Out of the many different species of woodpeckers in North America, you can find 8 of them in Mississippi. In this article we’ll take a look at each of these Mississippi woodpeckers, touch on where and when you might spot one, and if they visit backyard feeders. At the end of the article are a few tips on how to attract woodpeckers to your yard.
Notes:
- In this list we’ve included sapsuckers and flickers as they are in the woodpecker family.
- We did not include the ivory-billed woodpecker but we are aware many people believe they still exist. Learn more about this critically endangered and possibly extinct species in this article
8 Species of Woodpeckers in Mississippi
The 8 woodpeckers in Mississippi are the downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, yellow-bellied sapsucker and red-cockaded woodpecker.
1. Downy Woodpecker
- Scientific name: Dryobates pubescens
- Length: 5.5-6.7 in
- Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz
- Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in
You can find these tiny woodpeckers everywhere throughout Mississippi all year. They are very common throughout almost all of the U.S. and are the smallest species of woodpeckers in North America.
The downy is only about the size of a sparrow, and can be identified by the white spots on their backs, and pure white chest and belly. Males have a red patch at the back of their head.
The downy is the woodpecker species most likely to visit backyard bird feeders. They love suet but also eat a variety of seeds like sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts. You may even see them visiting your hummingbird feeder, where their small beak allows them access to the sugar water.