Northern Flickers stand apart from other woodpeckers in Virginia because of their preference for foraging on the ground rather than on the sides of trees. At one point, these different colored birds were even considered different species. While birds in the west have red colored undersides on their tails and wings, birds in Virginia and the rest of the east have yellow. They have slim heads, long tails, and a slightly downward curved bill. Unlike most of the other woodpecker species found in Virginia, Northern Flickers have pale brown plumage all over, with an array of dark markings on their undersides. They’re large woodpeckers in between the size of a crow and a robin. Northern Flickers are commonly found in Virginia year-round. Listen for their distinct, high-pitched “pik” noise and descending whinny. Like the rest of their features, even their voices are scaled down. They forage in tall grasses and weeds in addition to trees, and are extremely likely to visit feeders - especially suet feeders. In fact, they look like miniature versions of Hairy Woodpeckers, but with much shorter bills compared to the rest of their bodies.ĭowny Woodpeckers take advantage of many types of habitats including gardens, clearings, forest edges, and woodlands. They have mostly black and white plumage, like many other woodpeckers, and males feature a small red patch on their caps. These are the smallest woodpeckers in North America and are in between the size of a sparrow and a robin. Though Downy woodpeckers are commonly found year-round in Virginia, spotting them can be challenging due to their tiny size. Male also have a red patch on the backs of their heads that’s common in many other woodpecker species. These woodpeckers look like large versions of Downy Woodpeckers and feature bold black and white checkered plumage and a large white patch along the length of their backs. Hairy Woodpeckers are known to visit backyard suet feeders as well. They use their long, strong bills to excavate bark and dead wood, trying to reach the wood-boring insects inside. Recently burned forests are a good place to look as well, since these woodpeckers like to take advantage of the foraging opportunities. They prefer to occupy mature forests, but they also live in open woodlands and parks and suburbs. Hairy Woodpeckers are fairly common in Virginia, where they’re found year-round. In this case it’s the males tiny, hardly noticeable red streak on the upper edge of their cheek.Ģ. The term “cockade” refers to an ornament worn on a hat. They also sport a large, white patch on their cheeks. Their plumage is primarily white and black with lots of barring on the back. These woodpeckers are small, robin-sized birds with small, straight bills. This precise type of habitat was naturally formed by wildfires caused by lightning storms, and hardly occurs now. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers require mature pine forests and are often found in areas with minimal understory growth, avoiding areas with dense, crowded vegetation. Their territory is frequently marked by flowing sap located near their nesting and roosting cavities. The best chance of seeing one is to visit a protected wildlife refuge or national forest, where their nests are usually marked and easily located. The species was listed as endangered in 1970 and has vanished from many of the habitats they once occupied due to logging. There are small portions of Virginia where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are found year-round, but finding them is quite rare. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast | CC 2.0 The only species that doesn’t breed here are Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. These species include Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Out of all 8 species of Woodpeckers in Virginia, 7 of them are found year-round. Keep on reading to see all the kinds of woodpeckers in Virginia and the best places and times to find them. They come in a range of different colors, though the most common palettes are black and white with striking red accents. ![]() ![]() Woodpeckers are famous for drilling into trees and foraging underneath the bark. There are 8 species of woodpeckers in Virginia, one of them also being rare and endangered. There’s a diverse variety of plant and animal life thriving in Virginia - including plenty of birds. The two main forces that shape Virginia’s geography and climate are the Chesapeake Bay, which borders it on the east, and the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia is a state located on the south-eastern coast of America.
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