Discover Every Type of Woodpecker and Where to Spot Them

If you’ve been in a wooded area and heard a distinct knocking sound, chances are you’ve been near a woodpecker. Named for their pecking behavior, these birds are best recognized by the sounds that they make. They have turned up in everything from nature walks to cartoons. You can even spot them pecking away at manmade structures like wooden telephone poles.

You may think that there is only one species of woodpecker but there are actually over 200! Over 20 of them are native to the United States but they can live on continents all over the world. They are all part of the Picidae family. They tend to live in wooded areas, which is why they aren’t native to all areas, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Arctic and Antarctic.

There is some debate on the exact number of distinct species but the International Ornithological Committee officially classifies 239 species. They update the World Bird List twice annually to include new research and discoveries. These include wrynecks, piculets, and sapsuckers. These are specialized types of woodpeckers with different sizes and feathers patterns.

Get ready for an amazing list of the most commonly recognized woodpeckers, including where you can spot them, what they look like, and fun facts about each species.

#1 Acorn Woodpecker — North America

Acorn woodpeckers store acorns in the trees where they drill holes, giving them their name.

#2 American Three-Toed Woodpecker — North America

As their name suggests, American Three-toed woodpeckers live in North America. They actually have three toes on each foot, one fewer than most woodpeckers.

#3 Arizona Woodpecker — North America

These woodpeckers do live in Arizona but also throughout the southwest United States and Mexico. Their numbers are dwindling due to habitat loss, however. Conservation efforts focus on providing them with a safe habitat where they can live.

#4 Black-Backed Woodpecker — North America

Thriving in burned forests, the black plumage of the black-backed woodpecker helps them blend into their surroundings. Evolution at its finest!

#5 Downy Woodpecker — North America

These little woodpeckers are tiny! They weigh under 1 ounce and use their small size to get into weeds and other small spaces to find food.

#6 Gila Woodpecker — North America

These woodpeckers make holes for their babies in living cacti rather than dead trees and wood.

#7 Gilded Flicker — North America

Another woodpecker that calls the southwest of North America home, the gilded flicker is recognized by its yellow underwings. There are four subspecies of gilded flicker.

#8 Golden-Fronted Woodpecker — North America

These birds have golden feathers on their bellies, giving them their name. They live mostly in Mexico and Central America, although their range does include parts of Texas.

#9 Hairy Woodpecker — North America

Let the other woodpeckers do the work, says the hairy woodpecker. These birds often follow behind other woodpecker species and grab insects and sap that they leave behind after pecking holes in trees.

#10 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker — North America

These woodpeckers are easy to spot with their white beaks. They have not been spotted since the 1940s, however, and many scientists believe that they are extinct. If you do see a woodpecker with an ivory bill, make sure to snap a photo!

#11 Ladder-Backed Woodpecker — North America

This is the bird formerly known as the cactus woodpecker. It lives in Mexico and parts of the United States, including Texas and California.

#12 Lewis’s Woodpecker — North America

While still a woodpecker, this species actually doesn’t peck wood at all. Instead, it snatches insects right out of the air for its meals.

#13 Northern Flicker — North America

Similar to the gilded flicker, these birds have red underwings. The two species live in the same areas and are often confused with each other.

#14 Nuttall’s Woodpecker — North America

You can spot these striped woodpeckers in California, munching on ants, beetles, and termites.

#15 Pileated Woodpecker — North America

This species has the black and white coloring and red tufted crest that is commonly associated with woodpeckers. It is the largest woodpecker species that lives in North America.

#16 Red-Bellied Woodpecker — North America

These woodpeckers have striped black and white backs with red plumage on their heads.

#17 Red-Breasted Sapsucker — North America

These woodpecker drill holes in trees to get at sap to eat as well as insects. As expected, hummingbirds also love them!

#18 Red-Cockaded Woodpecker — North America

This species is endangered, mostly due to the loss of its habitat. They live in mature longleaf pine forests, drilling into live trees to get food and make nest cavities.

