The state of Illinois is located in the midwestern portion of the United States, in the Great Lakes Region. It has the sixth largest population in the country as well as the 25th largest land area. The state has a unique range of habitats that provide homes to all kinds of birds and wildlife. Today, we’re going to focus our attention on the 7 species of woodpeckers in Illinois and where and when they can be found.
With Lake Michigan to its north, the Mississippi river, Ohio River, and Wabash River forming its borders, and many other rivers and streams running through it, there are plenty of wetlands in the state — and the interior of Illinois is mostly plains and farmlands, offering wide areas of open spaces, too. These habitats combined with woodlands and forests create numerous opportunities for woodpeckers to thrive.
The 7 species of woodpeckers in Illinois are Red-headed Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and the crow-sized Pileated Woodpeckers.
1. 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 Illinois, though their populations have been on the decline. Like its name implies, the head of this bird is covered in striking red plumage. Their upper parts are mostly black, with a thick, white band across the wings.
They’re medium sized woodpeckers with short, powerful bills that are perfect for hammering into wood. Red-headed Woodpeckers are found in a variety of habitats including groves, wetlands, and farm lands and orchards, but they tend to favor woodlands and forests with open understories and clearings.
These woodpeckers are good at planning ahead, and will store extra food away in tree crevices for future use. They eat a varied diet that consists of mostly insects in addition to fruit, berries, acorns, and beech nuts. They’ll even eat small rodents, earthworms, and the eggs and nestlings of other birds. Red-headed Woodpeckers have a distinct, harsh call that’s helpful for finding them, and they’re loud drumming as they fora