Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Dryobates nuttallii
At a Glance
A California specialty, Nuttall's Woodpecker extends only a short distance into Baja and rarely strays to Oregon. Within its limited range, it is often common wherever oak trees grow. It may go unseen at times because of its habit of foraging among densely foliaged oaks, but it frequently announces itself with sharp calls. Despite its close association with oaks, it tends to dig its nesting holes in other kinds of trees, and it eats only small numbers of acorns.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Picidae, Woodpeckers, Tree-clinging Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets, Urban and Suburban Habitats
Region
California, Northwest
Behavior
Flap/Glide, Undulating
Population
850.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
Permanent resident throughout its range, rarely wandering any distance from nesting areas.
Description
7-7 1/2" (18-19 cm). Black back with narrow white barring; thin white stripes on black face. Male has red crown patch. Looks much darker than Ladder-backed Woodpecker, with broad black area across upper back.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Red, White
Wing Shape
Broad, Rounded
Tail Shape
Multi-pointed, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
A rolling call, prreep; a sharp pit-it.
Call Pattern
Flat
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Drum, Rattle, Trill
Habitat
Wooded canyons and foothills, river woods. In much of range almost always around oaks, especially where oaks meet other trees along rivers, also in pine-oak woods in foothills. In southern California also in riverside cottonwoods, sycamores, willows, even if no oaks present. At eastern edge of range may venture out into mesquite or other dry woods.
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Behavior
Eggs
3-4, up to 6. White. Incubation is by both sexes (with male incubating at night and part of day), about 14 days.
Young
Both parents feed young. Young leave nest about 4 weeks after hatching, may remain with parents for several weeks thereafter.
Feeding Behavior
Forages mainly in dense trees such as oaks and ceanothus, also in cottonwood, willow, sycamore, and others; sometimes in yuccas, mesquites (at eastern margin of range). The sexes sometimes forage differently in trees, with males focussing on trunk and major limbs, females working on minor branches and twigs. Occasionally catches insects in flight.
Diet
Mostly insects. Feeds on a wide variety of insects, especially beetles, also caterpillars, ants, true bugs. Also eats some nuts, seeds, fruits, berries. Despite close association with oaks, eats only small numbers of acorns.
Nesting
Members of pair may remain more or less together all year. Displays include raising head feathers, swinging head from side to side, and a fluttering display flight. Nest site is cavity in live or dead tree, usually cottonwood, willow, or sycamore near oak woods, sometimes in utility pole, fence post, or oak or other tree. Cavity usually 3-35' above ground, sometimes up to 60' or higher. Male does most of excavating; new nest cavity every year.
Climate Vulnerability
Conservation Status
Populations appear to be stable.
Climate Threats Facing the Nuttall's Woodpecker
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.