#19 Red-Headed Woodpecker — North America

It should come as no surprise that these woodpeckers have bright red heads. The rest of their feathers are black, white, and gray. They are considered Near Threatened.

#20 Red-Naped Sapsucker — North America

Other birds love to use their excavations for nests, including nuthatches and chickadees.

#21 White-Headed Woodpecker — North America

These birds peel bark away to find food rather than peck into wood. Pine logging has impacted their available habitat in the pacific northwest of the United States.

#22 Williamson’s Sapsucker — North America

Males have bright yellow bellies and red feathers among their black and white backs. Females do not have the bright plumage.

#23 Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker — North America

These are migratory birds. They spend the winter in the southern United States and parts of Mexico and the summers in the northern United States and Canada.

#24 Eurasian Wryneck — Europe, Asia

These amazing woodpeckers breed in Europe and Asia but migrate and spend the winter in warmer parts of Africa and Asia.

#25 Red-Throated Wryneck — Africa

This woodpecker lives in Africa and is named for the red plumage at its throat. The rest of its feathers are various shades of brown.

#26 Speckled Piculet — Asia

These birds have white stripes on their heads. They often travel and live in pairs.

#27 Bar-Breasted Piculet — South America

This tiny woodpecker weighs only 8 to 10 grams and is 3 inches long. They are found in northern parts of South America, including Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.

#28 Lafresnaye’s Piculet — South America

Another small woodpecker from South America, these birds live in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil.

#29 Orinoco Piculet — South America

Not a lot is known about the Orinoco Piculet, but they are closely related to the Lafresnaye’s Piculet and were once considered a subspecies.

#30 Golden-Spangled Piculet — South America

These birds are named golden-spangled because of their gold plumage. Overall, they have feathers that are gold, black, olive green, brown, and even white.

#31 Black-Dotted Piculet — South America

This bird lives in Venezuela and is also known as the black-spotted piculet.

#32. Ecuadorian Piculet — South America

As its name suggests, the Ecuadorian piculet lives in Ecuador in South America, although it can also be seen in Peru.

#33 Scaled Piculet — South America

This little bird lives in Colombia and Venezuela.

#34 White-Bellied Piculet — South America

Listed as a Vulnerable species, habitat loss has had a major impact on the white-bellied piculet. It lives in wooded areas that can be negatively impacted by deforestation and agriculture.

#35 Arrowhead Piculet — South America

This species lives in Suriname. It has a bright red spot on its head and a paler white belly.

#36 Spotted Piculet — South America

The spotted piculet lives in Brazil. It has brown feathers on its back with white spots.

#37 Speckle-Chested Piculet — South America

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the speckle-chested piculet has spots or speckles on its chest. It lives in Peru.

#38 Varzea Piculet — South America

This bird lives in the Amazon basin in Brazil. It is listed as Near Threatened.

#39 White-Barred Piculet — South America

These birds have white and black striped bellies, giving them their name.

#40 Ocellated Piculet — South America

This species lives in Bolivia and Peru. It has also been spotted in Argentina.

#41 Ochre-Collared Piculet — South America

Named for the orangish-brown plumage at its neck, the ochre-collared piculet lives in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

#42 White-Wedged Piculet — South America

These birds are between 9 and 11 grams. They are closely related to the white-barred piculet, the ocellated piculet, and the ochre-collard piculet.

#43 Rusty-Necked Piculet — South America

This species lives on the border of Brazil and Bolivia. Both males and females have black heads, but the males have feathers with dark orange tips at the back.

#44 Rufous-Breasted Piculet — South America

This is a larger species of piculet, weighing between 12 and 21 grams. It lives in numerous countries in South America.

#45 Ochraceous Piculet — South America

This piculet lives in Brazil. It has dark feathers with white spots on its face.

#46 Mottled Piculet — South America

Considered Near Threatened, this piculet lives in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.

