hawks, falcons, and owls. Their eggs are eaten by snakes, flying squirrels, and raccoons.
2. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus)
The Red-bellied woodpecker is a bird species present in Illinois all four seasons. Due to their coloring, they are mistaken for the Red-headed Woodpecker. The main difference between them is that the Red-bellied species has a pale red belly that’s often hard to see.
Their overall look is a combination of black and white markings on their back. The females have a red nape, while the males have red patches from their bill to their nape. The chicks have brown coloring on their head.
These birds are about 9.4 inches (24 cm) and weigh between 2 to 3.2 oz ( 56-91 g). Their wingspan is between 13 to 16.6 inches (33-42 cm).
Sound
They are noisy birds and can be easily spotted as they can be quite talkative.
Habitat
You can spot the Red-bellied woodpecker at bird feeders and near wooded areas. They are very adaptable species, so they can also be seen in parks and suburbs. These birds can also thrive in swamps, woodlands, and forest groves.
Winter Behavior / Migration
Throughout Illinois, red-bellied woodpeckers are common, permanent residents. They like to stay in their home state and build nests from April until June.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
The average lifespan of this species is around 12 years and 1 month in the wild. For the bird word, this represents a long life.
They can place their nest in the cavity of a dead tree, a wooden building, a live tree, or a wooden pole. The male is the one that does all the excavating, placing the next around 70 feet (21 meters) of the ground. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs, and both sexes incubate them for two weeks. They only raise one brood per year.
Diet
The Red-bellied woodpecker prefers plant materials, insects, spiders and sunflower seeds. They also eat plenty of fruits and berries, more than the usual woodpecker. Occasionally they snack on lizards, minnows, and eggs from other birds.
This species is an opportunist with food, as they can also stick their tongue out for a length of 2 inches (178 cm) to catch prey from the crevice.
Predators & Threats
Their natural predators are birds of prey like Sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper’s hawks, black rat snakes and house cats. Predators who go for their nestlings and eggs include the Red-headed woodpecker, Pileated woodpecker, and gray and black rat snakes.
The Red-bellied woodpecker can hide from a predator or start harassing it with loud noises. They usually defeat their nest and nestlings, and sometimes they attack the predators if they come too close to the nest.
3. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Woodpeckers (Spyraphicus varius)
The Yellow-bellied sapsucker woodpecker is a small bird almost the size of a robin. It measures 7.1 to 8.7 inches (18-22 cm) in length and weighs about 1.5 to 1.9 oz (43-55 g). The wingspan measures between 13.4 to 15.8 inches (34-40 cm).
These birds have a red head, and black and white bodies. Males have a brighter red on their heads, while the female coloring is lighter. Both have white patches on their wings. You can distinguish the sexes from the coloring on their neck. Their bellies usually have yellow tinges.
The males have red throats, and the females have it black. Their tail is rigid to cling to the trees. The chick has brown feathers and no red coloring.
Sound
You can also spot a Yellow-bellied sapsucker by their call as they make a mewing/ squealing call that is very loud.
Habitat
This type of species lives in coniferous woodlands. They prefer birch or maple trees to get sap wells to feed. The woodpeckers that remain during winter stay in parks, cemeteries, and residential areas. In the southern part of the state, they stay in bottomland forests.
Winter Behavior / Migration
The Yellow-bellied sapsucker is a migrating woodpecker. It is common to see the bird during winter and rarely during summer in the northern part of Illinois. They usually migrate at night.
They start their spring migration during March and their fall migration in September.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
These woodpeckers have a shorter life span than the previous two. The oldest Yellow-bellied sapsucker was 7 years and 9 months.
They tend to nest in the northern part of Illinois and the female lays eggs between April and June. Their nest is in holes in trees or stumps. They usually use the same nest for several years. Both sexes help out with building the nest which can take about a week.
The female lays between 4 to 7 eggs and both sexes incubate them for a period of 12 to 13 days.
Diet
As their name states, they love eating sap and they drill rows of holes for it. They also like to feed on insects, plants, and berries.
Predators & Threats
The woodpecker’s natural predators are the birds of prey like Cooper’s Hawks, Sharp-Shinned Hawks, snakes, and house cats. Predators that want their eggs and nestlings are rat snakes, Red-Headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, and European Starlings.
4. Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens)
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest in Illinois, and the smallest in North America. Their length is between 5.5 to 6.7 inches (14-17 cm) and they weigh 0.7 to 1.0 oz (21-28 g). Their wingspan reaches between 9.8 to 11.8 inches (25-30 cm).
They are very similar to the Hairy Woodpeckers but they are smaller and they have an even smaller beak. Their pattern is mostly black and white, and gives off the impression of a checkers board. Their head is striped and their back has a long white stripe.
It’s easy to distinguish males from females because they have a red patch on their head. The tail fans are white with black dots.
Sound
They have a high pitched sound like a “pik” and when they descend it sounds like a loud whining.
Habitat
These birds are fond of open woodlands and they prefer deciduous trees ,bushy edges, cornfields and weed patches. They do not shy from people and you can find them in orchards, city parks and backyards. If you see a woodpecker at a suet feeder, it will usually be the Downy Woodpecker.
Winter Behavior / Migration
They are a common lasting local of statewide Illinois. In spring and summer they are very active and make lots of noises, both using their call or by drumming trees.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
The lifespan of a very small birst is relatively very short. The Downy Woodpecker usually lives between 1 and 2 years.
The nesting period is between March and June and they make their nest in a hole in a dead tree or stump and they are usually at a height between 3 to 50 feet (2.1 to 15 meters) above ground. They usually prefer willows or elm trees. Both sexes excavate the cavity, however, the female puts more effort.
The female lays around 3 to 6 eggs, the female incubates the eggs during the day and the male incubates them during the night. The eggs usually hatch in 12 days. After 3 weeks the nestling is ready to leave its home.
Diet
The Downy Woodpecker’s diet mainly consists of insects, larvae, nuts and berries. You can also spot them drinking from hummingbird feeders. They are suet feeders and black oil sunflower seeds.
These woodpeckers are also beneficial for trees because it helps them get rid of damaging insects. The male woodpecker prefers to hunt in the higher parts of trees, while the female usually hunts in the middle of the lower parts. They will eat the small insects found on trees.
Predators & Threats
Their predators consist of American Kestrel, the Sharp-Shinned Hawk, and the Cooper’s Hawk. Since they are small, they get captured when they are flying. Black rat snakes and squirrels like to eat the woodpecker’s eggs and nestlings.
The woodpeckers’ nest has a very narrow entrance that protects both the eggs and adults from the majority of predators except snakes.
5. Hairy Woodpeckers (Dryobates villosus)
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, and its size varies from 7.1 to 10.2 inches (18-26 cm) and weighs about 1.4 to 3.4 oz (20-95 g). The wingspan measures 13.0 to 16.1 inches (33-41 cm).
This species looks almost the same as the Downy Woodpecker but larger. They stay in the same areas, so it can be hard to distinguish them. The Hairy Woodpecker has a longer beak than the Downy one.
The coloring is mostly black on their head, wing, and tail feathers, and they have checkers on their backs. The head has two white stripes, and males have a red patch.
Sound
They have a high pitched sound like a “keek”.
Habitat
They like to spend their lives in the same areas as the Downy woodpeckers. They prefer mature deciduous forests, but don’t shy away from suburban areas, parks, and cemeteries. You can also spot them in the woodlands of oaks and pines.
These birds can live in recently burnt forests and stands infested by beetles. These woodpeckers like bird feeders, so there are chances to see them in backyards.
Winter Behavior / Migration
The Hairy Woodpecker is a permanent habitant of the state of Illinois state. They appear more during the winter months.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
The average lifespan of a Hairy Woodpecker is 15 years.
The nesting period starts in March and ends in June. When the female wants to mate, she starts drilling into the bark of a tree. The nest cavity is excavated 30 feet from the ground by both sexes, and takes from 1 week to 3 weeks to build.
The female lays 3 to 6 eggs, and both partners take turns incubating the eggs. Both sexes take turns incubating during the day, while at night only the male incubates them. The incubation period is approximately 12 days.
Diet
These woodpeckers have a widespread diet from beetle larvae to fruits, nuts, buds, seeds, and insects. They are omnivorous birds that like insects and berries. The insects they prefer include bees, wasps, and bark beetles. They can also be found at suet feeders and eat sunflower seeds.
Predators & Threats
Their natural predators are hawks and owls. However, there is no concern for their conservation status as their numbers grow and populations remain stable.
6. Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus)
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker that lives in North America. Its size can be comparable to the size of a crow. It measures 15.8 to 18.3 inches (40-49 cm) in length and weighs 8.8 to 12.3 oz (250- 350 g). Their wingspan reaches 26.0 to 29.5 inches (66-75 cm).
Their coloring is black and white, and they have a red-feathered crest on their head. Their underwings are visible during flight, and they are white. The males look different than females. They have a red line between their bill and throat.
Sound
They are very loud and usually make “wuk wuk” sounds.
Habitat
These woodpeckers are hard to see as they try to stay hidden. They are forest birds that prefer dead trees. These forests are evergreen, deciduous or mixed. They can be found in wooded suburbs and backyards.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
A Pileated Woodpecker lives up to 13 years.
Pileated Woodpeckers start their breeding season in March as the male courts the female. He makes territorial drumming noises and calls. Both sexes collaborate when they excavate the nesting cavity in dead trees.
They build their nest around 15 to 70 feet (4.6 to 21 meters) above the ground. The female lays between 3 to 5 eggs, and both sexes share the 18 days incubation period. The chicks take about a month to grow proper wings. They use their nest only once, and every year, they make new ones.
Diet
Their primary food is carpenter ants, beetle larvae, termites, and other insects. They also prefer wild fruits like greenbrier, blackberry, hackberry, and elderberry. Some studies suggest that 40% of their diet consists of ants.
Predators & Threats
They are common and numerous as their population increased from 1966 to 2014. Their natural predators include Cooper’s Haws, Great Horned Owls and Golden Eagles.
7. Northern Flicker Woodpeckers (Colaptes Auratus)
The Northern Flicker Woodpeckers are large woodpeckers that measure 11.0 to 12.2 inches (28-31 cm) in length and weigh 3.9 to 5.6 oz (110- 160 g). Their wingspan reaches 16.5 to 20.1 inches (42-51 cm).
They have yellow patches on their wings and tails and a white patch on their rump. The males can be distinguished by the red on their nape. Overall, these woodpeckers have a brownish coloring and black spots plumage.
Sound
They make a loud ringing call “wick wick wick”.
Habitat
Northern Flickers like to be in open spaces like woods, forest edges, yards, parks, and the suburbs. They prefer areas with dead trees to make their nests.
Winter Behavior / Migration
These birds usually migrate during spring and autumn, and they are residents of Illinois in the other two seasons. The Flickers migrate from Illinois in the fall and overwinter in the Southern parts of the United States.
They migrate both during the day and night. The birds arrive in Illinois starting from March. They migrate for fall starting in July.
Life Cycle & Reproduction
The Northern Flicker Woodpeckers can live up to 9 years, but usually it’s less in a wild environment.
They make their nest starting from April through May. They choose their nests in grasslands, trees, forest edges, or residential areas. Both partners excavate the cavity, and it takes roughly two weeks. The nest is between 2 to 60 feet (0.6 to 18 meters) off the ground.
The female lays 5 to 12 eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs during the day, and only the male at night. The incubation period is around 12 days. The chicks will leave the nest in about a month.
Diet
Their diet consists of ants and beetles as they spend a lot of time on the ground searching for them. They also like to eat fruits and berries, and they can catch insects mid-air.
Predators & Threats
Their predators are raccoons, squirrels, and snakes. They like to eat Northern Flickr nestlings and eggs.
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Cultural References to Woodpeckers – Myths & Legends
Norse Culture
Norse mythology associates the woodpeckers with the god of thunder, Thor. Woodpeckers hammer on wood for food and nesting. This loud hammering is the same as Thor’s hammer “Mjolnir”, while the noise recreates the sound of thunder.
The woodpeckers make holes in trees similar to the holes that the thunder makes when it strikes. They also believe that Thor has got the red beard color from the red cap of a woodpecker.
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Woodpeckers in Illinois FAQ
1. Are woodpeckers common in Illinois?
The Downy Woodpecker is a permanent resident in Illinois, the same goes for the Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Woodpeckers can be seen in residential areas and parks.
2. What is the largest woodpecker in Illinois?
The largest woodpecker in Illinois is the Pileated Woodpecker. It is also one of the largest woodpeckers in North America. It is roughly the size of a crow.