We’ve found that there are 8 species of woodpeckers found in Alabama. Out of these, several are year-round residents to Alabama while others just live there part time. This diversity in woodpecker species is a testament to Alabama’s rich and varied ecosystems, which provide an abundance of trees and insects, creating ideal habitats for these fascinating birds.
The 8 species of woodpeckers found in Alabama are the Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
Woodpeckers in the state Alabama
As you may have guessed, in this article we’re going to talk about the of woodpeckers in Alabama. For each species we’ll have a picture to help you identify it, a bit about its size, a brief description with some fun facts, as well as where and how they can be found in the state of Alabama.
Be sure to read to the end where we’ll talk about how to attract woodpeckers to your yard.
Enjoy!
1. Downy Woodpecker
Length: 5.5-6.7 in
Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz
Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in
Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of all woodpeckers in North America and can be found in Alabama all year throughout the whole state. They are very common at feeders and easily attracted with suet, peanuts, mixed seed, or black sunflower seed.
Whenever I put up a new feeder in my yard Downys are always among the first to visit it along with chickadees and titmice. They do not migrate and are also very common in the winter time.
Aside from being frequent visitors at bird feeders they also will hammer away at trees looking for insect larvae or feed on berries and acorns. It is not unusual to catch a Downy Woodpecker drinking nectar from a hummingbird feeder. Downy Woodpeckers prefer nesting in dead trees or dead branches on live trees.
2. Hairy Woodpecker