#47 Plain-Breasted Piculet — South America

With light brown wings, the plain-breasted piculet does look plain compared to many of its brightly-colored relatives. It lives in Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.

#48 Fine-Barred Piculet — South America

This bird lives in Peru and Brazil. It is closely related to the plain-breasted piculet.

#49 Olivaceous Piculet — South America

These birds live in northern South America and have even been spotted in parts of Central America.

#50 Greyish Piculet — South America

This species has feathers that are greyish brown, with some black and white areas as well. They can also have yellowish areas and their feathers on their heads can have yellow tips.

#51 Chestnut Piculet — South America

These birds live in Colombia and Venezuela. They have rich chestnut-colored plumage, which gives them their name.

#52 African Piculet — Africa

As their name suggests, these piculets live in Africa. They are found in numerous countries and are quite small.

#53 Rufous Piculet — Asia

The Rufous piculet is one of the smallest woodpecker species. They typically stay under 9 ounces.

#54 White-Browed Piculet — Asia

These birds live in temperate or subtropical forests in parts of Asia. They can grow up to 4 inches long.

#55 Antillean Piculet — Central America

This species lives in the Caribbean Sea, specifically the island of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

#56 Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker — Asia

These bird are named gray-and-buff because their plumage is gray and offwhite.

#57 Heart-Spotted Woodpecker — Asia

With one of the most distinct bodyshapes, the heart-spotted woodpecker is identified by its large head, small body, and particularly large crest. It has black and offwhite feathers.

#58 White Woodpecker — South America

These may as well be called the pirate woodpeckers because they boast yellow eyepatches.

#59 Guadeloupe Woodpecker — Caribbean

This woodpecker has all black feathers and lives in the Caribbean.

#60 Puerto Rican Woodpecker — Caribbean

This is the only woodpecker that lives in Puerto Rico.

#61 Yellow-Tufted Woodpecker — South America

This woodpecker is easy to spot by the bright yellow plumage on its head. It lives in numerous countries in South America.

#62 Yellow-Fronted Woodpecker — South America

Like the yellow-tufted woodpecker, this bird has yellow feathers. However, they are on its front rather than its head.

#63 Golden-Naped Woodpecker — Central America

This species lives in Panama and Costa Rica. It lives specifically on the Pacific slopes of these two areas.

#64 Beautiful Woodpecker — South America

This species is very similar to the golden-naped woodpecker in appearance and behavior but lives on an entirely different continent. It lives in Colombia.

#65 Black-Cheeked Woodpecker — Central America

This woodpecker has black cheeks but red feathers on its head. It lives in Mexico and parts of Central America.

#66 White-Fronted Woodpecker — South America

These birds live in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina.

#67 Hispaniolan Woodpecker — Caribbean

This species lives in Hispaniola, an island that is made up of the two countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

#68 Jamaican Woodpecker — Caribbean

Also named for its home, this species lives on the island of Jamaica.

#69 Golden-Cheeked Woodpecker — North America

This woodpecker lives in Mexico and is typically between 7 and 9 inches long.

#70 Grey-Breasted Woodpecker — North America

This species lives in a specific region of Mexico in the southwestern part of the country.

#71 Yucatan Woodpecker — Central America

As its name suggests, this bird lives all throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. It is sometimes called the red-vented woodpecker.

#72 Red-Crowned Woodpecker — Central and South America

There are four subspecies of red-crowned woodpecker. Only the males have the bright red crown feathers.

#73 Hoffman’s Woodpecker — Central and South America

This species has black and white flight feathers. The males have red crowns, similar to the red-crowned woodpecker.

#74 Velasquez’s Woodpecker — North and Central America

This woodpecker lives in Mexico and nearby regions as far south as Nicaragua.

#75 West Indian Woodpecker — Caribbean

These birds live in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba.

#76 Cuban Green Woodpecker — Caribbean

This is most commonly seen woodpecker in Cuba. It is named for its green feathers.

