The 8 Species of Woodpeckers in Georgia (With Pictures)

There are 8 species of woodpeckers in Georgia, plus one species that may or may not be extinct. These species are the; Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, and possibly the near-extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

In this article we’ll give you an overview of Georgia’s 8 species of woodpeckers including pictures for each one as well as some tips on where you might see one in your state.

The 8 Species of Woodpeckers in Georgia

1. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Length: 9.4 in
Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
Wingspan: 13.0 -16.5 in

Red-bellied Woodpeckers feature peachy-red caps and napes with black and white striped backs. These year-round woodpeckers are commonly found in woodlands across Georgia — perched on the main branches and trunks of trees.

They’re known for venturing from the forest to visit backyard bird feeders as well. Use suet blocks during winter, peanuts, and sometimes sunflower seeds to attract them. Dead trees are also attractive to them for the insects inside.

One of the best ways of finding these birds is to learn their loud, rolling call. They’re very active callers in the spring and summer, so listen close during those seasons.

2. Red-headed Woodpecker

Length: 7.5-9.1 in
Weight: 2.0-3.2 oz
Wingspan: 16.5 in

Red-headed Woodpeckers are found year round in Georgia. Adults have bright red heads, snow colored bodies, and black and white wings — making them easily identifiable. Juveniles are less colorful, they’re plumage is nearly all gray-brown, with white patches on their wings.

These woodpeckers tend to occupy open woods with clear under-stories, pine savannas, and swamps. Due to a reduction of their habitats, their population is declining.

They are unique compared to other woodpeckers. Red-headed Woodpeckers hunt for insects in the air in addition to drilling into wood. They also store extra food like nuts and seeds away in their tree crevices.

3. Downy Woodpecker

Length: 5.5-6.7 in
Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz
Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in

Downy Woodpeckers are on the smaller end of woodpeckers. Their size ranges from between a sparrow and a robin. Their beaks also appear shorter than most other woodpeckers.

Downy Woodpeckers are found year-round in Georgia, in open woodlands and forests. They tend to favor deciduous trees, but they can also be spotted in backyard, parks, and other residential areas. They’re very active during spring and summer, hammering into trees and making their characteristic high pitched calls.

During the winter, they frequently join mixed species flocks. This behavior allows them to join forces with other small birds for increased protection and better chances of finding food.

4. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Length: 7.1-8.7 in
Weight: 1.5-1.9 oz
Wingspan: 13.4-15.8 in

A non-breeding population of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are found in Georgia. They’re often found in young deciduous forests up to around 6,500 feet in elevation. In winter they spend time in open forests.

They have bold red markings on their foreheads and underneath their bills. Their undersides are mostly white and sometimes yellowish — the rest of their plumage is black and white.

Good indicators of nearby Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are the rows of sapwells found in trees. These shallow, neatly organized holes are put there by these woodpeckers so that they can drink the sap and any insects that leak out with it.

5. Hairy Woodpecker

Length: 7.1-10.2 in
Weight: 1.4-3.4 oz
Wingspan: 13.0-16.1 in

Hairy Woodpeckers are found year round in Georgia, but be careful you don’t confuse it for it’s look alike, the Downy Woodpecker. Hairy Woodpeckers are larger and with longer bills. They have a squarish head, black and white plumage, and a large white patch that runs down their backsides.

They’re often found on the trunks and main branches of trees in mature forests. They also visit backyard bird feeders stocked with suet or sunflowers seeds. Listen for their distinct whinny, “peek” call, or for their  drumming on drums while they forage.

6. Northern Flicker

Length: 11.0-12.2 in
Weight: 3.9-5.6 oz
Wingspan: 16.5-20.1 in

Northern Flickers stand apart from many of the white and black colored woodpeckers we’ve discussed. They’re fairly large, with a silvery brown appearance and bright markings — red in the west and yellow in the west. Their undersided are speckled with dots and they have crescents and barring throughout the rest of their plumage.

Also unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers are often spotted on the ground digging for beetles and ants — their primary food source.  They reside year-round in Georgia, in open woods and the edges of forests. When they aren’t on the ground, they’re often perched on branches. Listen for their alarming yells and loud calls.

7. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Length: 7.9-9.1 in
Weight: 1.5-1.8 oz
Wingspan: 14.2 in

Spotting the Red-cockaded Woodpecker isn’t an everyday occurrence. While they’re found year round in some parts of Georgia, a large loss of habitat rendered them endangered in 1970.

National forests, wildlife refuges, and other protected lands are the best place to visit when trying to catch a glimpse of this bird. There are private nesting areas that are off limits — however, there are many public locations where nesting and feeding sites are well marked.

These small, robin-sized woodpeckers are primarily black and white, with a large white patch on their cheek and a bold black line right underneath it. Males have a red streak on the upper border of their cheek, but it’s barely visible.

8. Pileated Woodpecker

Length: 15.8-19.3 in
Weight: 8.8-12.3 oz
Wingspan: 26.0-29.5 in

Pileated Woodpeckers are large, crow-sized birds with long beaks and red, triangular crests on their heads. Their bodies are mostly black, with white stripes on their heads and white feathers on the undersides of their wings.

Find these woodpeckers year round in Georgia — in mature forests that have plenty of dead trees and downed wood. Look for excavations and signature rectangular holes in soft, rotten wood for a sign that these birds are nearby.

Listen for their loud drumming and piercing, whinny-like calls for a good chance at spotting them. Keeping suet in your backyard bird feeder is another way to attract them.

9. Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Length: 18.1-20.1 in
Weight: 15.9-20.1 oz
Wingspan: 29.9-31.5 in

Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were the largest woodpeckers in North America, north of Mexico. They were slightly larger than crows, with larger, heavier bills, and mostly black coloration. Like other woodpeckers, they would drill into trees fallen wood searching for food.

They used to inhabit a large majority of the southeastern United States, including Georgia — however, major habitat destruction left them basically extinct during the twentieth century. It was rediscovered in Arkansas in 2004, but hasn’t been seen since.