Woodpeckers of California

18 woodpeckers have been recorded in California on eBird, the global citizen-science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and carry a full profile in the Birbs encyclopedia. Every bird below is a member of this group — the family Picidae. Start with the well-known species, browse the complete list, then check which are being reported near you right now.

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Woodpeckers of California to know first

• Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus
• Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticus
• Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
• Eurasian WryneckJynx torquilla
• Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialis
• Gilded FlickerColaptes chrysoides
• Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
• Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris
• Lewis’s WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis
• Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
• Nuttall’s WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii
• Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
• Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruber
• Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
• Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalis
• White-headed WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus albolarvatus
• Williamson’s SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideus
• Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Keep exploring

• Birds of California
• Ducks, Geese & Swans of California (74 species)
• Sandpipers & Allies of California (52 species)
• New World Warblers of California (48 species)
• Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of California (46 species)
• Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of California (43 species)
• New World Sparrows of California (32 species)
• Tyrant Flycatchers of California (32 species)
• True Finches of California (30 species)
• Waxbills & Munias of California (26 species)
• Petrels & Shearwaters of California (24 species)
• New World Blackbirds & Orioles of California (23 species)
• Pheasants, Grouse & Allies of California (23 species)
• Hawks, Eagles & Kites of California (22 species)

Woodpeckers in other regions

• Woodpeckers of Nevada (19 species)
• Woodpeckers of Brazil (49 species)
• Woodpeckers of Colombia (44 species)
• Woodpeckers of Peru (38 species)
• Woodpeckers of Thailand (36 species)
• Woodpeckers of Ecuador (34 species)
• Woodpeckers of India (34 species)
• Woodpeckers of Argentina (28 species)
• Woodpeckers of Mexico (28 species)
• Woodpeckers of Indonesia (27 species)
• Woodpeckers of Malaysia (26 species)
• Woodpeckers of the United States (25 species)

Species and counts come from the eBird network; "recorded" means reported by birders to eBird. Family grouping follows the IOC World Bird List. Tap any bird for its full profile.