#78 Buff-Spotted Woodpecker — Africa

Even though this woodpecker has a broad range in central Africa, it isn’t a common sight to see.

#79 Brown-Eared Woodpecker — Africa

These little brown woodpeckers live in the tropical rainforest. There are two subspecies.

#80 Ground Woodpecker — Africa

This is likely the largest woodpecker in Africa. It can be just under 12 inches long.

#81 Fine-Spotted Woodpecker — Africa

These woodpeckers live in open savannahs and forests in west and central Africa.

#82 Bennett’s Woodpecker — Africa

This species lives in woodlands in Africa.

#83 Speckle-Throated Woodpecker — Africa

These birds live in eastern Africa and are sometimes considered a subspecies of the Bennett’s woodpecker.

#84 Nubian Woodpecker — Africa

A common sight in Africa, the Nubian woodpecker has a distinctive red head and speckled feathers on its body and wings.

#85 Golden-Tailed Woodpecker — Africa

This species is closely related to the Mombasa woodpecker and Knysna woodpecker, although they do not share a range.

#86 Mombasa Woodpecker — Africa

This woodpecker lives in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania.

#87 Knysna Woodpecker — Africa

Threatened by loss of its native habitat, this bird lives in South Africa and is considered Near Threatened.

#88 Little Green Woodpecker — Africa

Another name for the little green woodpecker is the golden-backed woodpecker.

#89 Little Spotted Woodpecker — Africa

Even though this woodpecker lives throughout central Africa, it isn’t a common bird to sight.

#90 Tullberg’s Woodpecker — Africa

This woodpecker lives in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Bioko Island.

#91 Fine-Banded Woodpecker — Africa

These birds live in the eastern Congo, as well as in Kenya and Tanzania.

#92 Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

This species lives in the Sulawesi part of Indonesia. It is sometimes referred to as the Sulawesi woodpecker.

#93 Brown-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

These tiny woodpeckers live in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.

#94 Grey-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

With a striped back, the grey-capped pygmy woodpecker is a small bird that lives in parts of Asia.

#95 Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

This is typically the smallest woodpecker species that lives in the Philippines.

#96 Sulu Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

These birds are closely related to the Philippine pygmy woodpecker and were once considered the same species. They are sometimes just called the Sulu woodpecker.

#97 Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

This species lives in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

#98 Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker — Asia

These birds live in heavily forested areas in multiple countries and climates, including Russia, China, Korea, and Japan.

#99 Eurasian Three-Toed Woodpecker — Europe and Asia

This woodpecker has a wide range and lives on multiple continents.

#100 Arabian Woodpecker — Middle East

This is the only species of woodpecker that breeds on the Arabian peninsula.

#101 Brown-Fronted Woodpecker — Middle East

These woodpeckers live in India and surrounding areas.

#102 Middle Spotted Woodpecker — Europe

This woodpecker lives in Sweden and is the type species for the genus Dendrocoptes. There are four subspecies.

#103 Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker — Asia

Female yellow-crowned woodpeckers have yellow heads and napes. Males have dark red napes and bright yellow crowns.

#104 Bearded Woodpecker — Africa

You can recognize the bearded woodpecker from the ruffled black and white feathers on its head. These woodpeckers live in many areas of central Africa.

#105 Yellow-Crested Woodpecker — Africa

Preferring wet tropical areas, the yellow-crested woodpecker is also called the golden-crowned woodpecker. It lives on a completely different continent from the similarly-named yellow-crowned woodpecker, which lives in Asia.

#106 Fire-Bellied Woodpecker — Africa

As their name suggests, the fire-bellied woodpecker has red plumage on its front. They often live in pairs or small groups.

#107 Little Grey Woodpecker — Africa

These woodpeckers only grow to around 5 inches.

#108 Speckle-Breasted Woodpecker — Africa

This species has white speckles or spots on its front.

