Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Physical Description

• Size: Nuttall’s Woodpecker is a small woodpecker, typically about 6.5 to 7 inches long, with a wingspan of approximately 13 to 16 inches.

• Color and Markings: Both male and female Nuttall’s Woodpeckers have striking black and white barred patterns on their backs and wings. They possess white underparts and distinctive black facial markings. The male is distinguished by a red cap and nape, which females lack.

• Bill: Their bill is shorter and chisel-like, adapted for pecking wood.

Behavior

• Foraging: Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are primarily insectivorous, foraging along tree trunks and limbs, often moving acrobatically as they tap into bark to extract insects using their barbed tongues.

• Drumming: Like other woodpeckers, they communicate through drumming on tree trunks and branches, a sound that is used for establishing territories and attracting mates.

• Nesting: They excavate nest holes in trees, particularly favoring dead branches or areas with decay, which are easier to carve out.

Habitat

• Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are endemic to California, primarily found in oak woodlands but also in mixed chaparral, riparian corridors, and suburban areas with mature trees.

Diet

• While their diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles and ants, they are also known to consume sap, fruits, and seeds during times when insects are less available.

Vocalizations

• Their calls are sharp and pithy, often described as a “pit” or “chick” sound. They also have a rattling call used in various social interactions.

Conservation Status

• Currently, Nuttall’s Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, habitat loss due to urbanization poses a threat to some populations, making habitat conservation important for this species.

Nuttall’s Woodpecker’s adaptation to a variety of wooded habitats in California has been a key to its survival, making it a common yet delightful sight for bird watchers in its range. Their presence is also beneficial for the ecosystem, helping control insect populations and participating in the process of woodland regeneration by creating nesting sites used by other species. If you are in California, keeping an eye (and an ear) out for these energetic woodpeckers can be especially rewarding during their active periods in the early morning and late afternoon.