#109 Abyssinian Woodpecker — Africa

These birds are related to the cardinal woodpecker but have a brown stripe on their head and a golden mantle, which makes them easier to distinguish. They are native to Ethiopia.

#110 Cardinal Woodpecker — Africa

This species lives in many countries in central and western Africa. It is a small woodpecker, typically around 5 inches, with a very large range.

#111 Gabon Woodpecker — Africa

There are two subspecies of gabon woodpeckers, both of which live in western areas of central Africa.

#112 Melancholy Woodpecker — Africa

The melancholy woodpecker is closely related to the gabon woodpecker. In fact, some scientists consider it a subspecies.

#113 Stierling’s Woodpecker — Africa

This species lives in Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. It is considered “near-threatened,” mostly due to habitat loss.

#114 Elliot’s Woodpecker — Africa

These birds live in numerous countries in Africa and can live in a variety of environments.

#115 African Grey Woodpecker — Africa

This species builds its nest in tree holes, where they can often be seen.

#116 Eastern Grey Woodpecker — Africa

Native to eastern Africa, the eastern grey woodpecker is also known as the grey-headed woodpecker or the mountain gray woodpecker.

#117 Olive Woodpecker — Africa

Native to numerous countries in Africa, the olive woodpecker can live between 1,000 and 12,000 feet above sea level.

#118 Brown-Backed Woodpecker — Africa

True to its name, the brown-backed woodpecker has brown feathers on its back.

#119 Crimson-Breasted Woodpecker — Asia

The crimson-breasted woodpecker has black, white, buff, and red feathers. The majority of its red coloring is concentrated on its breast and head.

#120 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker — Europe, Africa, and Asia

This woodpecker has an impressive range, living across three continents in the Palearctic region.

#121 Little Woodpecker — South America

This species grows to just under 6 inches long and lives all around South America.

#122 Dot-Fronted Woodpecker — South America

These birds call Argentina and Bolivia home.

#123 White-Spotted Woodpecker — South America

With white spots all over its body, the white-spotted woodpecker lives in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

#124 Checkered Woodpecker — South America

The checkered woodpecker lives in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

#125 Striped Woodpecker — South America

These woodpeckers have white stripes on a brown body and wings.

#126 Scarlet-Backed Woodpecker — South America

You can recognize these birds in their habitat of dry and arid woodlands by the red feathers on their wings and back.

#127 Yellow-Vented Woodpecker — South America

These birds live in Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia.

#128 Bar-Bellied Woodpecker — South America

This species has horizontal bars on their bellies, giving them their name.

#129 Blood-Colored Woodpecker — South America

The red and brown feathers of the male and female blood-colored woodpeckers are the same. Females have a brown crown with white feather tips. Males have a red crown and nape.

#130 Red-Rumped Woodpecker — Central and South America

These birds live in northern South America. They have mostly brown and green feathers with red rumps.

#131 Red-Stained Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in multiple countries in South America. Only the males have bright red crowns that make them easier to spot.

#132 Choco Woodpecker — South America

Native to Colombia and Ecuador, this species is considered “near threatened.”

#133 Golden-Collared Woodpecker — South America

With golden wings and backs, the golden-collared woodpecker is beautiful to look at.

#134 Yellow-Eared Woodpecker — South America

Yellow markings on the sides of the yellow-eared woodpecker’s head give these birds their name. They live in Brazil.

#135 Smoky-Brown Woodpecker — North, Central, and South America

These birds live in northern parts of South America, throughout Central America, and as far north as parts of Mexico.

#136 Strickland’s Woodpecker — North America

This species lives in Mexico. The Arizona woodpecker is closely related and was once considered a subspecies of Strickland’s woodpecker.

#137 Rufous-Bellied Woodpecker — Asia

While both males and females have black and white striped wings, only the males have red crowns on their heads. Females have black crowns.

#138 Fulvous-Breasted Woodpecker — Asia

Fulvous means reddish yellow and refers to the breast feathers of this species.

#139 Freckle-Breasted Woodpecker — Asia

Small black dots on a buff or tawny background give the appearance of freckles on this bird.

#140 Stripe-Breasted Woodpecker — Asia

These birds like mountain forests and lowland forests, as long as they are humid enough for their preferences.

#141 Darjeeling Woodpecker — Asia

This species is native to the Himalayas and surrounding areas.

#142 Himalayan Woodpecker — Asia

Another Himalayan native, these woodpeckers prefer boreal and temperate forests.

#143 Sind Woodpecker — Asia, Middle East

These woodpeckers live in India, Pakistan, and Iran.

#144 Syrian Woodpecker — Europe, Middle East

With a wide range, these woodpeckers are similar to the great spotted woodpecker in appearance. One of the few differences between the two species is that the Syrian woodpecker does not have a white barred tail and often has more white coloring on its head.

#145 White-Winged Woodpecker — Asia, Middle East

This species lives in numerous countries in Asia and the Middle East and can be spotted by its white wing feathers.

#146 Great Spotted Woodpecker — Europe, Africa, Asia

The great spotted woodpecker is part of the Melanerpini tribe of woodpeckers, which is the largest.

#147 Okinawa Woodpecker — Asia

These birds live in Okinawa, Japan.

#148 White-Backed Woodpecker — Europe, Asia

The white-backed woodpecker actually has white and black feathers on its wings and back.

#149 Rufous-Winged Woodpecker — Central America

This bird lives in Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

#150 Stripe-Cheeked Woodpecker — Central America

The stripe-cheeked woodpecker lives in Panama.

#151 White-Throated Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in the northern parts of South America.

#152 Lita Woodpecker — South America

These woodpeckers live in Ecuador and Colombia.

#153 Yellow-Throated Woodpecker — South America

Living in numerous South American countries, the yellow-throated woodpecker has yellow feathers on its neck and a large head.

#154 Golden-Green Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in almost all South American countries and Panama.

#155 Yellow-Browed Woodpecker — South America

The yellow-browed woodpecker is also called the white-browed woodpecker. It lives in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is considered “near threatened.”

#156 Golden-Olive Woodpecker — North, Central, and South America

This species lives as far north as Mexico and as far south as South America.

#157 Grey-Crowned Woodpecker — North America

This species only lives in western parts of Mexico.

#158 Bronze-Winged Woodpecker — North America

This species only lives in northeastern parts of Mexico.

#159 Crimson-Mantled Woodpecker — South America

There are six subspecies of crimson-mantled woodpeckers and they have red plumage on their heads.

#160 Black-Necked Woodpecker — South America

This species only lives in Peru.

#161 Spot-Breasted Woodpecker — South America

With little black spots on its breast, the spot-breasted woodpecker lives in many South American countries.

#162 Green-Barred Woodpecker — South America

There are five subspecies of green-barred woodpeckers. They can grow up to 12 inches long.

#163 Fernandina’s Flicker — Central America

Habitat loss has significantly impacted the population of Fernandina’s flickers, which live in Cuba. It is considered “endangered.”

#164 Chilean Flicker — South America

As its name suggests, the Chilean flicker lives in Chile as well as in Argentina.

#165 Andean Flicker — South America

These birds live in the Andes mountain region in western South America.

#166 Campo Flicker — South America

This species prefers open spaces, including the Pampas region in southeastern South America.

#167 Cinnamon Woodpecker — Central and South America

Rust-colored plumage gives the cinnamon woodpecker its name.

#168 Waved Woodpecker — South America

Both males and females have bushy feathers on their heads that make them look like they just stepped out of the ocean waves.

#169 Scaly-Breasted Woodpecker — South America

There are four subspecies of scaly-breasted woodpeckers, which can get up to 10 inches long.

#170 Chestnut Woodpecker — South America

Light brown feathers on their wings and bodies give the chestnut woodpecker its name. They also have prominent crests that make them fun to spot.

#171 Pale-Crested Woodpecker —South America

The lighter feathers on this bird’s crest look almost like a full head of “hair” on top of a darker face and body.

#172 Blond-Crested Woodpecker — South America

Another species with lighter feathers on its head and crest, the blond-crested woodpecker has black and white plumage on its body and wings.

#173 Ochre-Backed Woodpecker — South America

This species only lives in Brazil.

#174 Cream-Colored Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in numerous countries throughout South America. It has yellow plumage with darker wing feathers.

#175 Rufous-Headed Woodpecker — South America

These birds have brilliant red plumage on their heads and crests.

#176 Kaempfer’s Woodpecker — South America

This species only lives in Brazil.

#177 Ringed Woodpecker — South America

These woodpeckers live throughout South America. They have light cinnamon feathers on their heads, other than red spots on the face, which are only present in males.

#178 Helmeted Woodpecker — South America

Red crests and faces make these woodpeckers look like they are wearing helmets.

#179 Black-Bodied Woodpecker — South America

This species has black feathers on its body with a white stripe and red crest.

#180 Lineated Woodpecker — North, Central, and South America

This species has a wide range, from Mexico to parts of Central and South America.

#181 White-Bellied Woodpecker — Asia

This is one of the largest woodpeckers, growing up to 19 inches long. They are also known as great black woodpeckers due to the black feathers on their bodies and their size.

#182 Andaman Woodpecker — Asia

Named for their habitat, these birds live in India on the Andaman Islands.

#183 Black Woodpecker — Europe, Asia

Another large species, the black woodpecker can be up to 22 inches long with a 33-inch wingspan. It is predominantly black.

#184 Powerful Woodpecker — South America

Males and females have black and white feathers on their bodies, wings, and faces. The males have a red crest.

#185 Crimson-Bellied Woodpecker — South America

Red feathers on their bellies give the crimson-bellied woodpecker its name.

#186 Red-Necked Woodpecker — South America

This species lives throughout South America.

#187 Robust Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in Argentina, as well as in Paraguay and Brazil.

#188 Crimson-Crested Woodpecker — Central and South America

Other than Chile and Uruguay, this species lives in every country in South America as well as some locations in Central America.

#189 Pale-Billed Woodpecker — North and Central America

As juveniles, these woodpeckers have a darker bill that pales as they mature.

#190 Guayaquil Woodpecker — South America

This species lives in Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.

#191 Cream-Backed Woodpecker — South America

Lighter cream-colored feathers on its back give this species its name. They still have dark wings.

#192 Magellanic Woodpecker — South America

Living in Argentina and Chile, these birds can grow up to 18 inches long.

#193 Imperial Woodpecker — North America

This is one of the largest woodpecker species at 22.5 inches long. However, it may be extinct.

#194 Banded Woodpecker — Asia

These woodpeckers live in lowland forests and mangrove forests in Asia.

#195 Checker-Throated Woodpecker — Asia

Due to habitat loss, the checker-throated woodpecker is considered “near threatened.”

#196 Greater Yellownape — Asia

Most of their plumage is green but these birds have a noticeable yellow nape.

#197 Lesser Yellownape — Asia

Like the greater yellownape, these woodpeckers have a yellow tuft at their nape. They also have some red coloring on their faces.

#198 Crimson-Winged Woodpecker — Asia

These birds have yellow tufted napes and red wings.

#199 Streak-Breasted Woodpecker — Asia

This species prefers tropical and subtropical forests.

#200 Laced Woodpecker — Asia

These birds like all kinds of forests, including dry, mangrove, lowland, and montane.

#201 Streak-Throated Woodpecker — Asia

This species lives in India.

#202 Scaly-Bellied Woodpecker — Asia, Middle East

Male scaley-bellied woodpeckers have a red crown, while females have a black crown.

#203 Japanese Green Woodpecker — Asia

This species only lives in Japan. There are two subspecies.

#204 European Green Woodpecker — Europe

Similar to the Japanese green woodpecker, this species lives throughout Europe.

#205 Iberian Green Woodpecker — Europe

Similar to the Japanese green woodpecker and European green woodpecker, this species lives on the Iberian peninsula in Spain and Portugal.

#206 Levaillant’s Woodpecker — Africa

This is the last of the green woodpecker varieties and lives in Africa.

#207 Red-Collared Woodpecker — Asia

This species lives in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and China.

#208 Black-Headed Woodpecker — Asia

The startling black plumage on this bird’s head makes it an interesting woodpecker to see.

#209 Grey-Headed Woodpecker — Europe, Asia

This species is closely related to the European green woodpecker and the Iberian green woodpecker.

#210 Sumatran Woodpecker — Asia

In 2021, this species earned its own identity separate from the grey-headed woodpecker. Previously, it was considered a subspecies.

#211 Himalayan Woodpecker — Asia

With golden feathers on its back and wings, this bird lives in the Himalayan region.

#212 Common Flameback — Asia

This bird is appropriately named since it is a common sight throughout Asia.

#213 Spot-Throated Flameback — Asia

This species lives in the Philippines.

#214 Black-Rumped Flameback — Asia

This bird has multiple names. It is sometimes called the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or the lesser goldenback.

#215 Red-Backed Flameback — Asia

These woodpeckers have bright red backs. They live in Sri Lanka.

#216 Buff-Spotted Flameback — Asia

This species lives in the Philippines.

#217 Luzon Flameback — Asia

With a red back and yellow belly, these birds earn the name flameback.

#218 Yellow-Faced Flameback — Asia

This woodpecker has some seriously bright plumage that is yellow on the face and red on the back.

#219 Red-Headed Flameback — Asia

This species has yellow feathers on its back and wings with a bright red head.

#220 Javan Flameback — Asia

This species lives on Java and other nearby islands.

#221 Greater Flameback — Asia

These woodpeckers live throughout Asia. Many other flameback species were once considered subspecies of the greater flameback.

#222 Malabar Flameback — Asia

This species only lives in India.

#223 Crimson-Backed Flameback — Asia

This species only lives in Sri Lanka.

#224 White-Naped Flameback — Asia

These woodpeckers live throughout India but don’t have a large population.

#225 Pale-Headed Woodpecker — Asia

This species is closely related to the olive-backed woodpecker.

#226 Bamboo Woodpecker — Asia

These birds live in Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

#227 Olive-Backed Woodpecker — Asia

Considered “near threatened” due to habitat loss, there are two subspecies of olive-backed woodpeckers.

#228 Maroon Woodpecker — Asia

These birds are named for the dark red plumage on their backs and wings.

#229 Bay Woodpecker — Asia

This species can grow almost 12 inches long and weighs almost 6 ounces at maturity.

#230 Orange-Backed Woodpecker — Asia

There are two subspecies of orange-backed woodpeckers, which are distinguished by where they live.

#231 Rufous Woodpecker — Asia

Even though there are now ten recognized subspecies of rufous woodpeckers, the species was originally considered part of a genus of woodpeckers living in South America.

#232 Buff-Rumped Woodpecker — Asia

This species is considered “endangered.”

#233 Black-and-Buff Woodpecker — Asia

This species lives in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

#234 Buff-Necked Woodpecker — Asia

This woodpecker prefers wet habitats, such as moist lowland forests or swamps.

#235 Ashy Woodpecker —Asia

This species lives in Indonesia.

#236 Northern Sooty Woodpecker — Asia

These woodpeckers used to be classified alongside the Southern sooty woodpecker as one species. They are now identified by their region in the Philippines.

#237 Southern Sooty Woodpecker — Asia

This species is considered to have a “vulnerable” conservation status.

#238 Great Slaty Woodpecker — Asia

This is the tallest woodpecker species. It is up to 23 inches tall and can weigh up to 1.25 pounds.